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PADI DM Gear Exchange Difficulty
- Thread starter CaptainKidd
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When I was doing my DM gear switch, we started by kitting up in each others equipment and then switched back to our own during the skill. The biggest thing was to get the buddy breathing down to a comfortable pattern first, then start removing, swapping equipment between the breaths. We had plenty of time to practice on our own 1st before doing the skill "on record", and the CD talked us through it during the practice. We 1st started out simulating on dry land (no tanks in BCD so it was all lite weight, then in shallow water. Once we were comfortable, we switched to deep water. Only after that, and the skill was "mastered" did we do it for the test. This was the way it was done at the PADI College in Santa Ana.
Safe Diving,
George
Safe Diving,
George
Pearldiver07
Contributor
OK - some of the above mentioned this - but EVERY failure I've seen on the problem-solving exercise results from getting into a rush.
Maintaining control of your breathing pattern is paramount. If your buddy gets ahead - no problem. If you have to cycle buddy breathing to calm down without advancing through - no problem. Lose track of maintaining your breathing rate or try to do too much on a single reg pass - BIG PROBLEM.
The lesson that you're going to learn here is that as long as you stay calm and stay focused (remember - time is not the measure of success) you can overcome problems.
There are many, many ways to try to complete this exercise, but all tips/tricks are just that. My instructor did this with no warning at the pool one day. He just said "OK, let's do the gear swap." and explained the can do/can't do of it. He then said he'd meet me underwater, and dropped. So I dropped too and off we went.
I figured out he did me a favor. I didn't have time to get nervous.
Keep in mind that the drill isn't about exchanging gear, it's about maintaining composure in a challenging environment. You're not going to be graceful swimming in someone else's gear, and if either of uses corrective lenses, it may cause a headache. But all that aside, it's fun if you let it be.
Maintaining control of your breathing pattern is paramount. If your buddy gets ahead - no problem. If you have to cycle buddy breathing to calm down without advancing through - no problem. Lose track of maintaining your breathing rate or try to do too much on a single reg pass - BIG PROBLEM.
The lesson that you're going to learn here is that as long as you stay calm and stay focused (remember - time is not the measure of success) you can overcome problems.
There are many, many ways to try to complete this exercise, but all tips/tricks are just that. My instructor did this with no warning at the pool one day. He just said "OK, let's do the gear swap." and explained the can do/can't do of it. He then said he'd meet me underwater, and dropped. So I dropped too and off we went.
I figured out he did me a favor. I didn't have time to get nervous.
Keep in mind that the drill isn't about exchanging gear, it's about maintaining composure in a challenging environment. You're not going to be graceful swimming in someone else's gear, and if either of uses corrective lenses, it may cause a headache. But all that aside, it's fun if you let it be.
When I did my exchange, there were two teams in the pool and "my team" had no problems while the other teams had significant ones. I believe there were two significant differences which led to our success:
1. Buddy breathing -- USE A LONGER HOSE! I have an AirSource and my primary is on a 40" hose and we decided it was MUCH easier to BB with the long(er) hose than the normal short primary. (Note -- if you have a "normal" length on the primary, do the BB with the Octo which should have a much longer hose.)
2. MY BC also has integrated weights -- I took them out and put them in my bathing suit pocket. I didn't have a weight belt available but I certainly wanted my weights on me and not on my BC.
3. As others said, start out with your buddy's gear, especially the mask, IF there is a question about fit (the mask was our only issue). (Oh, and spring straps on fins make that switch MUCH easier!)
1. Buddy breathing -- USE A LONGER HOSE! I have an AirSource and my primary is on a 40" hose and we decided it was MUCH easier to BB with the long(er) hose than the normal short primary. (Note -- if you have a "normal" length on the primary, do the BB with the Octo which should have a much longer hose.)
2. MY BC also has integrated weights -- I took them out and put them in my bathing suit pocket. I didn't have a weight belt available but I certainly wanted my weights on me and not on my BC.
3. As others said, start out with your buddy's gear, especially the mask, IF there is a question about fit (the mask was our only issue). (Oh, and spring straps on fins make that switch MUCH easier!)
