Basic Retractors/Clips Question(s)

[davidbaraff]

1. I decided to get a Cressi sub-mini 2-gauge depth/SPG console as my primary for now (and possibly backup to a computer later). I'd like to clip it to my BC to keep it out of the way.

Is putting it on a retractor clip a good idea, so I can pull it up, look at it, let go? Or with a regular clip, would I likely be able to read it without needing to unclip it?

Either way, how do I attach either a non-retractable clip or a retractable clip to it?

2. In Kauai, my rental rig had the Octo tethered to the BC by some sort of softish cord -- it came out during the dive and just dangled. My current octo has a built-in clip, so it's not an issue, but any guesses as to what configuration this softish cord (is this a "bungee cord") was? It looked like a nice setup, if I didn't already have the clip built into the Octo.

3. (really dumb one, but i swear i didn't see this in my book): in cold water, do your pull the sleeves of the (7mm) wet suit over/on-top-of the gloves, as you pull the pant-cuffs of your wetsuit over your booties?

 

[Papa_Bear]

I keep my Oceanic Data Pro Plus II on a retractor across my chest! It keeps it so I can look down and see it while using my cameras!

 

[vladimir]

Use a stainless steel snap attached with string. Here are instructions from diveriteexpress.com:

How to Attach a Snap

 

[fisheater]

My computer/compass a retractor clipped to my upper right chest D-ring. That way I can glance down, at any time, and read my pressure, depth and gas loading status without using my hands. If I need to take a compass bearing, I simply pull the gauge out straight.

I wear my gloves over my 7 mil. wetsuit sleeves. I don't think that I'd be able to tuck them in.

 

[Doc]

Stuff it under your armpit, then left & right chest strap. At least that's what all local tropical DM's do.

Works for me... but I don't know if that would apply if you are wearing 7 mil gloves. Brrrr.

 

[ScubaSteve2000]

I second the bolt snap idea, tie the bolt snap to your console. Clip your console with the bolt snap to a d-ring on your left chest strap so the gauges rest against your chest. When I wanted to check my gauges I would just tilt the console out and look. You might want to put your compass on a retractor or your wrist though. The only problem I had was because my compass was in my console so I had to unclip my console to read it. In low vis conditions it gets kind of anoying to clip and unclip the console several times during the dive.

 

[Colliam7]

Is putting it on a retractor clip a good idea, so I can pull it up, look at it, let go? Or with a regular clip, would I likely be able to read it without needing to unclip it?

You can do it either way. Some may tell you how bad retractors are, how they will jam in the extended position, fail at the worst possible moment, etc. I attached a bolt snap to the end of the gauge console on my Zeagle 50D (I did that initially with a tie-wrap and an O-ring, rather than line), and I clip the bolt snap to a D-ring at the front on my BP crotch strap. The console is streamlined in the retracted position, but I can pull it out and up enough to read it without detaching the bolt snap from the D-ring. My son does the same, and we both love it for singles diving. We have used the same retractors for 4 years without a failure.

Either way, how do I attach either a non-retractable clip or a retractable clip to it?

I read your question as how to attach something to the console, rather than where to clip the bolt snap to your rig. For my console, I pulled the depth gauge out of the console, then drilled two small holes in the very end of the console housing (about an inch apart), ran a tie-wrapthrough the holes, replaced the gauge, and ended up with a small loop on the end of the gauge. From there, I put a split ring on the tie-wrap (not a necessary step, just my preference), and then attached the boltsnap to the split ring. At first I did this using an O-ring folded around the split ring, then tie wrapped to the bolt snap, so I had easy breakaway. Once the O-ring broke a couple of times, I ended up using cave line, as illustrated in the link in one of the earlier responses.

In Kauai, my rental rig had the Octo tethered to the BC by some sort of softish cord -- it came out during the dive and just dangled. My current octo has a built-in clip, so it's not an issue, but any guesses as to what configuration this softish cord (is this a "bungee cord") was?

