Minimalist versus "Train as you Fight" . . . Which way do you go?

[Thalassamania]

Exposure protection changes, it has to; you can't use the same suit here in Hawaii and at the North Pole; and that effects your mask choice as well as weight-belt type and placement as well as the fin choice, which is also a function of single, double (or more) tanks that depend on the dive, and the number/placement of regulators is, to some degree, dictated by the tank(s). So what stays the same? Well ... everything else.

 

[Dr Wu]

Cold water wreck gear would be pretty silly for warm water reef dives.

Warm water reef gear would be pretty silly for cold water wreck dives.

Of course I never saw diving as a "fight".

Perhaps I am missing the nuance to the question?

 

[Jax]

Cold water wreck gear would be pretty silly for warm water reef dives.

Warm water reef gear would be pretty silly for cold water wreck dives.

Of course I never saw diving as a "fight".

Perhaps I am missing the nuance to the question?

Yep.

 

[Dr Wu]

Enlighten me.

 

[Jax]

The idea is that one keeps the same equipment around, in the same place, and is prepared and practiced to use it. As many have mentioned, there are additions and deletions for . . . don't want to say extreme, but "more varying" environments, such as extreme cold weather gear or tropical gear. In other words, exposure protection.

However, you always have the same helmet, first aid pouch, anti-nerve agent pouch, antii-chemical suits, protective mask, weapon, helment . . . etc. One always keeps that gear, practices with it, and whether its 100F or 0F, you will train in it.

The above doesn't jive with the 'minimalist' mentality, where you strip everything off and then add . . . how does one make one's equipment second nature if you're not always in it?

For me, I have a sidemount rig, and a singles rig. I'm wondering if I should just make it one rig . . . .

 

[Thalassamania]

What do I have that is a constant? Let's see: my emergency kit (flares, mirror, whistle, etc.), my instruments (depth gauge, compass, watch, computer); that is to say if I decide to use any of the foregoing. That's about it, everything else is a question of where am I diving and why am I diving there.

 

[DevonDiver]

I don't see why this question is a 'versus' debate. My equipment configuration is minimalist, but also standardized regardless of my dive goal or location.

I don't carry stuff that I don't need... and put some consideration into what my needs are and how to address them. Where possible, I look for most simple, foolproof and most multi-functional solution to an problem.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

I suppose if somebody has that "train as you fight" mentality then having everything in exactly the same place so when the "S" hit's the fan you automatically know where everything is and there's no guess work, you resort to muscle memory to get you out of every jamb.

I prefer not to get into jambs to start with. I like to dive leasurely and try different and new things.
I dive to get away from fighting in my every day life and I don't like to think of it as some sort of GI Joe navy seal exercise in survival that I have to resort to hyper trained muscle memory to save my life that's hanging by a thread.
Well trained and calmly ready for things to happen yes. Self fulfilling prophecy that I need to train my ass off for when the "S" hit's the fan because it's not a matter of if but when, no.

The only constants in my diving is the fact that I'm underwater breathing air. All the rest of the gear changes almost completely depending on what I'm doing that day.
Sometimes I dive in a thick wetsuit and sometimes thinner (never less than 7mm).
That dictates the weightbelt and so does the tank I'm using.
I can dive with a wing and octo if I'm buddy diving.
Sometimes I have a light and sometimes not. If it's bright out and the vis is good I leave it behind.
Sometimes I have a spear gun.
There are times I dive with no BC and just a plate. Other times no BC and no plate.
I use a single second stage with an SPG and other times a single second and no SPG, just a J valve.
Finally there are times I use a double hose regulator with no BC, no SPG, nothing.
I have long fins, jet fins, turtle fins, quattro fins, duck feet. I use them all and on almost any and all configurations.

Somehow all through this I never get confused about what I'm wearing or not wearing.
I guess I must have a good mental memory and my muscle memory follows my mental memory.


Why does the "S" always have to hit the fan anyway??

 

[Airleron]

I'm now used to diving without the modern conveniences, but when I have them, I attach them the same every time. I can't remember a time when I have reached for something and it was/wasn't there.

Well....when I got rid of my bc, my knife had to be mounted on my leg. That was new because I had used a bc for years with a knife attached. It took a few dives to make the psychic connection to my leg again. Of course, I don't pull it out on EVERY dive

 

[Thalassamania]

I guess I can't think of a diving situation where split-second automatic responses are called for underwater. I prefer slowly moving from one task to the next and when something goes wrong ... I stop, think and then s l o w l y fix it. By and large I believe that, "speed kills."