Bungee over head

[teknitroxdiver]

Today I tried out my new DSS rig, along with a long-hose setup. I liked the long hose rig, except I had a few difficulties with the backup reg. In order for me to get the bungee over my head, I had to have it kinda long, in fact too long for my likings once I was underwater. Since I still had the bungee loose so I could adjust it, I just pulled it tighter. However once I cinch it down so that it can't move, I won't be able to adjust it like this. And with it smaller I can't get it over my head.

What do you guys do about this? Also I noticed with it at kind of a compromise between the two, The reg tended to float up until it hit my primary, or float around the left side of the primary and into my field of view. Any ideas about that?

Another: I figured that since the long hose goes straight down to begin with, it should be on the bottommost port on the right side of the first stage (Aqualung Micra--NOT Titan). Which means that unless I tilt the reg to the right, it goes up behind my head before going under my neck. Make sense? This pulls the reg to somewhat of an angle which is quite irritating.

Ideas?

thanks a bunch!

thanks!

 

[Henryville]

The bungeed backup reg shouldn't be floating around all over the place.

It sounds like you have rigged the bungee so that you can slide it on itself to make it shorter or longer. I used to have one like that and abandoned it for a simpler but for me better solution.

You might want to try just approximating a length of bungee that you would find workable (stretches over head but not dangling too low,) knotting the ends (simple overhand,) and zip-tying it around your reg mouthpiece (this would be the second zip-tie, the first holding the mouthpiece in place.) Then you can gradually shorten it by untying and retying the knots over the course of a few dives 'til you get it wher eyou want it.

Most of the people I dive with have it so they can almost pop the backup in just by dipping their head, so it's not far off and it's not hanging to the side. I don't think second stages are generally positively buoyant so I'm not sure that it would actually be "floating." It may just be geting pulled in a way that makes it seem like it is floating.

Can't help you on the hose routing as I don't know that regulator. I will say that a lot of regulators are not set up for ideal hose routing with the system you are adopting.

 

[teknitroxdiver]

That's kind of how I've got it rigged. Well, pictures are better than words, so here you go:

http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/25046/cat/533/page/1
http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/25044/cat/533/page/1
http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/25043/cat/533/page/1

 

[Henryville]

Yep, that's how I rig my backup, too. although I slide the knots around so the bungee comes out from underneath the mouthpiece. All I can say, then, is make it as tight as you can and still get it over your head.

As I said I don't know the reg but it looks to me like you're getting about the best hose routing you can given the design. Someone else who actually uses one might have some other ideas, though.

 

[teknitroxdiver]

Yeah, now that I have hoses that make the routing really matter, It looks like they designed the first stage so that the hoses splay out in all directions like rays from a 1st-grader's sun.

 

[teknitroxdiver]

I went back and pulled it about 3 inches smaller, that was the smallest I could get over my head. Looks like that will work a lot better, but I did leave the 3" still on there so I could let it out if it seems too tight on tomorrows dive.

 

[Boogie711]

I think you're over-analyzing this too much. Bungee stretches, otherwise we'd use a piece of rope or something. Thusly - it will stretch over your head. Problem solved. Make that necklace nice and tight.

 

[bedmund]

And you might want to try smaller diameter bungee. I used the larger stuff first and it didn't feel right. Went to 3/16ths and like it much better. It didn't feel as tight going over my head.

 

[ghrousseau]

What is the length of the short hose for your backup? That might be making the difference. When I tried the bungee with a hose that was too long it pulled in an awkward direction and felt uncomfortable. When I switched to a 22 inch hose it made a difference. Anyway........it takes some time getting used to .

 

[teknitroxdiver]

22".

I tried it again on Sunday and it wasn't a problem.