Streamlining my equipment

[Russoft]

My wife and I have recently gone beyond vacation divers and started to seek out local diving. Consequentially, we've bought all our own equipment (minus tanks). Now that we have autonomy over our equipment setup, we're struggling to find the best way to streamline ourselves. We are plagued by the usual problems of consoles and octos dragging in the silt and lake weed. Even when we dutifully clip them off, the hose slides through the clip and inevitably hangs down anyway.

What's the best way to secure these things? We've tried the skum-ball octo holders but experience free flowing from the regulators in that position. The cheap plastic clips have the hose-sliding problem.

My wife's console flies out of control as it constantly detaches from the plastic clip. I've ditched the console boot and have my SPG draped over my left shoulder and use my wrist computer as my depth gauge, but my wife prefers the console as having stuff on her wrist isn't convenient as she already feels bulky with a 7mm wetsuit + gloves and could very well lose a computer on her wrist.

Is there a good way to secure these things? Or should we be going full DIR setup and have the regulator necklaces, etc? How and where are things best clipped off? The standard setup taught in OW just sucks.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

The bungeed necklass is the best thing since sliced bread. It never gets dragged and you always know where it is. For her gauges, get a bolt snap and attach it securely to the hose as close to her console as possible. Clip the bolt snap to her left D-Ring and it won't fly around. If she can't read it where it is she can unclip it, read it and clip it back on. Using gauges with wrist boots is much easier. She could replace the boot strap with bungee and never worry about losing a computer or compass.

 

[Zeagle Eagle]

I am a warm water recreational diver so these tips may not apply to you cold water guys or Wreck dudes.

1. Get rid of the octopus and get an Air II or an Octo Z. One less hose to drag. I have seem many a dive master or instructor drag an octopus through the coral.
2. I use a re-tractor/bolt snap to keep my computer tight against my chest or you could use a wrist mount computer. The nice thing abut a re-tractor is you don't have to unclip it to read it. I use a DataMask (yes I know it's expensive) and don't have to worry about a computer at all. It's built into the mask. Basically, I have two less hoses than everyone else. No Octo, No console.
3. I dive a Zeagle Stiletto BCD. Very little junk up front. It's sort of a minimalist BC. It's very streamlined.
4. All my other equipment is stuffed in a pocket, SMB, finger reel, GoPro.
5. I have a Triloblyte knife and a whistle tightly clipped to my upper BC strap.
6. Weight integrated makes less drag than a weight belt.
7. Throw away your snorkel. If you can't, then get a foldable one and keep it in your BC pocket.

 

[rx7diver]

My wife and I have recently gone beyond vacation divers and started to seek out local diving. Consequentially, we've bought all our own equipment (minus tanks). Now that we have autonomy over our equipment setup, we're struggling to find the best way to streamline ourselves. We are plagued by the usual problems of consoles and octos dragging in the silt and lake weed. Even when we dutifully clip them off, the hose slides through the clip and inevitably hangs down anyway.

What's the best way to secure these things? We've tried the skum-ball octo holders but experience free flowing from the regulators in that position. The cheap plastic clips have the hose-sliding problem.

My wife's console flies out of control as it constantly detaches from the plastic clip. I've ditched the console boot and have my SPG draped over my left shoulder and use my wrist computer as my depth gauge, but my wife prefers the console as having stuff on her wrist isn't convenient as she already feels bulky with a 7mm wetsuit + gloves and could very well lose a computer on her wrist.

Is there a good way to secure these things? Or should we be going full DIR setup and have the regulator necklaces, etc? How and where are things best clipped off? The standard setup taught in OW just sucks.

The Scubaboard search feature will yield several threads addressing "streamlining." Here's one to get you started: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ba...eamlined.html?highlight=streamlining+rx7diver.

Safe Diving,

rx7diver

 

[Nemrod]

What you really mean is not "streamline" as very little* you are going to do with your gear will effectively reduce your drag profile significantly but SIMPLIFY. If you do not believe me do as I have done and run timed swims in various gear in a pool (also have done fins etc.). I began on my minimalism fanaticism in the mid 90s when I discovered kayak diving.

1. Do not carry extra stuff, things that you MAY need someday in some strange and wonderful scenario are things you really do not need at all. Such as snorkels, extra masks, SMBs while lake diving, lights (especially can lights while daylight diving in clear water) and similar items.

2. Octopus seconds, well, I often do not use one. I am what I am and it is what it is. But if you must, properly size the hose length to lay close to the body and secure the second stage with a good retainer clip or necklace it with a QR knot.

3. Consoles are so 80s. Lose it now. Along with all of your retractors and similar doodads.

4. Pockets, like, why? BCs with pockets, pockets on your environmental suits, then there are even shorts to wear over your suit with even more pockets. Refer to (1.) above. If you have none of that then you have no need of pockets to put it in. See how minimalism works!

