Backup Lights

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ScubaSquatch

Contributor
Divemaster
Messages
136
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105
Location
Kansas
# of dives
I just don't log dives
Anyone care to share how/where they stow their backup lights? Looking for ideas.

Thanks!
 
Anyone care to share how/where they stow their backup lights? Looking for ideas.

Thanks!
In backmount, 2 on my harness under my chest Drings

In sidemount, one in each suit pocket and I have a 3rd mounted on the side of my UWLD light head. Its a struggle to reach backups in pockets and if I am solo I don't want to be wiggling around in the dark getting tangled in the line groping for a backup in a pocket.

I have a helmet that I occasionally use. I have lights on it but they are just extras because dry caving (the reason I am wearing a helmet) between sumps is brutally hard on gear and frequently takes hours and hours so if I am stuck or delayed in a dry section of cave I want lots of extra backups along. So dry caving = helmet = potential for long delays = extra helmet mounted backups.
 
Add small bungee loops to the shoulder straps below your shoulder d-rings. Clip the light to the D-ring via snaphook and use the bungee to secure the other end to the harness.
 
1) I will clip a backup light on my shoulder D-ring (or both) [a loop of bungee cord keeps it in place].

2) Often I will carry a spare light in my drysuit pocket too.

3) In sump diving specifically we mount some - but not all - lights on the helmet.

4) Some sidemount divers carry a special pouch for light, reels, etc.

5) Jacket BCD divers can use the pockets of the BCD.
 
what kind of rig are you diving?

if diving a bp/w then the normal shoulder strap position
if in sidemount, then a combo of helmet and pockets


I'm in sidemount
 
I was taught to keep the lights shoulder mounted (facing down) to keep uniformity between backmount and sidemount. The main issue is that there can be a lot of stuff going on in the chest/side area with tanks and deploying backups can be difficult. One of my buddies flipped his lights up (shoulder mounted, strapped above the d rings) and has had great success with that.
 
Backup lights on the harness in sm is annoying in my opinion. In sm and ccr the lights go in my pocket. I've been tested in class on my ability to safely deploy from the pocket and the instructor was happy enough that I wasn't required to switch. I actually had my primary fail on thursday while putting in a jump. Even with a tied in jump reel in one hand I was able to easily deploy my backup light without issue. If I were cave diving solo maybe I would consider having one out of a pocket, but in my opinion its a nonissue for me.
 
I'm in sidemount

lights on harness sucks in sidemount. That area is so damned busy it's super annoying.
I recommend keeping at least one on your mask strap which is super convenient for doing things like line work, but also instantly there for backup use. The rest go in pockets.
If you wear a helmet, then I'd stick them on the helmet as it's as good of a place as any to stick them. I have 4 on mine right now. 2 video spreads that stay on low all the time for line work, and then two spots for backup duty. I also dive a @Bobby light as a primary, so the odds of me having to turn them on for anything other than a drill is basically 0 :-D
 
I also dive a @Bobby light as a primary, so the odds of me having to turn them on for anything other than a drill is basically 0 :-D
I would normally completely agree but I’ll give you two guesses what light died on me Thursday.
In reality, I’ve abused my light and the reason it died appears to be a broken wire in the cord. So I’m not complaining. Any other light I’ve owned wouldn’t have survived this long.
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/perdix-ai/
http://cavediveflorida.com/Rum_House.htm

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