Diving Doubles - Certification Required?
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Yes or No!!!
It is all depend on the operator.
As far as I know, only PSAI has dedicated course for twin tank diving. BTW, twin tank diving is NOT a tec course but do require special training eg. valves shut down, hose routing, gas donating etc etc.
It is all depend on the operator.
As far as I know, only PSAI has dedicated course for twin tank diving. BTW, twin tank diving is NOT a tec course but do require special training eg. valves shut down, hose routing, gas donating etc etc.
chrpai
Contributor
Manifolded doubles? independent doubles? Sidemount doubles? One on the back and one slung on the left?
It doesn't require a "certification" but it's also not something a new diver is likely to be able to decide to do and even have a clue what to buy and put it together. Usually by the time you know you need these things you've been around the block a few times and have picked up the knowledge to put it together and dive it with the correct procedures.
It doesn't require a "certification" but it's also not something a new diver is likely to be able to decide to do and even have a clue what to buy and put it together. Usually by the time you know you need these things you've been around the block a few times and have picked up the knowledge to put it together and dive it with the correct procedures.
Dr. Lecter
Contributor
No.
However, you can screw up the manifold if you assemble them wrong...so figure that one out in advance. You can find yourself real dead, real fast, if you drop off a boat with full steel doubles and your valves off when you can't reach them...so figure that one out in advance, too. If you're diving isolated doubles like most people still are, they're not much good unless you know how to use the various knobs to address the problems that can occur...so figure all that out in advance, too.
Other than all that, just get them, assemble them, fill them, rig them up, make sure they're on, and go dive them. You'll figure out the trim/propulsion differences then, though at least being aware of that in advance might help.
However, you can screw up the manifold if you assemble them wrong...so figure that one out in advance. You can find yourself real dead, real fast, if you drop off a boat with full steel doubles and your valves off when you can't reach them...so figure that one out in advance, too. If you're diving isolated doubles like most people still are, they're not much good unless you know how to use the various knobs to address the problems that can occur...so figure all that out in advance, too.
Other than all that, just get them, assemble them, fill them, rig them up, make sure they're on, and go dive them. You'll figure out the trim/propulsion differences then, though at least being aware of that in advance might help.
You don't even need a certification to dive. And you certainly don't need one to dive doubles.
But, as people above have already said, there is quite a bit to know to dive them effectively. If you just put them on and treat them like a big single tank, you have all the disadvantages of a lot of connections that can fail, without the knowledge to use the manifold to cope with those failures. You can do it; it isn't really optimal.
Doubles rarely balance well for people out of the gate. They play havoc with one's trim, and it takes some time to cope with the extra gas you need in your wing or suit to compensate for the extra gas you are hauling around.
A bunch of reading and a good mentor can do a lot. If you are contemplating doing this on your own, I would highly recommend spending the money for the on-line classroom materials for the UTD Doubles mini. With that, and a good mentor, you can learn to dive doubles very competently.
But, as people above have already said, there is quite a bit to know to dive them effectively. If you just put them on and treat them like a big single tank, you have all the disadvantages of a lot of connections that can fail, without the knowledge to use the manifold to cope with those failures. You can do it; it isn't really optimal.
Doubles rarely balance well for people out of the gate. They play havoc with one's trim, and it takes some time to cope with the extra gas you need in your wing or suit to compensate for the extra gas you are hauling around.
A bunch of reading and a good mentor can do a lot. If you are contemplating doing this on your own, I would highly recommend spending the money for the on-line classroom materials for the UTD Doubles mini. With that, and a good mentor, you can learn to dive doubles very competently.
flots am
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Not only do you not need one, I don't think there actually is one specifically for doubles, although deco would probably require them (although it could also be sidemount).
The only thing I'll mention is that you should borrow a set before you buy a set. They weigh an absolute ton and there's a pretty good used market where people sell the set they bought last year, when they discover that 120 Lbs of steel doesn't make for a happy back or knees and climbing a boat ladder feels like an entry in "The World's Strongest Man" competition.
With less than 24 dives, I'd recommend a lot more time with a single tank before considering doubles.
flots
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