Question about “balanced rigs” and having all ballast unditchable

[Akimbo]

but I can’t think of a single instance that I would have legitimately needed to remove my gear underwater

I have had to remove cylinders twice to clear an entanglement. One was monofilament fishing line off Catalina Island and the other was in trawler nets on a wreck in the North Sea.

 

[northernone]

The idea of continuous webbing goes back to the early development of what were called back packs in the early 1960s, long before BC came to market. The primary idea was to allow tightening or loosening shoulder straps by pulling or slacking the belly band straps. They fit most diver's backs so well that crotch straps were not needed.

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My gear currently drying off as I approach shore. (cellular data works out here at sundown)

Was thinking of this thread during today's dive. No detachable weight to dump except my camera. No wetsuit and stayed above the 2nd thermocline. Webbing has the 4 rivets at the shoulder.

Visited the remnants of the log that nearly claimed me (mentioned upthread) and ditched my gear for old time's sake. Without gear and wetsuit I'm still negative the few lbs but that is easy to swim up in fins.

Interesting sidenote, holding "technical diver trim" is easy in a nicely fitting back pack.

Cameron

 

[tomfcrist]

I have had to remove cylinders twice to clear an entanglement. One was monofilament fishing line off Catalina Island and the other was in trawler nets on a wreck in the North Sea.

Twice since 1962? So you are saying it’s beyond abnormal....

 

[Akimbo]

Twice since 1962? So you are saying it’s beyond abnormal....

No, I was just responding to this:

but I can’t think of a single instance that I would have legitimately needed to remove my gear underwater

I have no idea what normal is. Those were the two cases I can remember -- beyond planned cylinders changes on long duration dives and blow and go drills.

 

[tomfcrist]

No, I was just responding to this:


I have no idea what normal is. Those were the two cases I can remember -- beyond planned cylinders changes on long duration dives and blow and go drills.

I’d consider twice in 56 years of fairly active diving statistically abnormal.

Was your buddy unable to assist you? Or were you alone?

 

[Akimbo]

Was your buddy unable to assist you? Or were you alone?

We were a private boatload of macro photographers in Catalina... pretty much the same as solo. I was the support diver in the North Sea and didn't want to distract the working diver.

I don't recall giving it much thought since "ditch, blow & go" training was standard before and after joining and in the Navy. Reluctance to doff and don gear underwater is foreign to me. When did they stop teaching it to recreational divers?

 

[Bob DBF]

4 diveres went missing - Malpelo, Colombia

Yeah, that's the one. It would have been five but the dive op never reported them missing, so the next morning when he was rescued he was not technically missing.


Bob

 

[PfcAJ]

We were a private boatload of macro photographers in Catalina... pretty much the same as solo. I was the support diver in the North Sea and didn't want to distract the working diver.

I don't recall giving it much thought since "ditch, blow & go" training was standard before and after joining and in the Navy. Reluctance to doff and don gear underwater is foreign to me. When did they stop teaching it to recreational divers?

I’ve gotta say, I’m disinclined to remove the thing that keeps me alive underwater while I’m underwater.

 

[tomfcrist]

We were a private boatload of macro photographers in Catalina... pretty much the same as solo. I was the support diver in the North Sea and didn't want to distract the working diver.

I don't recall giving it much thought since "ditch, blow & go" training was standard before and after joining and in the Navy. Reluctance to doff and don gear underwater is foreign to me. When did they stop teaching it to recreational divers?

Makes sense that you were essentially solo.

They didn’t stop teaching it...it’s still taught.
That being said the need to do it is very rare. Even more rare if you don’t swim through gill nets.

 

[tomfcrist]

I’ve gotta say, I’m disinclined to remove the thing that keeps me alive underwater while I’m underwater.

In a cave definitely.,.i can’t recall rejecting equipment working well for a single cave or wreck diver.

One could presumably have to remove gear to untangle themselves and put it back on...if they swim through a gill etc while diving solo...