Doubles etc.

[Jimmer]

Sorry Jim, I'm going to have to disagree with your post..There are way too many people diving doubles that dont have a clue what to do if there is a failure anywhere in the system. Doubles is about the safest way to go, if you know what to do when the crap hits the fan....
Not to mention, people can get into alot of trouble with all that extra gas on their backs..I've saw plenty of people with no deco training run their dives well into deco, and just do whatever their computer says...
Perhaps a course such as http://www.niagarascuba.ca/courses/intro_to_tech.html
would fit nicely for someone not quite ready to enter the world of deco..but thinking of heading there in the near future..

Sorry for the shamless plug...

I can understand where you're coming from, and I should clarify my position. Being comfortable with doubles in my mind means understanding how the valves work, understanding what to do when the **** hit the fan. I have heard instructors and tech divers tell me about students who showed up for a Deco procedures course with a brand new set of doubles, and the first time they got them in the water was their first skills dives for the Deco course. My feeling is that before you ever should be working at staged decompression, you should be absolutely comforable with your gear. Whether this means taking a Fundies, or Intro to Tech class, or in my case, finding several "mentors" (I still haven't shut the door on an intro to tech class, very interested in more knowledge) to help me with gear selection, with gear setup, valve drills etc. But either way, I want to be 100% comfortable with all things related to my gear before I try to perform a staged decompression class. As for your point about people getting beyond their NDLs with doubles, and blindly following their computers. Well those people are just dumb as far as I'm concerned, and lack the mindest for tech diving anyway.

Jim

 

[Rainer]

As for your point about people getting beyond their NDLs with doubles, and blindly following their computers. Well those people are just dumb as far as I'm concerned, and lack the mindest for tech diving anyway.

Jim

These are the same people who could easily get into trouble with a big cylinder at deeper depths (where NDL limited, not gas limited).

 

[NJScubaDoc]

You've never been diving with doubles, but you're some how sure the task loading of independent doubles isn't a problem? Based on what??? Find a good instructor/mentor. Then go from there.

Based on the fact that I'm confident enough in my gas management skills and my ability to carry out multiple tasks without jeopardizing my safety. Of course I can't be 100% sure that it's not going to be an issue, but I'm as sure as I can be before actually doing it.

The problem with finding the right sized tank is I've already got 4 LP 95s. Moving to independent doubles would be the most cost effective way for me to get more gas, as I'm already set up with most of my other gear.

 

[Rainer]

Being cheap shouldn't be your first priority. A manifold can be had for <$200.

 

[in_cavediver]

Based on the fact that I'm confident enough in my gas management skills and my ability to carry out multiple tasks without jeopardizing my safety. Of course I can't be 100% sure that it's not going to be an issue, but I'm as sure as I can be before actually doing it.

The problem with finding the right sized tank is I've already got 4 LP 95s. Moving to independent doubles would be the most cost effective way for me to get more gas, as I'm already set up with most of my other gear.

Spend 200 bucks or so and get a manifold and steel bands. You'll be MUCH happier.

 

[Jimmer]

These are the same people who could easily get into trouble with a big cylinder at deeper depths (where NDL limited, not gas limited).

You're absolutely, undeniably, 100% correct

 

[NJScubaDoc]

Spend 200 bucks or so and get a manifold and steel bands. You'll be MUCH happier.

Steel Bands and a Manifold is permanent. Not 100% permanent, but permanent enough where the 4 tanks that I currently own, that would become 2 sets of doubles, would decreaes my versatility in being able to do shore diving (I do a lot). I won't be using doubles to do that.

 

[Rainer]

Um, double up one set?

 

[NJScubaDoc]

if i'm on a boat, its for at least 2 dives.

 

[firemedic1015]

I dive doubles exclusively without any problems, boat, shore, everything. I think that if you double a set up and try them you will end up liking them and find that they are more manageable than they look.