New to forum. My usual dive partner is my brother & after about 2 minutes we are headed different directions looking for fish. So.....essentially we solo dive. I would like to set up with redundant regs but I don't think sidemount will work very good dragging through the rocks. Has anyone done a twin setup on back mount? I have 12 80's & 1 set of twin 50's so I don't lack for cylinders for any kind of setup. Any ideas & pictures if you have them would be great.
Dual setup option other than sidemount.
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AfterDark
Contributor
I use 2 single tanks banded together on a BP/w each with it's own reg. I don't use manifolds because I can't reach the valves. I you can then the manifold with 2 regs is the best set up, the reason is that you will be able to use the gas in both tank if one reg should fail by shutting off the gas to that reg while the other reg still as access to both tanks. I keep 1000psi in reserve when I use independent doubles. I do a lot of solo diving as well as same ocean buddy diving.
My first solo diving rig was a single tank setup (100cf) with a side mount, clip-on 32cf bottle. I hated having one bottle on the side, it was totally lop sided and in my opinion, putting your bottles on the side for recreational diving sucks. Yes, redundancy is awesome, but it shouldn't detract from your normal diving situation when you're coming up with plenty of air remaining.
My second solo diving rig was my favorite, but it was just too heavy for shore diving. Double HP80's with a manifold, Jetstream regs, OMS BPW and fancy quick disconnect system to change gas and bail out for my AGA full face mask, which I tended to wear more times then not. Again, the same 32cf pony bottle, only this time I hung it off the back of the backplate and had a really nice hose arrangement which wrapped around the left side and connected to a fancy QD A/B switch a buddy of mine made. So if you had a reg failure, or needed the backup air, you'd just switch the switch and the BC and AGA FFM would be on backup air. I ran an air-assisted inflator system which hooked into the A/B switch as well. So the backup gas would run the main breathing 2nd stage and a backup. If you had to bail out, there was another 2nd stage attached to the tank itself and you could literally take the BC off, unhook the tank, hug it and slowly float to the surface. It took me a while to get the weighting down for this rig, but it worked well. Sadly, I only did a few dives with it before an inner ear issue kept me dry for 6 years. Here are some pix when I went to sell it. Sadly it doesn't show the QD or hose arrangement from when I was diving with it. Wish I had some pix so I could remember how I built it! LOL
Getting back into diving right now and building a very similar rig, only based on dual 45's for weight reasons. I'm also using a smaller pony bottle and fewer hoses! I hope it works well, still debating on who's regs I'll use.
I'll always have 2 rigs anyway; a recreational/training rig which would be more set up like DIR and a more tech/solo rig with lots more redundancy.
My second solo diving rig was my favorite, but it was just too heavy for shore diving. Double HP80's with a manifold, Jetstream regs, OMS BPW and fancy quick disconnect system to change gas and bail out for my AGA full face mask, which I tended to wear more times then not. Again, the same 32cf pony bottle, only this time I hung it off the back of the backplate and had a really nice hose arrangement which wrapped around the left side and connected to a fancy QD A/B switch a buddy of mine made. So if you had a reg failure, or needed the backup air, you'd just switch the switch and the BC and AGA FFM would be on backup air. I ran an air-assisted inflator system which hooked into the A/B switch as well. So the backup gas would run the main breathing 2nd stage and a backup. If you had to bail out, there was another 2nd stage attached to the tank itself and you could literally take the BC off, unhook the tank, hug it and slowly float to the surface. It took me a while to get the weighting down for this rig, but it worked well. Sadly, I only did a few dives with it before an inner ear issue kept me dry for 6 years. Here are some pix when I went to sell it. Sadly it doesn't show the QD or hose arrangement from when I was diving with it. Wish I had some pix so I could remember how I built it! LOL
Getting back into diving right now and building a very similar rig, only based on dual 45's for weight reasons. I'm also using a smaller pony bottle and fewer hoses! I hope it works well, still debating on who's regs I'll use.
I'll always have 2 rigs anyway; a recreational/training rig which would be more set up like DIR and a more tech/solo rig with lots more redundancy.
I don't see how you would be dragging anything through the rocks if you went sidemount......the tanks would be at your sides, not hanging down to hit things.
Independent banded BM doubles, or you could sling an 80, and back mount the single 80, or you could sidemount......I think one of those 3 are likely best for only using alu80s
Independent banded BM doubles, or you could sling an 80, and back mount the single 80, or you could sidemount......I think one of those 3 are likely best for only using alu80s
You need to think through your dive scenarios. You can use a small pony for no-decompression no-overhead dives. I personally dont care for slinging bottles, especially for spearfishing so mount it to a single. Dual independent 80s would be more weight and bulk than necessary if you intend to end the dive whenever resorting to your backup.
You could use your twin 50s. Using a dual isolation manifold with 2 regulators will provide the backup you asked about but does not provide OOA backup gas like an independent cylinder. I use progressive equalization on doubles (twin 45 and 72s) but it requires being able to easily reach the isolation valves.
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/solo-divers/408803-progressive-equalization.html
You could use your twin 50s. Using a dual isolation manifold with 2 regulators will provide the backup you asked about but does not provide OOA backup gas like an independent cylinder. I use progressive equalization on doubles (twin 45 and 72s) but it requires being able to easily reach the isolation valves.
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/solo-divers/408803-progressive-equalization.html
I was planning to double up two S50s but could not find bands to fit as they are a bit on the narrow side, I ended up finding a pair of Ozzie Luxfers (7.9L) HP and O2 clean. Have set them ups as doubles with an isolator manifold and will be testing them out this weekend.
Scubaboard member captain has a great link for making custom bands:
Vintage Double Hose • View topic - How to make triple bands by Captain Tom
I was able to get bands for twin Faber LP-45 that are 5.51"/140mm OD using an isolation manifold that is 190mm center-center rather than the standard 215mm. Unfortunately, I dont remember the Scubaboard member who turned me onto this combo, but they have worked out well.
What kind of diving are you doing? What kinds of depths? Any overheads (including decompression obligations)? Any natural hazards (heavy current, poor visibility, difficult navigation etc) or man-made hazards (nets, shipping lanes etc.) that could affect your choice?
Do you get separated from your buddy because you lose track of each other or is this a conscious choice to enter the water together and then head your separate ways? What kind of a plan do you usually make with him?
As you can see from the previous responses you have some options but it would help to get a better picture of what you're actually doing.
R..
DaleC
Contributor
Bands made out of HVAC hanger strapping
Slinging an 80
Travel bands
Slinging an 80
Travel bands
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