DIR Canister Light Configuration?

[ScottyK]

I'm reading the DIR-F book with an eye towards having my equipment squared away if I decide to take the class. I have a question regarding some possibly conflicting information I am seeing.

The text description for gear configuration says you should have the light head on your left hand. The close up "front view" also confirms this.

However, the other two configuration views show a diver with the light on his right hand. Close to half the other pics in the book show divers with the light on the right hand also.

Is this because it doesn't matter, or is left to the individual diver to choose? I would prefer to wear it on my right hand, and probably will. I was just curious if there was a reason I'm not thinking of to wear it on the left.

 

[Wendy]

Divers with scooters have the light in their left hand cuz they do scooter stuff with their right hands.


Even though I don't have a scooter, I still hold the light head in my left hand, otherwise I will blind my buddy when I am donating air to them.

 

[ScottyK]

LOL- That makes sense.

What about blinding yourself and others while working your inflator and checking your pressure guage?

I guess you get that down with a little practice....

 

[MHK]

ScottyK once bubbled...
LOL- That makes sense.

What about blinding yourself and others while working your inflator and checking your pressure guage?

I guess you get that down with a little practice....

Scotty,

The vast majority of the time we will have the light in our left hand, however there will be times when we have the light in our right hand, for example I may hold the light in my right hand when I reach back to grab my SPG. What you'll find as you progress into DIR is that within the ethos of the team diving concept that passive communication allows the other team members to know that you are OK without having to constantly check on them. A steady, consistent light signal means everything is OK, a slow pronounced movement with the light means that I want your attention, and an erradict shaky movement means I need help or OOA. Accordingly, in team diving the team members are constantly "talking" to each other via light signals so when the diver in front of me doesn't see a light he may think there is trouble, so for that reason I like to keep the light where it should be when doing things like venting gas, checking SPG's, checking stage bottles and so forth. By leaving the light at that moment in the right hand I can attend to the task at hand, keep the team moving and not provide false or misleading signals to my team members..

Hope that helps..

Michael Kane

 

[ScottyK]

Micheal- Thanks, that actually helps quite a lot. If I'm understanding you correctly, the cable is routed in such a way as to allow you to switch hands as the need arises.

It's kind of hard to see exactly how it's routed from the picture. I'm sure a lot of this will seem more clear when I actually take the class. Hopefully, that will be Spring/Summer 2004.

Thanks to both of you for your input.......Scott