I find most of the clips used to attach the octo to be pretty useless. If you clip your octo hose to them, the hose will slide and you end up with your octo sticking out, or dragging the bottom when you swim, etc. For my pool reg / BC, I took a short piece of 1/4 or 3/16" bungee, tied it in a loop using a square knot, then ran the loop through one of the plastic D-rings on the BC at the right, front, bottom edge (where the useless hose clip was also attached) to create a loop. I fit the mouthpiece of the octo in the loop which is small enough to provide tension around the mouthpiece. It stays there during a dive (no point in having it if the octo will fall out during the dive without 'prompting'), but can be easily deployed for OOA situations.

in cold water, do your pull the sleeves of the (7mm) wet suit over/on-top-of the gloves, as you pull the pant-cuffs of your wetsuit over your booties?

No.

 

[ChrisA]

1. I decided to get a Cressi sub-mini 2-gauge depth/SPG console as my primary for now (and possibly backup to a computer later). I'd like to clip it to my BC to keep it out of the way.

Is putting it on a retractor clip a good idea, so I can pull it up, look at it, let go? Or with a regular clip, would I likely be able to read it without needing to unclip it?

Either way, how do I attach either a non-retractable clip or a retractable clip to it?

2. In Kauai, my rental rig had the Octo tethered to the BC by some sort of softish cord -- it came out during the dive and just dangled. My current octo has a built-in clip, so it's not an issue, but any guesses as to what configuration this softish cord (is this a "bungee cord") was? It looked like a nice setup, if I didn't already have the clip built into the Octo.

3. (really dumb one, but i swear i didn't see this in my book): in cold water, do your pull the sleeves of the (7mm) wet suit over/on-top-of the gloves, as you pull the pant-cuffs of your wetsuit over your booties?

I think every one buys one retractor and then they find out that (1) They add to much length and really pull the console in tight and (2) they only last a few dozen dive then they break. After this people go for a simple bolt snap

In the nest phase they think "why not just do away with this big console thing and get a wrist computer and clip a simple SPG to the left hip d-ring.

What I did not like about the console. is that I could not get the compass to a good position for compass use. I think I use the compass more than anything else. In low vis or when swimming over clean featureless sand I'll have the compass out constantly. It is so much easier to use a wrist mounted compass.

They taught me in OW class never to clip to console to the right side of the BC. If you ever have to bail out of your gear it is one more thing to release and you will be likely to forget. Is this a common recommendation? I don't know.

 

[PM-Performance]

I keep my console usually with a retractable to my left side upper D Ring.
On my new rig I might keep it cross chest though. I tried it once and it seemed in the way for me.

Retractables are nice though because you can pull it out to desired position check and let it go and its tight to your body. Those cords hang a little loose IMO.

Also on the boots and glove thing.
I pull my legs over my boots, but my gloves over my arms. Trying to tuck in your gloves with gloves on is too much of a pain. IMO putting gloves on in general is a pain.

 

[muddiver]

There is nothing wrong with using a retractor for various items you cary, just understand it's limitations. Dive in muck - expect it to jamb. Buy a cheap retractor - expect it to break.

I really have a hard time with the old "put it on your wrist" thinking because I see so many compases, computers and other gear in wrist mounts disappear between leaving the surface and climbing back out. If you bungie it on that seems to work prety good, but you need to change out the bungies every year to make sure they are not going to break on you.

That said, I have all my toys on the end of my HP hose in a console or in a hose mount boot. been using them that way on a retractor for years and I have not had any problems. Sometime the compus is dificult to hold in front, but I usually don't dive where one would really need a compus to figure out which way is shore and which way is up. If I do I have a down line and/or I'm teathered off (sometimes with full comms).

The best clips available are the brass snap swivels you can get at a boating store. Get the expensive ones because they have stainless steel springs that won't give out from corrosion. Spring bolt clips will seaze up in salt water, so I don't use them. The only other clip that works well is over kill, and that would be a quick release snap schackle like we use on our commercial diving umbilicle to diver harness connections.

A good pair of gloves will have gauntlets and sometimes a sinch strap on the wrist to pull them tight over the sleeve of your suit. I pull my legs seals over my booties just because the booties have zippers and the leg seals do not.