I thought it a gimmick AIRLOCK by MARES

[Fishkiller]

I hate adjusting my tank strap, I mean the loop and tug. At my local dive site the staging area is about 20 yards from lake water.
I was in one of those spend money at the dive shop and found a good sales lady. After purchasing the Airlock I spent a whole five minutes installing the contraption and headed out to the lake. The group that I was with, all recently OW and AOW divers, as usual headed for the water to get their BC wet, as taught to keep the tank from slipping. I just set up everything. hooked the LP hose to the Airlock adjusted the tank to where I like it and hit the button. Then finished getting ready for the buddy check.

A few wondered why I hadn't "wetted my BC" I told them about the Airlock.

After the second tank dive of the day I am very happy with the way it worked.

[Warhammer]

I saw those in a catalog a while back, looked interesting. That's another eason I like my Ranger. When you strap down a tank with it's straps, it stays.

[TexasMike]

Agree totally with WH on the Ranger. One of the things that the Ranger came with that I have yet to see on other BC's is a strip of rubber that I've threaded the tank straps through so that it lays against my back. And I have always attached my Ranger to my tank without wetting first and have had zero problems.

And I guess having two tank straps might help too.


Oh, Warhammer, remember our discussion about Zeagle/Apeks regs and you reporting yours flooding when it was "upside down"? While on my trip to the Flower Gardens, I did a safety stop where I was floating on my back at 15-feet stretched out like I was lounging in a deck chair (with my feet crossed and one arm behind my head). My reg was pointed straight up and there were no problems.

I also thought about doing the "submarine surface" that I came up with, but since there was a slight current, I didn't want to have to swim for the ladder line.


(and it's really amazing how easy safety stops are once you figure out the correct weight for 500psi!)

[Warhammer]

Yeah, guess the boat captain wouldn't be too happy after you explain the reason you were 1/2 mile down stream. Practicing the Submarine Manuver, Sir!

[Fishkiller]

who makes the Ranger BC??

what is the submarine manuver?

[BetterLateThannever]

Fishkiller,

The Ranger is a super duper Zeagle back inflated BC. Looks pretty cool too.

I wouldn't even venture a guess at the Submarine Maneuver. Hey Mike, is it anything like the Warhammer Maneuver? http://user.intop.net/~greggg/images/deeprelief.jpg
(Warning the above link, while not pornographic, may not be suitable for small children. Viewer discretion advised)

Jimbo

[Warhammer]

Nah, the Submarine Manuver is nothing like the War*cough* Manuver. It's simply turning belly-up and ascending to the surface slowing, kinda like a submarine. Hmmm, that doesn't sound right, a belly-up sub, that probably wouldn't be the idea way to ascend in a sub. Oh well, if I remember correctly, that's what TexasMike is talking about.

[greg somers]

In 16yrs I have never seen anyone doing it.We simply adjust our strap and clamp it shut.We lift the BC to check for slippage of the tank on the surface.The ONLY time I had a tank slip out was when someone kicked my strap clamp open in a pool situation.Is that a problem over your way?
I have a simple Mares Vectra Origin BC.Well at least I can't claim to know everything....heheheh.
Cheers hopefully tight ears,
The Gasman

[BetterLateThannever]

G-Man,

The wetting the strap thing is part of the PADI formal training, re-inforced by their video as well as confined water training.

The idea being that it can loosen once it gets wet in the water if you put it on dry. Who knows, my philosophy is better safe than sorry.

Jimbo

[Warhammer]

I've never had a problem either, as I stated above, but I have seen tanks fall from the straps both in the water and before entering the water. Alot of BCs have very stiff straps, espeacially when brand spanking new. That makes it hard to get the strap tight enough for the cam to do it's thing. Take my wife's new Seaquest Diva for instance. When it was brand new, she had a helluva time getting the strap tight if it was dry. So she wet it first and problem be gone. Now after several dives, the whole BC has loosened up a bit and it isn't a problem any longer, wet or dry. But the dang is still stiff as a whole. Kinda like breaking in a new pair of leather boots.