My tank nearly slid off my BCD yesterday. What would you do?

[dorkito]

On a recreational dive yesterday my tank came loose and slid down my BCD. Later I learned that it was hanging by the hoses off the first stage. I could tell all was not right when I could feel the tank with my heel. Then everything felt loosey goosey on my back. I (calmly) reached back to feel what I could feel, but before I could take any further action another diver got the DM's attention (we were all very close together) and he quickly remedied the situation. Rest of dive was great. My question is, what would you do if you had to deal with it on your own? Say you are separated from your buddy or diving solo... I say (carefully) take your BCD off; see if you can remedy the situation before it potentially gets worse, and hopefully get to complete the dive. My wife says abort the dive and safely ascend; taking gear off just introduces opportunities to make the situation worse.

What would you do?


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[Mike.D]

Depends on the situation i guess. I'd take my bcd off and fix it in situ so I could continue my dive but only because I am comfortable in my skill level to do this.
However, in a strong current situation where you could drift hundreds of yards or more even while being as negatively buoyant as possible with limited vis i may decide it would be too risky and simply ascend. Just my opinion.
-Mike

 

[Imla]

Personally I wouldn't be solodiving on a single tank, and my doubles are firmly bolted to my backplate.

Other than that, make sure you moisten the camband before you put the bc on the tank, and make sure your buddy has checked that the camband sits tightly on the tank.

 

[krawlings]

Depends on the situation i guess. I'd take my bcd off and fix it in situ so I could continue my dive but only because I am comfortable in my skill level to do this.
However, in a strong current situation where you could drift hundreds of yards or more even while being as negatively buoyant as possible with limited vis i may decide it would be too risky and simply ascend. Just my opinion.
-Mike

+1 This were the skill you learned in OW class come in . I have had to do it in a 5mm wet suit and all my weight was in my BCD . You can imagine what happened next!! Wright I went up like ,Well you know But I was a head of that happening ,I had a real good grip on my BCD fix it w/ just a little awkwardness in 60' water no currant. the situation will dictate what your options are . Your budy is your other option .I would probably make thet my 1st option . If I can't get his attention or the problem across to him (a duaaaa) then off to next open option

 

[oldschoolto]

The easiest way to fix it .... Is to tighten the strap the right way in the first place..... Place the bc flat on the ground with the tank on and pull the strap tight and pull the cam lock over.... Then release the cam well pulling up the slack and re-tighten.... When pulling the strap move it in a rocking motion to help tightening...

Jim..

 

[herman]

It does depend somewhat on the dive but if I had a hard bottom and reasonable current I would just remove it and fix the issue. Wheather another diver should try it depends on their comfort and skill level but in your example if you are diving solo you should have that comfort/skill level in the first place. The one thing to consider is your weights. If you have a lot of weight and it is in an intergrated BC, as soon as you remove the BC you will be hanging upside down holding on to your BC....another argument for proper weighting and against intergrated weight BCs. Watched my DMC buddy do just that during DM training...it was sooooo funny. I will not rat him out but he is an active member of the board.
The easiest way to prevent it is to make sure the tank is tight in the first place. I teach students to try and move the camband buckel up and down after it is installed. If you can move it more than a slight amount it is too loose, esp if it's dry.

 

[EastEndDiver]

If you were taught to doff and don gear in your certification class this would be a very easy fix.

I guess this is one of the skills that they left out.

Always make sure the band is wet when you attach the BC to your tank.

 

[flots am]

What would you do?

1. Make sure my tank was securely fastened before the dive
2. Have my buddy fix it
3. Take the BC off and fix it myself underwater

I believe #3 is a required PADI OW skill. I know #1 is.

flots

 

[boulderjohn]

1. Make sure my tank was securely fastened before the dive
2. Have my buddy fix it
3. Take the BC off and fix it myself underwater

I believe #3 is a required PADI OW skill. I know #1 is.

flots

It is supposed to be done in the 5th confined water dive during PADI training.

 

[mdb]

Good advice so far, as usual. This is not an uncommon problem.

Here is another option: Apollo Sports: Dive Gear