djcheburashka
Contributor
Most of the wreck divers I've dove with seem to prefer the butt-pack method. I try to incorporate a little more DIR in my rig, so I stow a lift bag in an MC pocket, my SMB and 100' safety spool in the right hip pocket of my drysuit, and my primary "wreck" reel on my left hip d-ring.
I note that there is no DIR place for my camera to go, or a catch bag, and the right hip pocket smb doesn't entirely make sense. So far, I've been clipping my camera to the lower right corner hole on the backplate when I dive singles, and when I dive doubles (because then the hole is inaccessible) I clip it to the left hip d-ring to start but often stow it on either the DPV ring or right chest d-ring because when there's already three things hanging from the left hip d-ring its both (a) hard to find a spot and (b) hard to know that you've clipped onto the d-ring itself as opposed to onto some other clip (I have done this by accident and found out after the dive). I clip my marker lights to either the left hip d-ring or butt d-ring. (I find reaching the butt d-ring a pain in the butt with doubles, but that's just me maybe.)
I am starting to see the virtue of the butt-pack, frankly, DIR be damned. I think those Florida cave divers just don't have the same kit needs (SMB, camera, lift bag, catch bag, stage bottle, marker lights, etc. all at once and all the time) as North Atlantic types.
One thing I've seen and thought highly of, and am considering adopting, is to add on the left side harness under the arm below the left chest d-ring (and under the left side spare hand light) one of those "under counterlung" large flat d-rings. They stick far enough out that you can clip a catch bag or something to them without them obstructing either your left arm or a stage bottle. On the other hand, this does make the left side even busier than it already is, which is quite a lot with a hog/DIR harness. I expect to experiment with this soon, and if I don't die from an entanglement problem and also remember I will post my result.
I note that there is no DIR place for my camera to go, or a catch bag, and the right hip pocket smb doesn't entirely make sense. So far, I've been clipping my camera to the lower right corner hole on the backplate when I dive singles, and when I dive doubles (because then the hole is inaccessible) I clip it to the left hip d-ring to start but often stow it on either the DPV ring or right chest d-ring because when there's already three things hanging from the left hip d-ring its both (a) hard to find a spot and (b) hard to know that you've clipped onto the d-ring itself as opposed to onto some other clip (I have done this by accident and found out after the dive). I clip my marker lights to either the left hip d-ring or butt d-ring. (I find reaching the butt d-ring a pain in the butt with doubles, but that's just me maybe.)
I am starting to see the virtue of the butt-pack, frankly, DIR be damned. I think those Florida cave divers just don't have the same kit needs (SMB, camera, lift bag, catch bag, stage bottle, marker lights, etc. all at once and all the time) as North Atlantic types.
One thing I've seen and thought highly of, and am considering adopting, is to add on the left side harness under the arm below the left chest d-ring (and under the left side spare hand light) one of those "under counterlung" large flat d-rings. They stick far enough out that you can clip a catch bag or something to them without them obstructing either your left arm or a stage bottle. On the other hand, this does make the left side even busier than it already is, which is quite a lot with a hog/DIR harness. I expect to experiment with this soon, and if I don't die from an entanglement problem and also remember I will post my result.
