BP/W...where do accessories go?

[Yoyoguy]

All,
You may have seen my recent threads about going to a backplate wing set-up. Well I have taken the plunge and purchased a set-up. Now I have a question on where accessories go if your exposure suit does not have pockets? Currently I dive a 7mm wetsuit for cold water. I will eventually get a dry suit but this may be 2 years or more? Until then, where do I keep things like flashlights, extra knife, SMB...etc? Pictures would be great. Im sure there are many different ways. I have heard things like use cave line or bungie to attach your flashlight to a D-ring with some tire tubing to keep it out of the way but I have no idea what this looks like and I don't really understand it. I do carry my primary dive knife on my leg at the moment but my other back-up knife is bolted to those holes on my BCD which my Backplate/harness will not have. Where do you keep your backup lights for night dives or deep dark dives in lakes...im just confused. thanks all. Again, pictures of set-ups would be great!

P.S. the current harness has the typical two D rings on either side and one D ring at the hip on either side. It also has a crotch D ring. Also note that I do sling a pony (40 size) on my right side from time to time on deeper dives which means the hip D ring and one should D-ring would be in use.

 

[Imla]

This page explains quite nicely how some divers do this. It is from GUE. Their setup is based on one D-ring on each shoulderstrap. One D-ring on the left waistband, and one D-ring front and back on the crotch strap. (Notice there are no d-rings on right side waist band) This is enough D-rings to do serious technical dives with several stages.


Edit: Forgot to include the link..

https://www.globalunderwaterexplorers.org/equipment/config

 

[rongoodman]

If you don't want to put pockets on your wetsuit, you can always go with these, but I'd rather have the pockets attached directly to the exposure protection. As mentioned, lights go vertically on the shoulder straps, knife on the waist strap left of the buckle. Pony(or stage, or deco bottle) goes on the left shoulder and left waist D-rings. There is plenty of room for 3 bolt snaps on a D-ring.

 

[Lorenzoid]

Consider a pair of "pocket shorts": Highland by XS Scuba 2mm Super Stretch Neoprene Shorts

Edit: looks like rongoodman beat me to it!

 

[tbone1004]

https://www.globalunderwaterexplorers.org/equipment/config

Pictures in question above.

Flashlights, innertube on the webbing with a clip on the light itself. One on each shoulder strap.

Extra knife, knives generally are on the left side of the waist strap for standard knife. Z-knives can be on the wrist, or more typically around the bungee of the computer/bottom timer or wrist slate for easy access.

SMB in some units is tucked in a pouch between the diver and the backplate, others have it clipped off to the rear crotch-strap d-ring, many ways for that.

Primary knife on your leg is excessive and inefficient, you can't reach it easily in an emergency, and you aren't going to encounter a need for a knife that large hardly ever.

Pony bottle should be on your left, attached to the hip and left shoulder d-rings. Just because a pony is there doesn't mean other things can't be there as well. With a pony clipped on you can still use the left d-rings for SPG either on top or bottom, and the light on the shoulder.

https://www.divegearexpress.com/library/tek-tips/the-origin-of-hogarthian-configuration
https://www.divegearexpress.com/lib...egulator-configuration-for-single-tank-diving
https://www.divegearexpress.com/library/tek-tips/streamlined-open-water-regulator-configuration
https://www.divegearexpress.com/library/tek-tips/single-tank-mounting-with-backplates
https://www.divegearexpress.com/library/tek-tips/take-only-what-you-need-no-more-and-no-less
https://www.divegearexpress.com/library/tek-tips/what-if-you-donate-your-primary
https://www.divegearexpress.com/library/tek-tips/gearing-up-with-a-long-hose
http://www.maggieowens.com/scuba/stage/
http://www.wreckandcave.co.uk/2006/11/11/how-to-tie-the-perfect-boltsnap/

read these articles, they'll help

 

[Bigeclipse]

This page explains quite nicely how some divers do this. It is from GUE. Their setup is based on one D-ring on each shoulderstrap. One D-ring on the left waistband, and one D-ring front and back on the crotch strap. (Notice there are no d-rings on right side waist band) This is enough D-rings to do serious technical dives with several stages.


Edit: Forgot to include the link..

https://www.globalunderwaterexplorers.org/equipment/config

thanks ive been wondering this very question as well.
---------- Post added May 28th, 2015 at 03:16 PM ----------

https://www.globalunderwaterexplorers.org/equipment/config

Pictures in question above.

Flashlights, innertube on the webbing with a clip on the light itself. One on each shoulder strap.

Extra knife, knives generally are on the left side of the waist strap for standard knife. Z-knives can be on the wrist, or more typically around the bungee of the computer/bottom timer or wrist slate for easy access.

SMB in some units is tucked in a pouch between the diver and the backplate, others have it clipped off to the rear crotch-strap d-ring, many ways for that.

Primary knife on your leg is excessive and inefficient, you can't reach it easily in an emergency, and you aren't going to encounter a need for a knife that large hardly ever.

Pony bottle should be on your left, attached to the hip and left shoulder d-rings. Just because a pony is there doesn't mean other things can't be there as well. With a pony clipped on you can still use the left d-rings for SPG either on top or bottom, and the light on the shoulder.

https://www.divegearexpress.com/library/tek-tips/the-origin-of-hogarthian-configuration
https://www.divegearexpress.com/lib...egulator-configuration-for-single-tank-diving
https://www.divegearexpress.com/library/tek-tips/streamlined-open-water-regulator-configuration
https://www.divegearexpress.com/library/tek-tips/single-tank-mounting-with-backplates
https://www.divegearexpress.com/library/tek-tips/take-only-what-you-need-no-more-and-no-less
https://www.divegearexpress.com/library/tek-tips/what-if-you-donate-your-primary
https://www.divegearexpress.com/library/tek-tips/gearing-up-with-a-long-hose
http://www.maggieowens.com/scuba/stage/
http://www.wreckandcave.co.uk/2006/11/11/how-to-tie-the-perfect-boltsnap/

read these articles, they'll help

thank you... this was very helpful!

