Question regarding emergency removal of SCUBAPRO Classic Unlimited

[fnfalman]

The fact is that there is no one rote solution. A diver who keeps his or her cool so that he/she can work out the best solution for the immediate situation is the one that is the better rescuer.

Cut the BC? Sure, if that's what you gotta do.

Let the tank go only? Sure, if that's what the situation calls for.

Ditch BCs off both rescuers and distressed divers? Yep, why not?

If I were to do a SoCal (or similar cool water spot) shore dive with a buddy and I were to have to tow that person back to shore? I'd ditch all of our gears and rely on the 7mm wetsuits to float us both. There's no way that I can ably fight against riptides, surges, currents with all my duds on while towing somebody.

In the tropics with no exposure suits? Probably ditch at least the distressed diver's tank (weights for sure, naturally). I'd ditch my own weight and if I could work it in, ditch my own tank too. Otherwise I wouldn't be able to tow anybody for any decent distance at all. I'm fat and not in great shape. I know my physical limitations.

 

[261311]

Very informative topic, I like it.

 

[Sevenrider860]

I started diving with the ScubaPro "Stab Jacket" in 1983. Bright orange and very easy to don on and off. I worked at a dive shop on Guam and my boss let me pay for it over time.

I will wear my updated "Classic" ( wish it was orange like the original ) a few times a year on my LDS shop dives. If sized correctly it is extremely comfortable...but it does not adapt well to different exposure suits. Sized correctly for 3mm makes 5mm feel constricting and forget about diving that same size dry.

I guess that makes me "retro"...but I prefer "classic".

 

[MarineResearch]

Hi,

I am a 49 year old woman who weighs 135 lb and is 5'3 tall. I have a SCUBAPRO Classic Unlimited in size small. It fit perfectly.

I am currently working on my PADI rescue diver training. When I was the "victim" in rescue scenarios this past weekend, the two gentlemen I was teamed with could NOT get the BCD off of me, inflated, on the surface, while giving rescue breaths and towing. (simulated rescue breaths) I became concerned. Other people's BCDs have quick release clips on the chest to ditch their BCDs. Mine would not come over my shoulders, nor would my arms pull through the arm holes. I started searching for information on removing my BCD in an emergency, and did not find anything useful.

To give you more information, we were doing this at the Blue Heron Bridge in Riviera Beach, FL in about 8 feet of water. The water temp was about 74 degrees and I was wearing a 7 mm full wetsuit, with a 3/5 hooded vest, 3 mm gloves and 20 lb of lead. 8 lb in each front pocket and 2 lb in each trim pocket. They dropped the front pockets, but did not attempt the ditch the weight in the trim pockets. Please advise me regarding the BEST way to remove this BCD in an emergency.

Thank you,

Amy Rabinowitz

Well, on the bright side, this BCD reduces your chance of getting pregnant. I could poke fun at these guys, but it can be a little awkward removing a female's BCD without a little inadvertent touching, especially when there aren't any snaps to easily remove the BCD in the chest area. In a real emergency, I suspect these guys would do much better. Besides, this is part of the learning experience where exposure to different equipment will only make all of you better rescue divers.

You could always consider carrying some Cialis™/Viagra™ to facilitate faster equipment removal. There is a thread on the subject somewhere around here...

 

[DiverAmy]

Well, on the bright side, this BCD reduces your chance of getting pregnant. I could poke fun at these guys, but it can be a little awkward removing a female's BCD without a little inadvertent touching, especially when there aren't any snaps to easily remove the BCD in the chest area. In a real emergency, I suspect these guys would do much better. Besides, this is part of the learning experience where exposure to different equipment will only make all of you better rescue divers.

You could always consider carrying some Cialis™/Viagra™ to facilitate faster equipment removal. There is a thread on the subject somewhere around here...

"What's love got to do, got to do with it...?"

P.S. My age reduces my chance of getting pregnant even more than the BCD does...

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Amy with your sense of humor and openness I hope to see you posting here for a long time. And often. A welcome addition to the board you are!

