First doubles dive today

[DA Aquamaster]

Somehow, I doubt technique is going to make much difference when walking 30-50 yards uphill with double X7-100s. 70lbs is 70lbs, technique isn't going to change it, and that doesn't take manifolds, plate, lead, or other gear into consideration.

The gravity on your planet is slightly lower than on mine.

My double Faber LP 95s weigh 81.5 lbs empty and my double X7-100s weigh 73.1 lbs empty. When you add 200 cu ft of gas, the weights climb to 94 lbs and 86.6 lbs respectively. When you add a back plate/harness, wing, regs, reels, can light you will be getting close to 130 pounds.

My advice is NEVER weigh your doubles.

But technique really does make a difference, as you start learning ways to avoid lifting them and to minimize the effort when you have to. And it is good to know that teen age children make great tank sherpas! (I need to get me another one since the first one got too big and moved out.)

Even if you have to carry them yourself, you have to consider that some women divers do it all the time. The love of my life dives with double 95's and she has carried them in and out on some fairly rough trails to some of the less well developed basins, so it's pretty hard for me as a full grown man to complain about mine.

 

[carrielsal]

These are encouraging words. I am making the transition from a recreational BC to a bp/w with doubles. I probably won't be getting into the water until next week. I am starting with a set of of AL80's and my wetsuit. I will be getting a drysuit this fall, and I already have a doubled setup of Faber 95's for when I go dry. I think I feel like a newbie all over again!
BTW, I have put off actually weighing all my gear before I put in on and have to walk with it the first time.

Carrie

 

[UCFKnightDiver]

has a smaller vehicle

I wouldnt say this is to much of an issue, if you carry two single tanks in your car, you can carry a set of doubles.

 

[carrielsal]

Get a suburban. I can pack all my tanks and gear, camping year, fishing gear, kids, and even have room for a couple of labs.

 

[TSandM]

I'm with you to an extent, Gray. I don't understand the people who dive doubles all the time, unless they're the only tanks they own (some people get their doubles by doubling up the two tanks they already owned, and then they're stuck until or unless they buy more tanks). Doubles are a tool -- they're good for deeper dives, when you really begin to want redundancy and self-rescue. I also use them from time to time when diving with strangers, where I don't know I can count on someone to assist in the event of a freeflow (of which I have had two in Puget Sound). But they ARE heavy, they ARE a PITA to get on and off boats, and I'm perfectly happy to single-tank it on shallower, uncomplicated dives.

That said, I dive my dubs when I don't really have to, just to stay in practice for carrying them around and for valve drills. Carrying doubles to go diving is more fun than going to the gym and lifting weights

 

[sabbath999]

Well, your doubles did look darned good though... bright orange and purdy.

I didn't even recognize you when you came out of the water, I was wondering who was diving the pretty orange doubles. It wasn't until you had your mask off and hood off that I even recognized you.

I was gearing up so I didn't notice if you came up the ladder (the ladder there is not very stable at all, it is WAY undersized) but if you made it up that quivering thing then I would say you did pretty darned good.

I was hoping to catch you down on your next dive and shoot some video of you with your doubles on, but alas it wasn't to be... then you fooled me again when you switched back to a single of a different color.

We should get together some time and let me shoot some video of you diving the doubles. Not only will I get some good footage but I think it helps to see yourself on video so you can notice stuff about your form and style (yours is normally very good, for those here who haven't seen you dive).

 

[pickens_46929]

I just got my first set of doubles too (lp 85s) and will be getting them wet this Wed. I can't wait, I have been looking forward to this ever since I got certified. Before I was diving a single al100.

Let me know how it turns out!

Been diving doubles now for a while. I think 1/2 my dives are in doubles overall.

I've got a set of LP85's and one set of HP100's. I've been lucky enough to try LP95's and LP104's out. This past weekend I got to try out a set of HP120's :O I was kind of worried but they really weren't that bad.

 

[it_mike]

The gravity on your planet is slightly lower than on mine.

It's called rounding (and willful ignorance)

My double Faber LP 95s weigh 81.5 lbs empty and my double X7-100s weigh 73.1 lbs empty. When you add 200 cu ft of gas, the weights climb to 94 lbs and 86.6 lbs respectively. When you add a back plate/harness, wing, regs, reels, can light you will be getting close to 130 pounds.

My advice is NEVER weigh your doubles.

Well now I don't have to...thanks
So much for plausible deniability.

And it is good to know that teen age children make great tank sherpas!

Oldest is a few months away from official teendom, but I doubt he'll be able to lift them for a few more years...

After the third or fourth dive of the day, those singles are looking awfully sweet!
Thanks for the encouragement

 

[gcbryan]

I wouldnt say this is to much of an issue, if you carry two single tanks in your car, you can carry a set of doubles.

Not so...if you have a bad back it's much easier to put two single tanks in the trunk (Corolla) than two tanks banded together (twice as heavy and much harder to fit into a trunk).

 

[gcbryan]

Get a suburban. I can pack all my tanks and gear, camping year, fishing gear, kids, and even have room for a couple of labs.

Getting a new vehicle is a rather large expense just to be able to carry an extra tank.