Yeah my current set-up was taught to me by a PADI instructor and I heard while PADI instruction is good "enough" for recreational diving it is not optimum

 

[gbf]

This is not the approved method, but it works for me (My cave diving has been over for 20 years, no penetration of any kind, so...).

Right side:



Make sure you can unclip/clip the smb and spool easily. A compass gets clipped to the right shoulder also. I use bungee instead of innertube because when it breaks I can replace it without unthreading the harness. The bungees there now are a little loose - new lights that are smaller than the old ones, so I'll clean that up here shortly. You can see a piece of innertube. It's the one that came with my rig, and I stuck it on there. I find it too tight and a general pita to use, so I don't. Some day it will fall off.

Left side:


When I carry a stage, and I do when I dive solo on Bonaire, it goes on the left. Pressure gauge on the hip D-ring by the Stinapa tag. The pocket was a new acquisition last trip because I wanted a place to carry tables. I hated it - nothing wrong with the pocket itself, just didn't suit me - so it's going in the "extra gear" bin along with the other pockets I have bought and discarded - slow learner here. The tables/depth gauge/watch have been replaced by a backup wrist computer.

I don't like stuff hanging from the crotch D-ring. Sometimes I use it as temporary parking place, like for my gopro or whatever excess I can't hold at the moment.

Bolt snap tied to light with cave line:



There's plenty of video of how to tie the knot, google is your friend.

Most anything else I drag along gets clipped to a D-ring or the edge of the plate.

 

[Yoyoguy]

https://www.globalunderwaterexplorers.org/equipment/config

Pictures in question above.

Flashlights, innertube on the webbing with a clip on the light itself. One on each shoulder strap.

Extra knife, knives generally are on the left side of the waist strap for standard knife. Z-knives can be on the wrist, or more typically around the bungee of the computer/bottom timer or wrist slate for easy access.

SMB in some units is tucked in a pouch between the diver and the backplate, others have it clipped off to the rear crotch-strap d-ring, many ways for that.

Primary knife on your leg is excessive and inefficient, you can't reach it easily in an emergency, and you aren't going to encounter a need for a knife that large hardly ever.

Pony bottle should be on your left, attached to the hip and left shoulder d-rings. Just because a pony is there doesn't mean other things can't be there as well. With a pony clipped on you can still use the left d-rings for SPG either on top or bottom, and the light on the shoulder.

https://www.divegearexpress.com/library/tek-tips/the-origin-of-hogarthian-configuration
https://www.divegearexpress.com/lib...egulator-configuration-for-single-tank-diving
https://www.divegearexpress.com/library/tek-tips/streamlined-open-water-regulator-configuration
https://www.divegearexpress.com/library/tek-tips/single-tank-mounting-with-backplates
https://www.divegearexpress.com/library/tek-tips/take-only-what-you-need-no-more-and-no-less
https://www.divegearexpress.com/library/tek-tips/what-if-you-donate-your-primary
https://www.divegearexpress.com/library/tek-tips/gearing-up-with-a-long-hose
http://www.maggieowens.com/scuba/stage/
http://www.wreckandcave.co.uk/2006/11/11/how-to-tie-the-perfect-boltsnap/

read these articles, they'll help

thanks...great links!

---------- Post added May 28th, 2015 at 03:23 PM ----------

This is not the approved method, but it works for me (My cave diving has been over for 20 years, no penetration of any kind, so...).

Right side:

View attachment 209339

Make sure you can unclip/clip the smb and spool easily. A compass gets clipped to the right shoulder also. I use bungee instead of innertube because when it breaks I can replace it without unthreading the harness. The bungees there now are a little loose - new lights that are smaller than the old ones, so I'll clean that up here shortly. You can see a piece of innertube. It's the one that came with my rig, and I stuck it on there. I find it too tight and a general pita to use, so I don't. Some day it will fall off.

Left side:
View attachment 209340

When I carry a stage, and I do when I dive solo on Bonaire, it goes on the left. Pressure gauge on the hip D-ring by the Stinapa tag. The pocket was a new acquisition last trip because I wanted a place to carry tables. I hated it - nothing wrong with the pocket itself, just didn't suit me - so it's going in the "extra gear" bin along with the other pockets I have bought and discarded - slow learner here. The tables/depth gauge/watch have been replaced by a backup wrist computer.

I don't like stuff hanging from the crotch D-ring. Sometimes I use it as temporary parking place, like for my gopro or whatever excess I can't hold at the moment.

Bolt snap tied to light with cave line:

View attachment 209341

There's plenty of video of how to tie the knot, google is your friend.

Most anything else I drag along gets clipped to a D-ring or the edge of the plate.

thank you so much for these pics VERY HELPFUL!!!!

 

[Dr. Lecter]

See also: ik-pure-marketing

 

[tbone1004]

explanation of GUE's lack of D-ring on the right is because canister lights are threaded on that side to hold the 7' hose and be accessible with the right hand. If a D-ring was on there, the canister would not be able to be pushed all the way back to the plate. If you aren't diving with a canister or a 7' hose, having the D-ring on the right is perfectly acceptable