Home improvement store clips vs bolt snaps

[Marie13]

I'd meant to post this earlier and forgot...

Just a reminder to us new folk...

I recently dove with some very new divers. They both had "suicide clips" bought from Home Depot fastening an accessory to their BCs. I pointed out the entanglement hazard with the suicide clips, plus the Home Depot clips were rusting after very few dives. I'm not finding an easily accessible pic of the clips in question, but they require pressure and open inward. Hard to open in an emergency.

You want to use bolt snaps like these, plus they're marine grade stainless steel so they won't rust like the Home Depot ones will.

I'm sure others will chime with the proper way to rig the clips.

Premium Stainless Steel Snaps | Dive Gear Express®

 

[tridacna]

Marie,

Pirhana diving sells them for way less than anyone else. Check their site.

Tri

 

[Kharon]

Take a look at all the many scuba accessories that have ... wait for it, wait for it ... "suicide clips". I wonder who thought that one up. I'll bet my bippy that someone decided they were dangerous with absolutely no objective evidence.

They are only an entanglement issue in certain, very specific conditions, almost all of which a rec diver will never experience. Moreover, if clipped properly, it's almost impossible to get them to hook to anything and hooked properly they are easier to remove than bolt snaps. Also, they are smaller and less obtrusive.

That said, for some things, I do use bolt snaps because you can get them on a swivel.

As far as rust - get brass or stainless steel and that's not a problem. Both are available at my hardware store with no shipping charges.

 

[Doby45]

I use an aluminum "suicide clip" to attach my fins to my left d-ring when I am getting out of the water on a boat. Just like my reg stays in my mouth, my fins stay with me.

 

[doctormike]

I use an aluminum "suicide clip" to attach my fins to my left d-ring when I am getting out of the water on a boat. Just like my reg stays in my mouth, my fins stay with me.

If I'm climbing a fins-off ladder, I put my hands through my fin straps so that they are free for climbing, but I have my fins in case I fall back in. Quick and easy, no need for clips of any type. Mrs. Wookie (Mel) taught me that and other stuff, on the dearly missed M/V Spree...

Just realized that is a bit off topic, but it's a good tip so I thought that I would pass it on!

I love the feel of a well made steel bolt snap. I put them on anything that needs clipping, or occasionally a double ender. Given the overall cost of diving, a few marine grade bold snaps are a drop in the bucket - no reason not to get the best for these.

 

[Doby45]

If I'm climbing a fins-off ladder, I put my hands through my fin straps so that they are free for climbing, but I have my fins in case I fall back in. Quick and easy, no need for clips of any type. Mrs. Wookie (Mel) taught me that and other stuff, on the dearly missed M/V Spree...

I do that with a wetsuit, but with a drysuit it is more difficult. Still excellent tip, thanks!

 

[doctormike]

I do that with a wetsuit, but with a drysuit it is more difficult. Still excellent tip, thanks!

Yup! Fortunately, when I'm diving at home in a dry suit, all of the boats have fins-on ladders. This is mainly a warm water thing.

Even better is THIS!

 

[CT-Rich]

If you read some of wreck diving books about the Andrea Doria, their was a case where a diver died because he had become entangled when his suicide clip was attached him to a loose metal cable. I picked up a few cheap online and after reflection they sit n a drawer.

I am not sure it rises to the "you're gonna die" hysteria of split fins, but if you are diving around places where you might snag (or snap) on a cable, why not spend the five buck for the right tool?

 

[doctormike]

I am not sure it rises to the "you're gonna die" hysteria of split fins

**Split Fins – Let the Bashing Begin!**

 

[Saniflush]

That is some funny stuff right there