Streamlining my equipment

[eelnoraa]

I posted this video several times before, when I filmed it, I had no idea how many times people would seemingly try to contradict what the video shows.

Swimming with an Air 2 and sharing a primary is not a big deal.

I am sure it will work. A lot of things will work, but don't you think this is a better way
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAoHvnsq_dc

The OOA driver can be side by side swimming. And during ascent, each diver is still in full control of his/her own buoyancy.

But I understand your point and usage. Especially when you already have a pony, minimizing 1 hose kind of make sense

---------- Post added September 7th, 2015 at 09:34 PM ----------

What are you talking about? One less hose must be more streamlined. Besides the hose you are adding an Air II to is already there to inflate and deflate your BC. You don't have to add a "corrugated hose" You just add an Air II to the inflator hose. On my setup the two hoses meld into one. The Air two is the same size as an Octo.

Maybe I use a different terminology. By corrugated, I mean the hose from BC to inflator. By LPI hose, I mean the LP hose from regulator LP port to inflator.

I agree that given everything the same, one less hose is more streamline. But one less hose piggy back with hose that is not optimal in length for streamline defect the purpose of one less hose. Air2 is the perfect example here IMO. When using standard inflator, I (most people I dive with) use 12-13" corrugated hose. This length is good enough for all kind of inflation and deflation, I can also inflate both wing and drysuit at the same time. And when in horizontal, the inflator doesn't dangle pass my body much. But there is no way I can breath of this length comfortably with full head moment if an Air2 is attached there.

When I haven't used Air2 before, I know that in order to get full range of head motion, I need the corrugated hose to be about 22-24" in length. In order to remove 1 hose, you need to elongate another hose. And I know for the fact with 22" corrugated hose, the inflator will dangle far off my body because I have a picture of myself with 18" corrugated hose, and it dangles.

From what I have observed, the most streamline config is 22" backup on bungee, primary donate on long hose. "long hose" can either be 40" or so router under arm, or 5"/7" hogarthan style. There will be no hose sticking/bowing/dangling out with this type of config.

 

[freewillie]

Ignore this drivel. Hardware solutions to skill or configuration problems. If your DM is dragging an octo through the coral, you need a new DM. There are limited situations where a combo octo/inflator are actually a better option. None of them involve basic divers with 50 dives. And you certainly don't need a Datamask. But if your BCD has a buckle over the cummerbund the way most do, you can tuck your console or SPG in there over the cummerbund before you clip the buckle. No problem looking down at the gauges and they won't be dragging. Forget about retractors and other gizmos that tend to fail. Zeagle Eagle sounds more like Inspector Gadget to me.

There is nothing wrong with a differing set up than the DIR crowd. The OP does not have to go out and buy an Air II but that is one way to streamline a rig. And I certainly wouldn't get get a Data mask either but it does also eliminate a console.I've used both bolt snaps and retractors for securing my SPG. For heavier consoles the smaller retractors don't hold very well. But I do prefer them over bolt snaps. For me it's easier to pull the console out a distance to get a better view than bending my head to view a gauge. It's also more cumbersome in thicker gloves to try and unhook the bolt snap to look at than simply pull on a retractor. Yes they might fail but at over 50 dives with one retractor haven't had a problem yet and at $30 or so not too expensive to replace.I also find the the silicone octo holders that have one end shaped in a rectangle are the best. Very cheap and very effective. Simply place on your BC where you want to keep the octo and but the mouthpiece through. Will stay in place until you tug hard enough to remove. If your octo free flows it's not because of the holder.

 

[Iralub]

I'm a relatively new diver, so this might not be of much weight, but faiw:

I have a bc with no pockets aside from weight pockets. I attached the console (small air gauge and compass) to a bolt snap with a cable tie and then clip it to hip d-ring of bcd on left hand side. I have a computer on my wrist.

Octopus sits on a bungee a little distance under my chin. Bungee is home made, following instructions on utube. Octopus can be detached with a firm tug, by i haven't had the octopus come out inadvertently. It is slightly detuned to prevent free flows.

I have an smb and glow stick in a little mesh bag, with a bungee for draw string and attached to a clip. I clip it to right shoulder strap d-ring, pass the bungee under waist strap of BCD and loop it around the smb, so the whole thing sits close to my body and doesn't dangle. Whistle attached to bc inflator house with cable tie.

