A great day of firsts...BP/W and doubles

[O'Malley]

Just returend home this evening from making my first four dives with a BP/W and doubles...and WOW! Now I know what all the rave with backplates and doubles is all about. The DSS doubles rig, w/ the #50 wing, and the PST E7-100s made for a sweet ride. Once my weighting and adjustments were tweaked, hovering in 4' was far more stable than diving a single tank and traditional BCD. The one thing I did have difficulty with was my ability to reach the valves. However, I believe it may be simply my lack of upper body flexibility rather than improper positioning per a few observations by folks well versed in diving doubles. Many thanks go out to all the folks who responded to my earlier posts when I was on the fence with a single versus doubles configuration...I can not forsee myself not diving doubles exclusively, locally of course.

 

[5615mike]

The first time is always a "gas"!!!

 

[PerroneFord]

It's NIIIIICE ain't it! Welcome to the club.

 

[Mark Vlahos]

Valves are easier to reach when you keep your elbow "in", closer to your ear. If you swing your elbow out to your side your hand will not go as far back.

Mark Vlahos

 

[cool_hardware52]

Just returend home this evening from making my first four dives with a BP/W and doubles...and WOW! Now I know what all the rave with backplates and doubles is all about. The DSS doubles rig, w/ the #50 wing, and the PST E7-100s made for a sweet ride. Once my weighting and adjustments were tweaked, hovering in 4' was far more stable than diving a single tank and traditional BCD. The one thing I did have difficulty with was my ability to reach the valves. However, I believe it may be simply my lack of upper body flexibility rather than improper positioning per a few observations by folks well versed in diving doubles. Many thanks go out to all the folks who responded to my earlier posts when I was on the fence with a single versus doubles configuration...I can not forsee myself not diving doubles exclusively, locally of course.

Doubles are almost like cheating. More Stable, more mass so holding depth is easier. It's my preferred configuration.

Couple things about reaching the valves. There are a simple set of stretching excercises that helped me a great deal. I wish I could find the link. A search here will probably yeild them. Cameron Martz's is the source.

Second thing to check is your exposure suit. It, or the undergarment might be limiting your reach.

Last thing is the way you approach the valve. This is hard to picture, but instead of trying to get your hand on the end of the knob, and turning your wrist, think about "rolling" the valve between your thumb and fingers.

You'll get it, and it will become second nature.

Tobin

 

[*Floater*]

Couple things about reaching the valves. There are a simple set of stretching excercises that helped me a great deal. I wish I could find the link. A search here will probably yeild them. Cameron Martz's is the source.

Perhaps this is what you are thinking of: http://www.direxplorers.com/dir-fun...g-exercises-how-improve-your-valve-drill.html

I agree, doubles are easier to dive not harder - all else equal (rec standards).

 

[PerroneFord]

Two things I've found harder about doubles. And I transitioned to them EARLY (dive 12 I believe)

1. Entrys and exits are harder and take more care. Especially if there is a long surface walk. When leaving the water, take your TIME. When I get out of the water with a single tank it feels like nothing. Getting out of the water with 95s on last weekend was VERY different. Take time going back to the world of gravity.

2. Doubles WILL make you go head over, or turtle you if your balance is not right. I've done both in the pool while learning. Once you get used to them.. great.

 

[cool_hardware52]

Yup, that's the pdf I was looking for, good stuff. I can almost hear my old bones creaking right now


Tobin

 

[O'Malley]

Thanks for the tips, links...I can easily reach my valves underwater when performing an assisted stretch so it's time to loosen up these muscles, ligaments.