BP/W - no pockets

[billt4sf]

The crotch strap doesn't keep them in place?

Not comfortably. I use the MAKO belt and that doesn't help either. It's just so uncomfortable to have something wrapped around my hips instead of my waist. I wonder how the boys at my high school can deal with that feeling.

 

[Colliam7]

But how do you carry things you need to carry that are not clipped on? Here I am speaking of safety devices like SMB, whistle, etc.

You have received some good feedback. I will echo several of the comments:
1. In a tropical environment, I carry very little to begin with. So, 'minimizing' is one part of the answer.
2. I like pockets. I travel to the Caribbean with my own wet suit, so I have thigh pockets already sewn / glued to my wet suit. But, if I use an 'add on' pocket, either Halcyon pocket will do - I use (and prefer) the zipper pocket that Adobo mentioned (http://halcyon.net/files/gear/Zipper_pocket_rig.jpg). It holds my signaling devices (mirror and whistle), Wet Notes, a finger spool, and a back-up cutting tool (1 inch folding Buck knife).
3. I attach my SMB to the bottom of my plate with bungee cord. I also have a lift bag in a mesh sleeve that I can also attach to the side of the BP if I want to carry it.
4. Other BP placements: a) can light attached (inverted) to the lower right side of my BP; b) backup light clipped to my right chest strap and secured with a piece in inner tube; c) wreck reel clipped to the right hip D-ring; d) primary cutting tool (Sea Snips) slipped over my right waist strap. I don't necessarily carry all of these on every dive, just pointing out where I put them if I decide to take them on a dive.

and we may have some other things . . .

Such as? Not challenging what you carry, just asking, to get an idea of what you need to stow.

One additional solution might be to simply buy wetsuits of the thickness you prefer in the Caribbean, have pockets sewn / glued (both) to them, and carry them with you whenever you travel to a tropical destination.

 

[freewillie]

Agree with the shorts if you don't want to have pockets permanently attached. The ones from Irikonji Dive Gear LLC are more expensive, but nicely made.

Recently I've seen these cross over "amphibian" shorts by surf companies like Quiksilver and ONeal. They look like regular cargo shorts but are made of swimsuit material. Would they work too? Would be a whole lot cheaper than $160 !

 

[fjpatrum]

Recently I've seen these cross over "amphibian" shorts by surf companies like Quiksilver and ONeal. They look like regular cargo shorts but are made of swimsuit material. Would they work too? Would be a whole lot cheaper than $160 !

Yep, in fact it's the same material, as far as I can tell from the Irikonji website. There's nothing special about the shorts except the pocket variations, which you don't normally see in the others you mentioned. Just about any nylon cargo short would work just fine, if you can keep them from falling down.

I like the "strap on" thigh pockets that have a strap around your leg and a connection to your waist strap on your harness. The waist connection keeps it from sagging and the thigh strap keeps it from flopping. Win win.

 

[Peter69_56]

A whistle is about as useful as trying to drink the ocean through a straw. Have tried it out a few times and find I get better sound from the wife if I poke her in the ribs while she is asleep in bed. Have marker dye, mirror, noisemaker and EPIRB.

I have a spare mask Haylcon pocket on the belt left side, small knife on belt in middle (zip clipped on as well), yellow SMB and finger reel left rear D buckle, orange SMB and finger reel right rear D ring, noisemaker on inflator hose, line cutter on left shoulder strap, right thigh Haylcon pocket for dye marker, EPIRB, backup torch, mirror, slate. Right shoulder strap clipped torch. If I have a weight or two (depending on setup) then on stomach strap with keeper or weight belt.

 

[Krazyklaws]

I'm moving from a BC to a BP/W, and found this thread really useful.

Where do you store your snorkel if you take one? I currently have one of those roll-up ones that tucks in a pocket, but I can't see an obvious place to put it - I'm going for simplicity so trying to avoid the shorts / pockets route. DIR simply says don't take one, but I've found mine useful in the past especially when those mantas or whalesharks show up just as you're waiting for the boat!