On night dives, backup torch is attached to left shoulder strap d-ring with a bolt snap and its lanyard (also a bungee cord) is passed under waist strap of BCD and looped around the torch, so it doesn't dangle.

I don't carry a snorkel normally, but have a rollup snorkel that I can put in a weight pocket where carrying (but not wearing) a snorkel is required by law (eg some places in australia).

Don't have wetnotes or slate yet, but would probably clip them to a d-ring on right hip.

The whole setup seems to work ok for me, except when I forget about the bungeed octopus when taking off my gear after a dive and try to walk of with it still around my neck Ymmv

 

[kwinter]

There is nothing wrong with a differing set up than the DIR crowd. /QUOTE]

That's the first time anyone has ever confused me with a DIR diver. I'm insulted. I didn't mean that a retractor would kill you. Only that it isn't necessary for most people. If you like it better, than by all means use one. Or an octo holder instead of a bungee necklace. The combo inflator/octo is a different story. It takes a lot of practice to ascend and control buoyancy while breathing from one. Beginners are taught to raise the inflator so it is higher than the bladder in order to vent. That's very tough to do when it is in your mouth. It is possible to use one. And it does indeed remove one hose. But it is an advanced skill and usually is not worth the minuscule gain in streamlining.


iPhone. iTypo. iApologize.

 

[Russoft]

Thanks for the diversity of different solutions!

Please correct me if I am wrong Russoft

I've been certified for over 15 years... but haven't dived often enough to notice these problems until recently. When you do 4-6 dives per vacation, you put up with the problems. When you go diving every weekend and aren't relying on rental equipment, things start to bother you. We bought used and I tried to buy the best equipment possible on our budget. I'm not looking to spend more money at this point, so will be limiting my short term solutions to low cost changes.

I am aware of the BP/W advocates as my wife was trained through SDI and I audited the class, as I had been out of diving for a very long time. I frankly hated having my face pushed into the water while sitting on the surface, so changing out the jacket BCD isn't on the table right now. Perhaps once I've decided I can't get properly trimmed out in the future. I do like the idea of a DIR/tech set up, but I've decided I prefer "do what works" and jacket BCD fits the bill for now.

You mentioned "going DIR". While you don't need the full technical set up, you should understand that some technical diving ideas are a huge improvement over the PADI configuration. It's worth checking out, especially the Hogarthian ideas about dive gear.

While I admire the minimalist approach, perhaps it's more accurate to say I'm concerned about simplifying our setup. With gloves, hood, and two-piece 7mm wetsuit, my wife feels very cumbersome (as do I) and it's a hassle to be fussing with cheap and useless clips to secure hoses. Our primary issues is configuring our reg sets and finding strategies to clip off and secure hoses to ourselves. It'll help us enjoy our dives more, as we spent more time than I would've liked trying to clip off equipment while underwater. I'd rather be watching fish, working on trim, adjusting buoyancy, trying not to silt up the water, etc. It's frustrating to deal with something that should be so basic.

Anticipating the need to make some changes, I did buy some new parts. I tied a bungee necklace for my octo/back up and put it on my standard primary hose and put my primary, via an elbow adapter, on my octo hose. I fear the standard octo (36"?) is actually too short to get proper range of motion with my head and I may need to buy a 40".

As for the wife's console, I still don't know what I'll do. I've heard some good solutions though.

I use a constrictor knot or some other means to attach a bolt snap to the SPG hose at the correct location for a hoop or side ring attachment. I want it generally to be 8 inches from the spg, but you need to make it so the gage will hang where it is easy to grab and you do not have to unclip to see it. Running it over the shoulder with the inflator hose, is something that works pretty well for me as an alternative.

A good barrle clip that is FIXED to the hose is the key, not sliding around. Just experiment with zip ties, until you get the position right.

My old console had a loop that made it easy to clip off with a bolt snap. THIS console is just a heavy chunk of rubber and plastic with a hose attached. Maybe this solution will work. I'm having trouble picturing it though.