Instructor manual 5-4
Something personally i'd expect DM candidates to be familiar with before attempting the exercise!
Hank49
Contributor
If I remember right, you're supposed to come up with this plan all on your own with your partner. You're cheating here.
asking for advice.
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OP
CaptainKidd
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If I remember right, you're supposed to come up with this plan all on your own with your partner. You're cheating here.
I had a plan... a couple actually. They didn't work. For this to work both candidates need to be very comfortable in the water. My first partner was a bit panicky at times which caused problems... i.e. grabbing the regulator from my hands, moving too fast, shooting to the surface, etc... My second partner was an instructor and we progressed pretty far... until I faced the problems mentioned above (weighting, bcd, sizing, etc...). So, I don't consider my post "cheating", but rather asking others who have been there and maybe in a similar situation, for some advice that might help with my planning on the next attempt.
Thanks to all those who have offered their advice. I will be attempting this again this Saturday, and I'll let ya'll know how I make out.
Cheers!
Dan
MichaelBaranows
Contributor
When I did my gear exchange the regulator started free-flowing about half way which I think made it easier to buddy breath.
We started with the other persons gear so once we had our owe gear we would feel more comfortable. We used a weight belt. Another good thing is that we both dive the same type of gear so we knew how it worked. Starting with mask cause I had trouble getting their mask to seal and I didn't want to be trying to do everything with a leaking mask.
We started with the other persons gear so once we had our owe gear we would feel more comfortable. We used a weight belt. Another good thing is that we both dive the same type of gear so we knew how it worked. Starting with mask cause I had trouble getting their mask to seal and I didn't want to be trying to do everything with a leaking mask.
Take you time, take your time, take your time relax relax relax
The order I did it: Adding some extra that I think would have made it easier.
5 cycles of breathing (remember steady stream of bubbles from mouth)
1 fin
2 fin
2 cycles of breathing to relax again
Remove BC that isn't being used from you or your partner
2 cycles of buddy breathing to relax
remove BC that is being used
2 cycles of breathing
buddy with reg take 2 big breaths and hand over reg Don BC
2 cycles of breathing
repeat for second buddy
2 cycles of breathing
Ok sign and both masks off
2 cycles of breathing
One mask at a time back on (don't worry about clearing just yet)
Clear you mask after the first breath of your cycle
2 cycles of breathing
signal Ascend and ascend while continuing your cycles
The Key is to relax, take your time and be sure you take full breaths. If you do not you will be sucking on your lips and may even bolt to the surface. I found myself sucking on my lips only once but let me tell you, when you start trying to breath and can't your eyes will start turning to plates. Just know, you will be able to breath in just a couple seconds or your other BC is there, and if your instructor doesn't mind you can start over, ask prior to getting in the water.
I got a 5 on my first try, but alas the buddy I had was an Instructor.
Thanks again Jack (Diver's Supply Marietta, GA)
The order I did it: Adding some extra that I think would have made it easier.
5 cycles of breathing (remember steady stream of bubbles from mouth)
1 fin
2 fin
2 cycles of breathing to relax again
Remove BC that isn't being used from you or your partner
2 cycles of buddy breathing to relax
remove BC that is being used
2 cycles of breathing
buddy with reg take 2 big breaths and hand over reg Don BC
2 cycles of breathing
repeat for second buddy
2 cycles of breathing
Ok sign and both masks off
2 cycles of breathing
One mask at a time back on (don't worry about clearing just yet)
Clear you mask after the first breath of your cycle
2 cycles of breathing
signal Ascend and ascend while continuing your cycles
The Key is to relax, take your time and be sure you take full breaths. If you do not you will be sucking on your lips and may even bolt to the surface. I found myself sucking on my lips only once but let me tell you, when you start trying to breath and can't your eyes will start turning to plates. Just know, you will be able to breath in just a couple seconds or your other BC is there, and if your instructor doesn't mind you can start over, ask prior to getting in the water.
I got a 5 on my first try, but alas the buddy I had was an Instructor.
Thanks again Jack (Diver's Supply Marietta, GA)
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