While on Vacation, Why don't u like other people changin your tank?

[Louie]

It's always good to set up your own gear. Most competent divemasters and boat crew will know how to put most gear together but then there may be those who may not be as knowledgeable. I've been to dive shops in more out of the way parts where the staff marvelled at my exotic Apeks(!!??) reg.

But I would like to highlight the other side of this. In some conditions, it is very difficult to have all the divers simultaneously assembling their equipment (imagine, small boat with no tank stations, an outrigger canoe, very rough seas, etc). In order to accommodate schedule, safety and efficacy, the staff will assemble the gear. In this situations, instead of telling off the staff and being rude - as some people do, you can just watch and give helpful hints if you have uncommon gear. The staff are being helpful and trying to facilitate the dives in the best way possible and as customers, we should be reasonable and cooperative.

 

[Walter]

If someone else were to set my gear up, I'd end up going over everything and adjusting here and there as needed....in the end, I might as well set my own gear up.

I take it a step farther. I break it down and set it up myself.

I just took my first diving vacation, and while we did almost all shore diving, we did go out on a boat for the manta and black water dives in Kona.

I talked with the DM before hand (after he saw my gear and kinda suspected I'd be the kind of person who'd want to set it up myself) and he said he was perfectly happy to let me do that.

I object to the concept that they are "letting you" set up your own gear. It's your gear, it's not up to them to "let you" do anything with it. It's completely your choice.

 

[WavyGravy]

I'm trying to remember if any of my gear has been set up by staff on vacation before. It's just faster to do it myself instead of waiting for someone else to do it. It's nice having empty tanks taken away and new ones brought up, but other than that I just do it myself.

One example I have is there was a group of us getting into the water and had gone through the buddy gear check. As we were getting in one of the deck hands were checking to make sure air was turned on. For some reason, when they checked the guy in front of me dude must have had a brain fart but he turned the guys air OFF instead of on.

This is exactly my fear. On one of my dive trips I was set up and gear checked waiting to go, when I realized a young deck hand was playing with my air. It freaked me out a bit and I ended up checking everthing again to make sure he wasn't turning it off or something by mistake.

It seems crazy to the kind of diver who spends his spare time on a diving forum, but god knows how many vacation divers have avoided a difficult situation because of this practice.

 

[diver 85]

Answer to last question----"NO"....

 

[Ladyvalea]

.....well, it's OK to let them do the heavy lifting...like moving BC over to fresh tanks...but after they're done, maybe at least double check your tank pressure
and make sure the tank is full, that the tank valve is fully opened....that the BC inflator hose is connected....and maybe put your ear near the tank valve after the reg is 'on' and listen for any blatent air leaks from the tank valve O-ring. It may better to let the boat crew do the heavy lifting, especially if you're on a small, crowded, heaving dive boat......so you don't trip/fall down/break your gear/break someone else's gear/hurt another diver.

That is the exact situation ...small boat with a lot of people!! Yes, the Deckhand lifted the BC over on fresh tanks!! and each time I would check the pressure too, and see if I had a full tank...

 

[allistoy]

I don't allow anyone to touch my gear under any condition if I catch them I go back over everything again. I tell the crew I will tip them better if they don't touch anything including checking my air just before jumping into the ocean. I have seen crew members acidentally shut a guys air off just before jumping in because they were too busy talking with others to pay attention to the task at hand.

 

[imwright1985]

i would set up my own gear, doing this will allow you to make sure tank height is right because it affects your weight distribution which other people might not be greatest with since everyone had different body composition and height. only way i wouldnt set up my own gear is if you have a loop that is adjusted to kinda saddle the valve to keep consistant height. with the reg and lpi hose almost anyone that has been around diving for a few days should be competant enough to hook up, but on teardown make sure they are putting dustcap back on after it is dry to keep moisture outa first stage and that the bc's get drained from water that may have gotten inside

 

[El Orans]

In Cozumel, the DM set up our gear.

No problem, I saw that he had a similar set-up. So he knew how to handle it.

I'll check it anyway before I jump in.

 

[Kingpatzer]

I object to the concept that they are "letting you" set up your own gear. It's your gear, it's not up to them to "let you" do anything with it.

+1

This.

 

[ligersandtions]

I don't allow anyone to touch my gear under any condition if I catch them I go back over everything again. I tell the crew I will tip them better if they don't touch anything including checking my air just before jumping into the ocean. I have seen crew members acidentally shut a guys air off just before jumping in because they were too busy talking with others to pay attention to the task at hand.

If I ever noticed any hesitation from a DM or crew member about allowing me to set my own gear up, that would be the next thing out of my mouth: "If you are interested in getting a tip, I want to set my own gear up." They're more than welcome to watch over my shoulder, but the moment my valve gets touched by someone other than me, I will be checking it myself directly afterwards.