Don/Doff BP/W

[David P]

if your going DIR, then you will have a 7' hose...Its the end of the dive, your on land so you wont have the reg in your mouth...it will be clipped off to your right chest Dring...get it yet? Gently pull on the air hose to pull the right shoulder strap down off your shoulder, remove right arm and then its easier to get your left arm out with that damn shoulder dump. See how great the long hose is!?!?

 

[redacted]

I don't use a crotch strap so I probably wear my plate a bit tighter than most. Initially I added a release mechanism to one of my shoulder straps to aid in doffing but quickly found it to be unnecessary. On land, I release the waist strap and reach back with my right hand to lift and rotate the tank loosening the left strap which will then fall off my shoulder as I lean left. Once my left arm is free, I treach up and grab the right strap and lower the rig down.

For in-water doffing; I add a little air, clip off the long hose and switch to the alt (usually remembering to remove the bungee from around my neck), undo the waist strap, and exhale and reach up to pull the rig off over my head. I switch to the alt for this as it is usually to hand the rig up to a boat hand who will beat the hell out of the primary as he drags it around unclipped.

And I'm an old guy with limited dexterity so this should work for anyone able to muscle the rig around a little.

 

[Hank49]

Most important thing is to remove the bungied back reg from around your neck before trying to doff the BP/W.

HAH!. that took a few dives for me to remember....after a couple THWAPs !! as the octo pulled out of the necklace and it snapped back.
Also after getting out of the rig, if you use a SS plate, be sure you have some air in the wing before you let go of it in the water.

 

[Matt S.]

I just posted about this elsewhere, glad I am not the only one having trouble.

If my rig is tight enough to be stable, it is nearly impossible to don/doff without help. Big dry glove rings and a tall dump valve do not help. (Once it's on, it's great though!)

I am loosening the straps gradually to find the point of best compromise. I'd like to suit up without needing more help than a zip.

 

[rockjock3]

I dive my BP/W from a kayak and you have to doff/donn it in the water. It is really easy. Here is my procedure.

First, enough air to be barely positive. Slip one arm in up to elbow, slip other arm in and pull both up together. Put reg in mouth, roll forward, catch crotch strap and then roll vertical and cinch it all down. Lastly situate the rest of the rig (necklace, long-hose, etc).

To doff it is just as easy. Again, just enough air to barely be positive. Undo all the parts (necklace, long-hose, etc). Next, unclip the waist and release the crotch strap. You can now simply drop your arms and kick forward out of it or you can reach behind you with both arms, towards the rear clip, and pull it down to your elbows and pull your arms out one at a time.

It is all about practice and procedure. Once you get it down it is really easy. I can doff/donn my rig quicker and people with BCs (not counting the long-hose and necklace).

 

[Matt S.]

I usually can't don in the water, but I'll try the simultaneous two elbows method and see where it gets me. Thanks.

(We shore dive up here, so you gear up in a parking lot and walk up to a block down to the beach. It is much more work to carry your gear down to the shore before putting it on.)

 

[Splitlip]

It really helps if you have a platform or seat under the cylinder to take the weight off your shoulders. You can then just insert your thumbs in the chest drings and pop off one shoulder then the other.
Another easy way; insert a hand, fingertips first behind the shoulder webbing back by your arm pit and slide the hand in. Left hand, left strap. Right hand, right strap. this works especially well if you have just the harness and plate, no tank as you described.

Sometimes you may need to pop the D-rings then slide your hand.

 

[TSandM]

Matt, don't loose the straps a whole lot. This really IS something you learn how to do, and once you've got it, it's not difficult at all. (The secret is that your elbow doesn't have any gauges on it . . . )