DiveRite Classic and single tank

[noquartergiven]

Hello
I am in the process of converting to more of a tech style configuration.
I dive a lot in michigan rivers (high currents) and dive in the winter too. This requires negative weighting for the most part.
I bought a diverite ss backplate and harness and the diverite classic wing. eventually doubles will be part of the arrangement but for now I'm diving a single tank.

Question is....
is it an absolute "no-no" to dive the classic wing with a single tank?

Thanks!

~Rick

 

[Rainer]

Hello
I am in the process of converting to more of a tech style configuration.
I dive a lot in michigan rivers (high currents) and dive in the winter too. This requires negative weighting for the most part.
I bought a diverite ss backplate and harness and the diverite classic wing. eventually doubles will be part of the arrangement but for now I'm diving a single tank.

Question is....
is it an absolute "no-no" to dive the classic wing with a single tank?

Thanks!

~Rick

I've only seen one diver around here do so (though obviously lots of people are doing this). IMO it is clearly not ideal. If you want to dive singles, get a singles wing. Want to dive doubles, get a doubles wing.

 

[Rick Murchison]

I rate the Dive-Rite Classic as "Excellent" for double 104's.
I rate it "totally unsuitable" for singles of any size.

... is it an absolute "no-no" to dive the classic wing with a single tank? ...

It is as close to an absolute "no-no" as you can get
Rick

 

[Surelyshirly]

Have given a few days to diving an OMS doubles wing with a single tank and single tank stabilizer.

Maybe havent given enough time to master it but it is DEFINATELY not a good thing. Lots of play in the wing, too much space around the tank and the entire setup is unbalanced and moves.

The right fit for the dive does make a difference. IMHO

 

[SteveFass]

I just picked up Sheck Eckley's book -- in it he describes how they would add air to empty bottles of Clorox to attain boyancy (before BCDs were avail). The contrast between threads like this and clorox bottles makes me think about how far the sport has come in just a few decades.

sorry for the temporary hijack, no quarter.

 

[noquartergiven]

re: hi-jack: no prob

Well, looks like it's back to the shop to spend more money.

Thanks all!

~Rick

 

[PerroneFord]

Did the "shop" know you were buying the DR Classic to dive on a single tank? If so, I'd find another shop. Pronto.

 

[noquartergiven]

Did the "shop" know you were buying the DR Classic to dive on a single tank? If so, I'd find another shop. Pronto.

Yes, they did. My intent is to go doubles, but haven't purchased them yet. I have the manifolds and everything else. Just wanted to try out the new stuff prior to getting doubles and thought of putting a single on there (anything to not put on the life jacket style BC I've been using) and using the new rig before I get the doubles.

~Rick

 

[PerroneFord]

The DR Classic is actually slightly too large for my double AL80 tanks. Works much better with the 108s I usually use. If they sold you this wing knowing that you would be using it with a single, I would no longer patronize that shop.

As Rick said, it was about as wrong as wrong can be for a single tank application.

 

[CompuDude]

If you're determined to take a middle-of-the-road approach, you may want to look at the RecWing, which works fine (tho not perfect) with singles, and also works fine (but not perfect) with smaller doubles.

For bigger doubles, the RecWing is a poor fit, and it's not as good as a dedicated singles wing, either, but it's the only one I can think of that is actually at least semi-recommended for switching back and forth.

Ideally, as others said, you want a dedicated wing for each. But in the interim, if you can only get one, get the Rec Wing, NOT the Classic (which is huge!).

I dive a RecWing exclusively with singles, at the moment (everything from Al.80s to my HP119), and will use it with doubled Al.80s as soon as my manifold arrives.