I like the idea of the bungee wrist mount. I recently bought a Mares Puck and quickly realized the downfall of the standard wrist strap is that it rolls around my wrist once my wetsuit compresses. I'm not aware of a bungee mount for that computer though. Maybe I'll buy a bungee wrist boot for my wife's computer and see if she likes it. If not, it's only $20 and I can swap her back to the console.

 

[bowlofpetunias]

Yeah there is always a lot of chaff with the wheat Glad you found some! Have fun and let us know how you make out. It is always nice to hear from someone who gets some options, tries them and finds a solution.

 

[halocline]

One thing you can do for the console is to cut a rubber band out of a piece of old bicycle tubing and use it to attach a single end bolt snap. It's a little hard to describe the way I attach it, but it's pretty simple to do, it basically it involves locking the rubber band in place on the bolt snap by pushing one end of the rubber band through the attachment part of the bolt snap and then pulling that end of the band under and through the other, locking it in place. Then you do the same on around the hose near the console; you have to stretch the rubber band to get the bolt snap through the little loop you make. The inner tube makes very sturdy rubber bands.

The nice thing about this is that if for some reason the hose got caught on something while clipped, it's possible to just pull it of the bolt snap, the inner tube will break. But it's also much sturdier than the little silicone keepers. The tech guys use cave line to attach the bolt snap, and you can do that do, but the inner tube/rubber band works great and it does have the advantage of being able to be pulled apart if necessary. I wouldn't attach a light or camera like that, but a hose is fine because it's already permanently attached to your regulator.

Before you buy too many hoses, just try connecting your primary and alternate hoses with a coupler; this will give you a single hose a little longer than 5 ft. Put your primary on that, and get a 22" hose for the bungied octo. This is a VERY comfortable set up. The couplers are very inexpensive, you can probably borrow a short hose for the alternate, and it gives you a chance to experiment.

I like the bungie wrist boots for computers and I agree that the straps don't really work very well. One one think that the computer companies would have figured this out by now but I guess not! Some do have sort-of corrugated straps that are supposed to work like an elastic but they never work as well, and there's a length of extra strap flopping around.

 

[Doby45]

I use the small zip ties on my bolt snaps, they are strong enough to hold but also thin enough they can snap when needed.

 

[C P]

https://www.divegearexpress.com/library/articles/attach-boltsnap

This is a link to Dive Gear Express where they show how to attach a blot snap using reel line. Hope it helps

 

[dumpsterDiver]

I am sure it will work. A lot of things will work, but don't you think this is a better way
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAoHvnsq_dc

The OOA driver can be side by side swimming. And during ascent, each diver is still in full control of his/her own buoyancy.

But I understand your point and usage. Especially when you already have a pony, minimizing 1 hose kind of make sense
.

No, I do not agree. the rig you showed has no redundancy. With the rig showed in my video, each diver has their own redundancy. So that is not a better way for me to dive.. unless it is in 10 ft of water like the video.

Also the comment about both divers being in control of their own buoyancy during ascent. That comment has me puzzled. Is that a good thing? Why? If two people are ascending and only one has the air supply don't you want them close together even in contact with each other? If they are independent and each controlling their own buoyancy and they are connected only by a long hose held by teeth....what happens when the donor goes up faster and the victim starts to sink? That sounds like something to avoid rather than tout as a benefit?

I would prefer for the divers to be close during the ascent. In fact, as the rescuer, I would put a HIGH value on being able to vent air from the victim's BC on ascent, because it is quite likely that he is more stressed than me and may fail to do it, or fail to do it properly.

If we are close together, holding onto eachother, it is IMPOSSIBLE to get out of whack with relative ascent rates, I can NOT be drug up by a victim who is panicked and is holding onto the hose and shooting up above me .. in a position several feet above me and probably kicking me in the head? And what would be my recourse in such a situation? Try to spin around and way over stress MY hose and yank it back down or rip the reg from the guy's mouth?

No, that configuration does not look better to me. Now if you are diving single file in a cave or wreck, then a long hose would be essential to sharing air..

But who dives in tight over head, single file passages with no redundancy? Not me.. So what function does that rig have for open water, recreational diver. What function does the pictured rig have for a single file penetration dive?

Please explain why that rig is safer, better, more functional than the one I showed?