---------- Post added March 15th, 2013 at 08:34 AM ----------

On the totally serious side some things have been brought up that anyone choosing gear should consider. One very important one being that "is the gear configured to allow for self rescue and for rescue by others, should that become necessary?"

This is a key point when I cover gear selection for students.

 

[DiverAmy]

On the totally serious side some things have been brought up that anyone choosing gear should consider. One very important one being that "is the gear configured to allow for self rescue and for rescue by others, should that become necessary?"

This is a key point when I cover gear selection for students.

Jim,
As you can imagine, the class, and Kevin and my follow up practices and discussions, and this thread have REALLY gotten me thinking. (Oh, and thanks for the compliment) I am not going to JUMP to make a change, but I am seriously thinking about getting a second BCD. This Saturday I will try this BCD out with my drysuit in the pool and that will give me even more information about a decision. I also purchased both titanium EMT shears and the EEZYCUT trilobite. I might use the classic when I wear a 5 mm or less and use my new BCD for 7 mm or the dry suit ... though I am thinking once I get used to the drysuit, I might not use a 5 mm wetsuit or thicker very often. The point is that this class really woke me up. Do I feel stupid for never having really considered these issues prior? Yeah, kinda. But, so it goes. I am very glad to be alive and learning. Let me add that another BIG thing that came out of last week's practice was that I did not know how to manually inflate Kevin's BCD b/c the deflate button on his Zeagle has to be pushed right in the very center (and it is a large button) or it doesn't seal and the expirations just vent right out. We tested it in our house, after I failed to do it in the water, and was initially completely baffled and felt like a failure, only to learn that it is a little nuance that I had to discover, and that I did best pushing it with three fingers instead of one. That gave me confidence to experiment without writing myself off as too small/weak/incapable and I believe I will do a way better pre-dive check on both my own gear and Kevin's (or other buddies) than I ever had. That alone was worth the price of admission. I have a fantasy that someone will let me try and cut an old classic with the shears or trilobite. Any takers?
Amy

 

[SC_Hoaty]

Jim,
As you can imagine, the class, and Kevin and my follow up practices and discussions and this thread have REALLY gotten me thinking. (Oh, and thanks for the compliment) I am not going to JUMP to make a change, but I am seriously thinking about getting a second BCD. This Saturday I will try this BCD out with my drysuit in the pool and that will give me even more information about a decision. I also purchased both titanium EMT shears and the EEZYCUT trilobite. I might use the classic when I wear a 5 mm or less and use my new BCD for 7 mm or the dry suit ... though I am thinking once I get used to the drysuit, I might not use a 5 mm wetsuit or thicker very often. The point is that this class really woke me up. Do I feel stupid for never having really considered these issues prior? Yeah, kinda. But, so it goes. I am very glad to be alive and learning. Let me add that another BIG thing that came out of last week's practice was that I did not know how to manually inflate Kevin's BCD b/c the button on his Zeagle has to be pushed right in the center or it doesn't seal and the expirations just vent right out. We tested it in our house, after I failed to do it in the water, and was initially completely baffled and felt like a failure, only to learn that it is a little nuance that I had to discover, and that I did best pushing it with three fingers instead of one. That gave me confidence to experiment without writing myself off as too small/weak/incapable and I believe I will do a way better pre-dive check on both my own gear and Kevin's (or other buddies) than I ever had. That alone was worth the price of admission. I have a fantasy that someone will let me try and cut an old classic with the shears or trilobite. Any takers?
Amy

Instead of a different BCD, take a look at a Backplate and Wing. They are not for everyone, but you may like it.

 

[DiverAmy]

Instead of a different BCD, take a look at a Backplate and Wing. They are not for everyone, but you may like it.

Thanks for mentioning that. Actually, that is a consideration, as well. The thought already ran through my mind. I need to educated myself about the pros and cons and see if that is a good fit for the diving I do and will be doing.

 

[rhwestfall]

or a BC with front buckles, or a BI with a similar harness.....

Honestly, it boils down to personal preference as well as whomever is potentially involved in an aid scenario doing what they need to do....