cave equipment

[hockeyman]

i am just starting cave diving and i was wondering what type of equipment is used specaly for cave diving and also if you use a crotch strap how tight should it be to stop thins moving around


thanks a budle mike

 

[hunter991]

Your cave instructor should help you with equipment selection and adjustment. A backplate and good regs as well as just good equipment overall should help get you started.

Brent

 

[*Floater*]

i am just starting cave diving and i was wondering what type of equipment is used specaly for cave diving and also if you use a crotch strap how tight should it be to stop thins moving around


thanks a budle mike

I like to have the crotch strap on fairly tight, but many others keep it fairly loose. I think it's about personal preference and also about how tight or loose your shoulder straps are. If you want to drop the rig lower (for trim or other reasons) then you can do this by loosening the shoulder straps, but you may want to tighten the crotch strap to compensate. People who have very tight shoulder straps on the other hand probably don't need a tight crotch strap.

 

[in_cavediver]

I like to have the crotch strap on fairly tight, but many others keep it fairly loose. I think it's about personal preference and also about how tight or loose your shoulder straps are. If you want to drop the rig lower (for trim or other reasons) then you can do this by loosening the shoulder straps, but you may want to tighten the crotch strap to compensate. People who have very tight shoulder straps on the other hand probably don't need a tight crotch strap.

I used to dive with a crotch strap. Then, when doing some wreck diving on a boat, it got in the way so I took it off. I haven't bothered to put it back on. (at least until I get a scooter).

With that, if its loose, you may not even need it. Its a preference thing. (unless you are strictly DIR)

 

[billyf]

Backplate with harness – Dive Rite Aluminum w Deluxe Harness

Wing – Dive Rite Classic

Double 108’s bans and manifold

Regs – My preference is Apex, but you need two high end regs for your back gas
1st stages – 2 Apex DS4
2nd stages – 2 Apex ATX50
1-7’ hose, 1-40” hose, 1-SPG
Setup
http://dir-diver.com/en/equipment/reg_config_doubles.html
Buy
http://www.divetheabyss.com/

Computer with minimum of 2 gasses, and 2nd bottom timer
Dive Rite Nitek Plus
http://www.caveexcursions.com/pc-179-14-diverite-computer-nitek-plus-watch-co8100.aspx

Two cutting devices (Z-knife’s)
http://www.divers-supply.com/COMPACT-LINE-CUTTER-p/dur11789.htm

Two Backup lights - the Princeton Tec40 are very common and cheep
Also look at their LED version
http://www.campmor.com

Primary Light – canister lights are perfered
Dive Rite, Salvo, Halcion and many more
Checkout the sea elite at www.divers-supply.com it’s a salvo rebranded for DS
http://www.divers-supply.com/Sea-Elite-10-Watt-4-5-amp-HID-Canister-Light-SP-p/sal0001.htm


This list should get you all the way through Full Cave. Everything that I listed I have, except the Nitek Plus, I have a Nitek HE, I plan on getting a Plus to use as my backup timer.

The most important is a good cave instructor!!!!!!!!!

 

[Dive-aholic]

Don't forget reels/spools. I prefer Ralph Hood reels.

Dry suit or 7mm wet - Dry preferred. 72 can get pretty chilly after an hour or so.

As for the bp/w. I dive a FredT with a continuous Hog harness.

The crotch strap stays just tight enough to keep the rig where I want it, but not so tight it hurts.

 

[billyf]

yea forgot the reels and spools

I think the Salvo reel is the best
http://www.salvodiving.com/guidelines1

and for safty and jump/gap i like spools not reels
http://www.divesports.com/mall/divesports_acc_fingerspool.asp

 

[KazInAz]

Speaking of spools...these are awesome
Neptuno Minispools http://www.neptunoworld.com/minispools/

Kaz

 

[wb416]

I used to dive with a crotch strap. Then, when doing some wreck diving on a boat, it got in the way so I took it off. I haven't bothered to put it back on. (at least until I get a scooter).

With that, if its loose, you may not even need it. Its a preference thing. (unless you are strictly DIR)

How does it get in the way? I use a crotch strap for all my diving.... cave, wreck, and reef ....and don't understand how "it gets in the way".

 

[*Floater*]

Here's what my cave instructor recommends:

If you are not sure what you wish to obtain, I can provide the specialty cave equipment you will need for your cave diving training. They are:

* 7 foot/2.3 meter low pressure hose for your primary regulator.
* Safety reel/spool.
* Directional arrows, non-directional markers and clothes pins.
* Primary reel.
* Jump/gap reels.
* Wings Back Mount BCD.*
* Stainless Steel back plate.
* Primary light – Most cave divers are using the 10 or 18 watt HID lights.

<snip>

*There are different volume wings BCD&#8217;s available. Please do NOT bring a 100 or 60 pound lift wing BCD as it will too much bag and the air inside will make you unstable when using double 80 cubic foot cylinders. The best size is 55 lb or 45 lb. lift wing BCD&#8217;s. I have plenty of 45 lb. wings BCD&#8217;s to use.

He teaches in Mexico (specialty equipment requirements may be different elsewhere?) and obviously the * about the wing lift reflects his preference. We used Evolve 40's for the course. He used a DR rec wing with bungees, and one of the students was an air pig, so he got twin 108's and a 55 wing. Also, the list may be a bit dated; specifically I think 21W HID's should also be on the list, we didn't use clothes pins and the 55# wings (for AL80's) were probably the old H Explorer 55 that were closer to 40's.