Reason for RH release waist buckle?

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lairdb

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Are there specific reasons that the harness waist buckle should be right-hand-release? Did do some searching; didn't find any specific rationale.

Pro-RHR that I can think of:
  • WKPP, etc.: team diving according to SOPs; uniformity, common equip, etc. is super-important.
  • Knife retention: keeps cutting device sheath in place.
  • Canister light: allows canister to be put on/taken off.

...but the knife and canister arguments are consequences of knife and canister, not specific to LH vs. RH. Otherwise, is there a particular rationale for having the buckle RHR?

(Still talking about having it end up between 1 and 3 o'clock -- but fixed to the right side strap rather than the left.)

(Pro-LHR that I can think of:
  • Opposite way than weight belt. Not that we're ditching weight, but still, e.g surface doffing.
  • Maybe less inclined to get snagged open.
  • Loose end passes through crotch strap more easily. (Saw this pointed out in one thread -- though I've never found it an issue in practice.)
  • Buckle is a less of a melee weapon when kitting up.
)

Not suggesting RH is wrong -- just curious if there's specific reasons LH is Wrong, other than custom.
 
@kensuf probably knows for sure, but here are some of my theories

Stages/deco bottles want to be on the left for several reasons, but all of that adds up to a bit of difficulty reaching where the waist buckle would go.
Left hand is dealing with buoyancy already and is occupied and right hand for most people is more dexterous.
It is convenient because it matches the way we wear belts at the surface and is a more natural motion because of it.
 
@kensuf probably knows for sure, but here are some of my theories

Stages/deco bottles want to be on the left for several reasons, but all of that adds up to a bit of difficulty reaching where the waist buckle would go.
Left hand is dealing with buoyancy already and is occupied and right hand for most people is more dexterous.
It is convenient because it matches the way we wear belts at the surface and is a more natural motion because of it.

Thanks for responding. I wrote unclearly -- I'm saying the buckle stays exactly where it is, on the right, diver's 1 to 2 o'clock, just flipped so the long left strap inserts into it.

Why not do this:
upload_2020-6-11_15-31-12.png

...instead of the usual this:
upload_2020-6-11_15-32-14.png


[Edit to add the picture I was originally looking to deface.]

Why not do this:
upload_2020-6-11_15-39-39.png

...instead of the usual this:
upload_2020-6-11_15-40-56.png
 
first off, in the origins of DIR, weight belts are not part of the equation, however many people I know including myself, have the weight belt left hand release so avoid confusion underwater.

As it stands with the buckle going through the crotch strap, it gives the crotch strap a chance to get caught to prevent the rig from flying about if you have an accidental unbuckling which would be quite unfortunate on a scooter.

The crotch strap is able to hold the tail of the loose end which helps to prevent accidental unbuckling.

I honestly haven't really thought about this subject that in depth, so those are the reasons that I can see for it. Again, Ken is going to be one of the ones that was around when this was all standardized so he may know the original arguments, but those are the ones that I use/have used and can think of.
 
as far as I know, it's simply because most people are right handed. So if SHTF and you need to dump weight you do it in the way that is most natural to you. One of the very few "cross-agency standards" that actually seem to "work" in real life (although mostly untested anyway).

Edit: Obviously I was talking about the weight belt, not the harness.
 
Cannister lights not only have to come off to be charged but were historically much larger and heavier and needed to be ditchable in an emergency.
 
Many years ago, in the mid or late 1960s but way before PADI, LA CO UIA lead by the great Tom Ebro and NAUI, lead by Art Ulrich organized and presented a national Diver Conference ",The international conferences on UW education" commonly refreed to as IQ or ICUE, which was presented at a Santa Ana Community College in Santa Ana, California.

All divers,instructors and interested divers were encouraged to research a subject, prepare an abstract and present a professional paper. All of which was compiled in to a bound conference proceedings and later mailed t the participants

My IQ proceeding are packed away. but I presented a number of papers through out the years. My fuzzy mind recalls that at IQ # 2, I presented a paper on the then emerging use of the airplane type weight belt buckle as opposed to the common over center buckles.

In my presentation I proposed two points :
1) all weight belts should release in one direction - to the Right
2) all weight belts should be of a bright neon color

During the defense (discussion ) most agreed. but that very small contingent of left handers need to test my suggestion of right release prior to agreeing

The bright neon color weight belt did not gain appreciable acceptance with the manufactures but several local and maybe national shops adapted the use of bright colored weight belts in their rental departments

The following IQ ,possibly #3 , Dennis Graver reemphasized right hand weight belt release as a component of his presentation - By that time a year later it was a moot point - most instructors of that era; LA Co, NAUI and a smattering of YMCA instructors were teaching right hand weight belt release

And it all occurred before PADI

Now you know...

SDM
Be sure never to miss the slightest opportunity to bash PADI.
 
Be sure never to miss the slightest opportunity to bash PADI.


I don't see this as PADI bashing at all but rather a nice look back at the history of diving. Many believe PADI was the first or at least came up with the rules and configuration suggestions we have today. It is nice to hear we these things actually originated from.
 
If the buckle were on the left strap facing left (reversed), the rights tension would pull it open instead of pulling it closed.

If the buckle were on the right strap, ones knife would need an additional unthreaded buckle (like currently used to keep can light in place) to keep it from falling off while the 2 sides are unattached. Additionally the right side threaded buckle would interfer with attaching can lights/heater batteries and/or threading any additional weight on that side.
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/swift/
http://cavediveflorida.com/Rum_House.htm

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