beginning with doubles

[MBH]

I've got to ask -- What is "undergarment preparedness"?

I'm wondering about that one myself.

 

[all4scuba05]

How to prevent wedgies?

 

[Walter]

It's easy to turn turtle and a little challenging to turn back over.

My experience is somewhat different. Twins are easier to control than a single large tank. With one heavy tank on your back, you must keep it balanced. It's not difficult for an experienced diver, but when I was relatively new, a single steel 96 would flip me on my back pretty quickly if I didn't stay pretty level at all times. A set of twins is more balanced across your back. Weight on one side counter balances the weight on the other. It's much easier to dive twins, IMO.

 

[TSandM]

Oh, I actually agree with you Walter (as usual)! Double are more stable, both from side to side, and up and down. I prefer to dive them, but wish somebody else would get them in and out of the water for me

I was just referring to the fact that, if you do get them far enough off kilter that they want to go over, they really DO, and it takes some strong finning to stop the process or get back off your back. You really notice this when you're doing diver rescue drills and trying to keep the unconscious diver from turtling.

 

[Walter]

I really wish I had a set of triples, they are sweet!

 

[TSandM]

Triples??? (Oooof, she groans, visualizing well over a hundred pounds of tank alone . . . ) They must be tiny tanks!

 

[Spratman]

I'm trying to remember. I think Jacques Cousteau had a set of these. They sorta looked like 3 40's hooked up together.

I dive a large single and after three years, I'm switching to doubles, because of wanting to do Cave 1. Knowing what I do now, I wish I would have gone with a BP/W set up in the beginning. Plenty of excellent advice here.

 

[StraitsdiverGeo]

I'm no expert by any means but I have not had any issues with turtling. My first few experiences with doubles wasn’t the fact I would find myself flipping over, but the inertia would take over. If I started a roll the weight of the doubles would tend to roll me up side down. (My first set 74# on land) I found that my weight needed to be in the "sweet spot" to be properly trimmed.

And ya, if you get a chance on a good deal go for it!! I have out grown some of my gear, and wished i had planned a little futher down the road. I belive that some times it's money better spent to buy gear you can grow in to, but gain experiance with new gear over time. A little instruction is a good thing too!

Regards, George

 

[spacemanspiff1974]

I personally don't think that diving with doubles is too much task loading for a new diver, providing you are not slinging deco or stage tanks on your side...which you shouldn't be doing right now.

However, new divers often run low on air before they approach their no decompression limit. This will not be the case with doubles. Just be careful.

 

[bigred177]

Maybe you'll never want to do any dives for which you would need doubles!

i dont think that will be happening. i have always loved the thought of diving and now that i have been all i want to do is go some more. its just a matter of time before i feel i have enough experience to do some more training. there are only about 2 classes i could see myself not wanting to do out of all the ones i have seen.

Not sure how one is 'set up' for singles and the other for doubles

when i say set up for doubles and singles i mean that one bp/w has doubles on it now and another has a single on it now. and everything needed would be coming with both rigs. i may pick them up to save for a later date and just play around with them in my pool for awhile while im refining my skills.

For me the challenge was the overall weight. I weigh around 110 lbs and a set of 100's with all of the associated gear is a challenge in itself getting into and out of the water.

im not sure but i dont think i would have a problem here. i am 6'3" 295lbs and play football so the issue of hauling them around and in/out of the water wouldnt be a big one i dont think.