Advice on putting on gear

[Meghan Powers]

OP has been diving at at least one OH quarry. Gilboa has too damn many stairs including one long flight I refer to as “the stairs of death.”

White Star would be a better choice. Walk in entry. No stairs at all.

There are plenty of picnic tables and gear benches available.

I did my ow dives at Gilboa. It was difficult because the entry to the dock required walking down a pretty steep pathway. It was even more difficult walking back up it after leaving the water. I will try white star. I don’t think it’s any further from where I am compared to Gilboa.

 

[Meghan Powers]

Good for you for wanting to get in some practice in a quarry. Some people like quarry diving, while others use it just for practice--as a means to an end, which is most often diving from a boat. Rest assured that donning your gear while it's set up in its tank holder on a boat is usually easier than on a wobbly bench or wrong-height picnic table.

It was definitely hard for me to put it on while on land and help my buddy do theirs. I think putting it on while on a boat would be easier for sure. It will be a while before I can do any diving from a boat though so I’m going to quarry dive while I can. Renting gear is pretty costly though so I won’t be diving a lot. I did enjoy the dives though and so I want to get out there and practice more and enjoy myself. The water was cold when I went and I’m sure it’s cold now since it’s ending the season in OH.

 

[Searcaigh]

When doing my dives I didn’t leave it standing by itself

When I was in Egypt a couple of months ago the fine for leaving a tank standing with regulator on was a round of beer at the bar later after all the diving was done.

 

[Rukkian]

I think it’s easier putting it on in the water as well. We did the skill where we had to remove it and put it back on and it was much easier. I think it’s safe as long as buddy checks are still done. I guess the only issue is how to put the gear in the water. I guess just inflate the bcd and then throw it in?

There are places it really does not make sense, and I do not do it all the time, but at least at the place i did my rescue, and in the pool, it was easy enough to just add a bit of air and let it float, then get in the water and put it on. Buddy checks in the water (especially if still in shallow water are no different.

I know that you would not want to lift my tank and bc setup when I am using my drysuit and thick (400g) undergarments - 28# of lead plus the ss backplate make it really heavy outside the water, but I have not been some place that did not have a place to put on gear, even if that meant the back of my car, or a friends pickup truck.

 

[formernuke]

know that you would not want to lift my tank and bc setup when I am using my drysuit and thick (400g) undergarments - 28# of lead plus the ss backplate make it really heavy outside the water, but I have not been some place that did not have a place to put on gear, even if that meant the back of my car, or a friends pickup truck.

In my case it's frequently steel doubles to boot.

I have found the trunk to be very useful.

 

[Marie13]

It was definitely hard for me to put it on while on land and help my buddy do theirs. I think putting it on while on a boat would be easier for sure. It will be a while before I can do any diving from a boat though so I’m going to quarry dive while I can. Renting gear is pretty costly though so I won’t be diving a lot. I did enjoy the dives though and so I want to get out there and practice more and enjoy myself. The water was cold when I went and I’m sure it’s cold now since it’s ending the season in OH.

If you both gear up from a picnic table there is absolutely no reason for you to have to lift your buddy’s tank. The table supports the tank. You can help buddy with BC straps and such but this requirement that you hold buddy’s tank is just ridiculous.

I was at White Star this weekend. The viz was pretty bad 10-15ft at most. If you prefer good viz, you’re better off going to Gilboa.

 

[inquis]

A tip when you try in-water donning: just barely float the rig. Too much air won't let you sink the tail.

 

[shurite7]

I don’t know about standing up after putting gear on while sitting down but someone may be able to help pull me up. Putting the gear on in the water would be also be ideal for me. It seems like it would be easier overall. We did the skill where we had to take if off and put it back on and it was easier since it wasn’t heavy in the water.

Do most places have a problem with allowing gear assembly in the water instead of on the surface?

What some people do is sit down in front of the scuba kit, slip into it, then role over onto their hands and knees then stand up.

A lot of places that allow shore diving have no issues with people putting on their gear while in the water so long as the conditions are reasonable.

The challenging part of diving in cool / cold water is all the weight along with thick garments to keep warm. In the tropics where the water is warm you will not have to use so much weight.

Hopefully this helps.

 

[TMHeimer]

When I was in Egypt a couple of months ago the fine for leaving a tank standing with regulator on was a round of beer at the bar later after all the diving was done.

I assume this was during a course? I assisted instructors who said the fine for mask on forehead was a beer. I've never really been a fan of that, but I guess if you leave a shop tank standing that could cause injury to it and they would be concerned.
As long as there is not much wind, I leave my unit standing now and again to save time when walking like 10 feet away and back. Of course, I am by myself so no other divers can knock it over.

 

[Searcaigh]

I assume this was during a course?

Nope, everyone was qualified divers.