*A small wing and BP can present less frontal area and less profile to the passing water. But of course, the ultimate in minimalism and drag reduction and simplification, ditch all manor of BC entirely. And by the way, a horse collar BC, a nice trim one like the SeaTec is lower profile than a wing in my swim tests and even has a pocket!

N

 

[dumpsterDiver]

My wife and I have recently gone beyond vacation divers and started to seek out local diving. Consequentially, we've bought all our own equipment (minus tanks). Now that we have autonomy over our equipment setup, we're struggling to find the best way to streamline ourselves. We are plagued by the usual problems of consoles and octos dragging in the silt and lake weed. Even when we dutifully clip them off, the hose slides through the clip and inevitably hangs down anyway.

What's the best way to secure these things? We've tried the skum-ball octo holders but experience free flowing from the regulators in that position. The cheap plastic clips have the hose-sliding problem.

My wife's console flies out of control as it constantly detaches from the plastic clip. I've ditched the console boot and have my SPG draped over my left shoulder and use my wrist computer as my depth gauge, but my wife prefers the console as having stuff on her wrist isn't convenient as she already feels bulky with a 7mm wetsuit + gloves and could very well lose a computer on her wrist.

Is there a good way to secure these things? Or should we be going full DIR setup and have the regulator necklaces, etc? How and where are things best clipped off? The standard setup taught in OW just sucks.

You do NOT have to go the "full DIR setup".. Probably you have heard it is a holistic system that works together for optimal performance and you gotta use all of it. I would say.. adopt as many of the DIR things that work for you.

The necklace rig works best for me, - run the hose under my arm so it is not sticking out. I do NOT like anything on my wrist, so I use a console. I use a constrictor knot or some other means to attach a bolt snap to the SPG hose at the correct location for a hoop or side ring attachment. I want it generally to be 8 inches from the spg, but you need to make it so the gage will hang where it is easy to grab and you do not have to unclip to see it. Running it over the shoulder with the inflator hose, is something that works pretty well for me as an alternative.

A good barrle clip that is FIXED to the hose is the key, not sliding around. Just experiment with zip ties, until you get the position right.

You are correct that the typical recreational setup is really pretty crappy. How many years have we seen it.. yet the standard configuration seems unchanged.. with the looong octopus hanging out with a big loop and the console hanging loose or clipped across the front of the BC where you have to unclip it to take off the scuba unit? Not a good idea in my book. Avoid those silly spring loaded line retractors.

I also pretty much hate the standard recreational BC with integrated weights/pockets.. Try a freedive rubber belt and you will probably agree that the standard recreational weighting system also SUX.

 

[kwinter]

The problem with the octo holder or the bungee necklace is that your octo second stage doesn't seem to be tuned correctly. It should not freeflow just because you connect it in a mouthpiece-up position. Detune it just a hair so that doesn't happen. Then any holder will be fine.

1. Get rid of the octopus and get an Air II or an Octo Z. One less hose to drag. I have seem many a dive master or instructor drag an octopus through the coral.
2. I use a re-tractor/bolt snap to keep my computer tight against my chest or you could use a wrist mount computer. The nice thing abut a re-tractor is you don't have to unclip it to read it. I use a DataMask (yes I know it's expensive) and don't have to worry about a computer at all. It's built into the mask. Basically, I have two less hoses than everyone else. No Octo, No console.

Ignore this drivel. Hardware solutions to skill or configuration problems. If your DM is dragging an octo through the coral, you need a new DM. There are limited situations where a combo octo/inflator are actually a better option. None of them involve basic divers with 50 dives. And you certainly don't need a Datamask. But if your BCD has a buckle over the cummerbund the way most do, you can tuck your console or SPG in there over the cummerbund before you clip the buckle. No problem looking down at the gauges and they won't be dragging. Forget about retractors and other gizmos that tend to fail. Zeagle Eagle sounds more like Inspector Gadget to me.

 

[ontdiver]

I'm with MaxB on the necklace and bolt snaps. Try this out for a few dives and adjust things until you are comfortable. If everything is secure and accessible, I would leave that configuration alone for a couple of months and try to get in more diving under varied conditions (night dive, low viz, etc). Once you get comfortable with a good configuration you'll be able to concentrate on the dive rather than worrying about whether something is going to dragging, getting caught etc.

 

[hroark2112]

The other big thing you can get rid of is the console. For my recreational gear, I ditched the console completely and switched to a 2" brass SPG and a wrist computer. SO much easier to keep under control and keep from dragging in the weeds.

 

[uncfnp]

For both of you, bungeed second on 22 inch hose with primary on 40 inch and routed under right arm with elbow or swivel. For your wife's console, if she doesn't want to go the bolt snap route, retractor clipped to hip or shoulder d-ring. No it's not a SB approved device but for the right person it is a good option. Absolutely no reason your wife should give up her console if that is her preference.

Also check the length of the hose on her console. These are sometimes longer then they need to be.