Shipwreckscanada
Contributor
Do you need special training to dive with double tanks?
double tanks training
- Thread starter Shipwreckscanada
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DevonDiver
N/A
Do you need it? No.
Will you benefit from it? Certainly.
Example issues:
1. Configuration and trim.
2. Shutdowns and drills (isolated manifold)
3. Gas Planning/Balancing (indie doubles)
Will you benefit from it? Certainly.
Example issues:
1. Configuration and trim.
2. Shutdowns and drills (isolated manifold)
3. Gas Planning/Balancing (indie doubles)
A little different take:
Do you need it? No.
Will you benefit from it? Maybe, but you may also miss out.
I suppose it depends on how your brain is wired. Some people, including me, learn more by experimenting with a piece of gear like doubles rather than being told. There is value in making mistakes, experiencing poor trim and buoyancy, and figuring out how to resolve them that go far beyond that specific piece of gear. There is also value to contemplating all the possible failures and using the isolation manifold to compensate. There is even greater value in analyzing the impact of carrying that much gas on your dive profile like decompression and all of its side effects.
I would encourage people to invest the time to self-learn using doubles in shallow water and with the help of mentors or this forum. At that point you can decide if you would benefit from doubles training. I see gas planning as a separate issue regardless of the number of bottles you pack or even surface supplied.
DevonDiver
N/A
Interesting take. The only caveat I'd put on that is with the practice of shut-down drills. That can pose dangers if done incorrectly - so it's best to have someone competent to supervise your practice. It doesn't have to be a 'lesson' - just someone who knows what to watch out for. Most importantly that you don't leave yourself without anything to breathe.
The other issue is purchase of gear. It's pretty expensive stuff. The cost of a 1-day/2-dive 'Intro To Doubles' course can easily be offset against the potential money waste if you buy stuff that you'll later regret and replace. There is a lot of information, and opinions, about gear selection and configuration here on Scubaboard though.
I wasn't clear enough - I meant specific strategies for using independent doubles.
We're not talking about new equipment or cutting edge diving practices... best practices in doubles configuration and use is well understood. If you're like most of us you only get so much time in the water, why not learn how to do it right and get on with your diving rather than fighting against a piece of equipment just to avoid spending a few bucks on someone's time who can give you what you need?
I have no experience in this area but I do in learning and teaching.
The theory behind classes is not to make you and expert but to expose you to the knowledge that you need. From there then you go practice what you learn to get your feel for things and have been some background how to start problem solving. I work with guys that are not at my level of training but they are 75% of the way there from working with me. They do a fantastic job but there is that 25% of stuff that does not happen often that they have not been exposed to by not having the knowledge. That 25% can be very critical.
For me I usually like getting my info in small doses. Get some knowledge, go practice what I learned and find out things I have more questions about. That way when I go to my next "training" I will be able to ask better questions and learn more.
Main point being know your learning style and do what works best for you.
The theory behind classes is not to make you and expert but to expose you to the knowledge that you need. From there then you go practice what you learn to get your feel for things and have been some background how to start problem solving. I work with guys that are not at my level of training but they are 75% of the way there from working with me. They do a fantastic job but there is that 25% of stuff that does not happen often that they have not been exposed to by not having the knowledge. That 25% can be very critical.
For me I usually like getting my info in small doses. Get some knowledge, go practice what I learned and find out things I have more questions about. That way when I go to my next "training" I will be able to ask better questions and learn more.
Main point being know your learning style and do what works best for you.
ajduplessis
Contributor
Training has never hurt anyone. No knowledge is dangerous. I would recommend doing something like a deep dive or adv nitrox course to help you understand how to configure, safely use and dive doubles. If you don't want to do another course find a competent instructor to mentor you in the basics. I would also suggest a gym routine, isolated doubles can be heavy depending on the cylinders type and any additional strength help even in the water.
Definitely nothing new, but memorizing debatable best practices does not provide the same level of intuition and understanding as analyzing and experimenting on your own. There is great value in experiencing what is not optimum and learning to correct it. There is no reason that virtually all of the in-water self-training cant be done in a swimming pool with a buddy watching your back rather than compromise your recreational dive time.
I would agree with your comment about using a class to try new gear, but the option to try a variety of sizes and configurations is rare. I think it is fair to say that most people would get more out of a course using doubles with previous experience. If nothing else, the doubles themselves will not be a distraction to the myriad of other things to be learned. That is why I said:
I do agree that the ability to try different tank setups would have been helpful when I started diving doubles. Other than that, I prefer to not fight with my equipment and would rather get out there and dive. I see your point of view though, it's just not how I'd approach it.
Anybody can buy a set of doubles and dive them. If you don't know how the manifold works, and if you can't do valve shutdowns, you gain very little over just buying a larger, single tank. Most new divers inquire about doubles because they are unhappy with the bottom time they get on the tanks they have; that problem is far better addressed by learning to be efficient and relaxed in the water, and thus lowering gas consumption.
Doubles are expensive, heavy, and can play havoc with your balance in the water. They often don't fit well on recreational charter boats. They can be delightful to dive if properly balanced, and an absolute nuisance if not. They are extremely useful for deep dives, IF you know how to manage failures. Learning to do that quickly, smoothly and accurately is, in my opinion, much easier to do under the supervision of someone who knows how.
Doubles are expensive, heavy, and can play havoc with your balance in the water. They often don't fit well on recreational charter boats. They can be delightful to dive if properly balanced, and an absolute nuisance if not. They are extremely useful for deep dives, IF you know how to manage failures. Learning to do that quickly, smoothly and accurately is, in my opinion, much easier to do under the supervision of someone who knows how.
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