Clips, Retractors, etc. for staying Streamlined

[tdallen]

I'm a fairly new diver and I like to stay streamlined when I dive. There seem to be an overwhelming array of clips, clasps, lanyards, retractors, etc. available. But many would leave equipment dangling all over you...

I know the first challenge is don't bring a bunch of unnecessary gear with you. But I find a flashlight useful on most dives and I'd like to have it easily available (about 5.5", 7oz dry). But a standard flashlight retractor is over 5" long on top of the flashlight, so you're dragging a 1' dangly. Instead of that I've been keeping my flashlight on a lanyard and tucking it into my cummerbund when not in use but that's not a great solution.

Do any of you more experienced divers have a way of rigging a small flashlight (or other commonly used piece of gear) so that it snugs up against your BCD when not in use, but is conveniently available when needed?

Thanks.

 

[Scott]

Primary (cannister) is on my hand with a soft Goodman handle.
Most of my backup lights are held with a bolt snap attached to the light and clipped to a d-ring. The head is then held by a piece of bicycle tubing on the harness, or in a pocket on my thigh.
How to attach a bolt snap How to Attach a Snap | Dive Gear Express®
Not my rig, but configured similar

Edited as I forgot to mention primary

 

[St John the Diver]

Your flashlight belongs in your hand. It's just as important for maintaining buddy contact as it is for illumination. No need to look at your buddy over your shoulder if his light beam and yours are "talking to each other". I'll write more on that if you like.

Google "soft goodman handle". It'll hold the light on the back of your hand where it belongs.

 

[tbone1004]

Equipment Configuration | Global Underwater Explorers

read up

Flashlights have a clip on the end and stay clipped off and stowed on the strap if they aren't intended to be used. I use a goodman glove as mentioned above if I want to use one as a primary, or just hold it in my hand if I just need to poke around.

Very difficult to properly stow things on most jacket bc's due to d-rings in the wrong places and the way they are designed

 

[stuartv]

Some items chosen from each of these, plus a bicycle inner tube to cut up for rubber bands, and you should have everything you need. Other than possibly a BCD with well-placed D-rings and a way to add the rubber bands to its shoulder straps and waist belt.

Premium Stainless Steel Snaps | Dive Gear Express® for bolt snaps

Surgical Tubing & Bungee Cord | Dive Gear Express® for bungee cord (aka shock cord)

White Nylon Line, Bulk Spool for cave line

 

[tdallen]

Thanks for the links, I'll start looking. I like the ideas above for rigging a backup light.

I have a Goodman handle for night or low visibility diving. It seems like overkill for the type of high visibility warm water rec diving that I tend to do, though. My preference in warm, bright water (admittedly under-informed by much experience) would be to have my primary dive light tethered and immediately available but not constantly mounted or powered on like it would be in a Goodman handle. In those conditions I only use it for looking along a wall or under rocks, or signalling a dive party member.

 

[Lorenzoid]

I have a Goodman handle for night or low visibility diving. It seems like overkill for the type of high visibility warm water rec diving that I tend to do, though. My preference in warm, bright water (admittedly under-informed by much experience) would be to have my primary dive light tethered and immediately available but not constantly mounted or powered on like it would be in a Goodman handle. In those conditions I only use it for looking along a wall or under rocks, or signalling a dive party member.

For just carrying a small light in case the need arises to look into crevices or whatever during the day, I would use a bolt snap and bungee or inner tube ring as others have advised. Needless to say, if your BC has a pocket, you could stow a small light in the pocket.

 

[tdallen]

Any suggestions for how to attach the bicycle inner tube "pocket" to a BCD strap or mounting point?

 

[olphart]

The simplest way, (and in many instances the hardest with single strap harness) is to thread the web thru the inner tube

 

[St John the Diver]

Thanks for the links, I'll start looking. I like the ideas above for rigging a backup light.

I have a Goodman handle for night or low visibility diving. It seems like overkill for the type of high visibility warm water rec diving that I tend to do, though. My preference in warm, bright water (admittedly under-informed by much experience) would be to have my primary dive light tethered and immediately available but not constantly mounted or powered on like it would be in a Goodman handle. In those conditions I only use it for looking along a wall or under rocks, or signalling a dive party member.

Suspect that once you realize that the only way to see color on the reefs is to use a light continuously that you'll change your mind. I use a good light on 100% of even recreational level dives both in the tropics and in places like Catalina in shallow water and see far more animals (under ledges) and far more color (everyplace) than divers who aren't using a light. Try it for a trip and tell me what you think. I don't even notice the light on the back of my hand.