Chokers for deco bottles?

[Cyborg Pirate]

Just completed Advanced Nitrox, and do my checkouts for Deco Procedures this weekend. I have 1 instructor that uses chokers on his AL40 deco and O2 cylinders. another instructor does not use chokers. The two AL40's I was borrowing had them. My AL40's got here, VIP, and filled. Setting them up now for the weekend.... Chokers or not? The chokers made them harder to clip on and off while vertical on the boat. no issue horizontal at depth while doing drops and pick ups. any advantage/disadvantages to using them?

 

[wedivebc]

chokers?

 

[Diver0001]

Could you explain what you mean by chokers, please?

R..

 

[tomfcrist]

Chokers will help keep a bottle streamlined a bit better... chokers, ring bungees and a buttplate would be the best way to sidemount them IMO.

Most wreck divers I see give zero ***** about trim and position of their deco bottles(look at the guy in my avitar).which is counter productive when considering the entanglement hazards of most wrecks... sidemounting deco bottles is cleaner and creates less drag.

 

[tomfcrist]

Chokers...a method of ensuring the upper boltsnap is held tight to the valve of the cylinder...stops the valve of the cylinder from hanging 6” lower than the chest dring or ring bungee mount.

 

[Diver0001]

Is this a side-mount thing?

 

[tomfcrist]

Not always.. even if you sling a deco bottle from your chest dring it has benefits

 

[tomfcrist]

 

[Cyborg Pirate]

"chokers" as tomfcrist stated are bungee cords around the neck of the valve where the upper boltsnap is held in place by (very similar to sidemount). The choker should allow about an inch of stretch to clip and unclip the top boltsnap, but will hold it closer to the shoulder D-ring when used.

Tom actually answered my question with his response.

For now.... I will stick with what the instructor is doing, once checkouts are done I may experiment a bit with them and see which way streamlines better for me. Get the Mrs. to video while I try different ways, and kick styles. Streamlining is best, but want to make sure I am comfortable too. The deco bottles I was borrowing had 1st stage facing down and away from me, mine will be 1st stages up and in towards my body. Just not sure how that is going to feel with the chokers in use.

 

[tomfcrist]

Phoenix...you took your class with Scott?