BC Remove and Replace Skill

[Aquaviolator]

The inspiration for me starting this thread has to do with two videos I saw recently. In this first video, I see two DM candidates working together practicing gear removal, exchanging gear and putting gear back on. All the while, buddy breathing on one regulator [side note: anyone know why 1) this is done on their knees? and 2) why they don't offer knee pads for those wearing shorty wetsuits?]


For the life of me, I couldn't work out what scenario this exercise would be useful. Maybe double entanglement and one diver OOA at the same time?

I am of the opinion that taking your gear off underwater is a pointless skill. Even in the case where one is "entangled" in fishing line (as an example), I am not convinced that taking one's gear off isn't going to make the situation worse. One could potentially make the entanglement worse where the line wraps itself in a way that ties up one of the divers limbs, pulls the diver's reg out or wraps around the divers neck. It is far more practical to have your buddy address the entanglement. In the case of gear issues such as bubbles billowing out of the first stage, I would submit that effing around underwater is not the solution. The solution is, thumb the dive, keep your buddy close and keep an eye on your SPG.

Anyways, whether you agree with me on the usefulness of this particular skill or not, it seems that DM training for this skill is quite effective. It seems some DMs are going to this go to maneuver to solve problems underwater on recreational dives. This brings us to a second video I saw recently:


Now, I will not say that I am as skilled, experienced or wise as the DM in the above video. But IMHO, removing his BC due to the issue he ran into seemed wholly unnecessary. And that ascent, wow. That took quite a bit of skill and calm under pressure. Probably would have been a whole lot easier if his gear was on his back and not in his hand.

In murky water sometimes its hard to get your buddies attention right away, it happens more often than we realize. Also being comfortable taking the BC off underwater allows you the diver to stop right away during a fishing line entanglement instead of pulling the line tight which will cause more problems. Its also much safer for the diver to take off his own BC and deal with a fishing line wrap up while the buddy now serves as the safety diver to move in for assistance. Like taking a mask off underwater, at the very least it builds confidence in the water. less panic is always welcome, especially with newer divers.

 

[johndiver999]

In murky water sometimes its hard to get your buddies attention right away, it happens more often than we realize. Also being comfortable taking the BC off underwater allows you the diver to stop right away during a fishing line entanglement instead of pulling the line tight which will cause more problems. Its also much safer for the diver to take off his own BC and deal with a fishing line wrap up while the buddy now serves as the safety diver to move in for assistance. Like taking a mask off underwater, at the very least it builds confidence in the water. less panic is always welcome, especially with newer divers.

If/when I get tangled in line, I will probably first look to the buddy for assistance. Normally it is a minor issue that can be resolved by the buddy in a moment or two.

Removing the tank to do it yourself, while your buddy watches and waits, seems like a waste of two people's time...but hey it is good practice.

I'm surprised nobody has yet mentioned the aquaduce.

 

[Adobo]

If/when I get tangled in line, I will probably first look to the buddy for assistance. Normally it is a minor issue that can be resolved by the buddy in a moment or two.

Removing the tank to do it yourself, while your buddy watches and waits, seems like a waste of two people's time...but hey it is good practice.

I'm surprised nobody has yet mentioned the aquaduce.

What's the aquaduce? Is that like the warhammer maneuver?

 

[johndiver999]

Similar, but with a little less drama (and bubbles).

 

[Aquaviolator]

If/when I get tangled in line, I will probably first look to the buddy for assistance. Normally it is a minor issue that can be resolved by the buddy in a moment or two.

Removing the tank to do it yourself, while your buddy watches and waits, seems like a waste of two people's time...but hey it is good practice.

I'm surprised nobody has yet mentioned the aquaduce.

Think it might be more dive locations as well. Experiencing fishing line during the summer on popular fishing reefs and wrecks here in Florida can be common. Good time for abandoned anchors too

 

[DiveProKoko]

I am of the opinion that taking your gear off underwater is a pointless skill....

Apparently you've never had an octopus swim in behind your backplate and hide There is a real-world application for it but it is rare. Which is why we teach it in OW, but don't make skill mastery required for certification. If you have to do it, we prefer you've already done it at least once in a pool and know how to go about it. It is demoed, taught, and practiced in a pool session for SSI certification, btw.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

Apparently you've never had an octopus swim in behind your backplate and hide There is a real-world application for it but it is rare. Which is why we teach it in OW, but don't make skill mastery required for certification. If you have to do it, we prefer you've already done it at least once in a pool and know how to go about it. It is demoed, taught, and practiced in a pool session for SSI certification, btw.

Yes, but us cold water divers have to contend with GPOs! Those are a little bit big to hide!

 

[DiveProKoko]

Yes, but us cold water divers have to contend with GPOs! Those are a little bit big to hide!

Haha! Yeah, I imagine they would be! LOL!

 

[Adobo]

Apparently you've never had an octopus swim in behind your backplate and hide There is a real-world application for it but it is rare. Which is why we teach it in OW, but don't make skill mastery required for certification. If you have to do it, we prefer you've already done it at least once in a pool and know how to go about it. It is demoed, taught, and practiced in a pool session for SSI certification, btw.

My open water cert was with SSI but it was several years ago so I don't remember much of what was covered.

I do remember the instructor saying something about boat dives wherein one is expected to be back on the boat with 500psi. I asked the obvious question - when do I need to leave the bottom by to get back to the boat with 500psi? I don't remember the answer but I do remember that the answer was a non-answer. The instructor did some hand waving and moved on to something else.

Personally, I think talking about minimum gas (wherein there is sufficient volume for a diver to donate to another diver who is OOA, to get prepared for the ascend and then to ascend to the surface) and gas consumption at varying depths, both covered at even at a very high level, would have been a far more productive use of time than covering a skill (BC remove and replace) that is, at best, very seldom used and at worst, makes a diver's situation worse.

But that is just me.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

My open water cert was with SSI but it was several years ago so I don't remember much of what was covered.

I do remember the instructor saying something about boat dives wherein one is expected to be back on the boat with 500psi. I asked the obvious question - when do I need to leave the bottom by to get back to the boat with 500psi? I don't remember the answer but I do remember that the answer was a non-answer. The instructor did some hand waving and moved on to something else.

Personally, I think talking about minimum gas (wherein there is sufficient volume for a diver to donate to another diver who is OOA, to get prepared for the ascend and then to ascend to the surface) and gas consumption at varying depths, both covered at even at a very high level, would have been a far more productive use of time than covering a skill (BC remove and replace) that is, at best, very seldom used and at worst, makes a diver's situation worse.

But that is just me.

It frustrates me that min gas, gas consumption isn't a mandatory part of open water.

It isn't hard subject. Let's be honest, if I can teach it, any instructor can!