First use of BP/W- More Noob Questions

[sbnole]

I posted this on the ST board, but I thought I'd put it here, hoping to pick up a few additional opinions.

Ok I got my new rig set up (30lb MachV, OMS Al Plate, Hog Harness, Zeagle weight pockets). Thanks ST!!! I spent a couple of hours in the pool and it is great! Better trim & bouyancy control than I have ever had.

I am not trying to be completely DIR compliant right now, but I am drinking the koolaid a sip at a time and I value the opinions of DIR practitioners. Anyway, I have a USD Conshelf 21 reg set and the octo is on a bungee necklace. The bungee is set with a loop that the octo can be pulled free if I need to donate it, but it is there where I can get to it easily. I still have the standard hose lengths (still thinkin on that).

Now a couple of questions for the DIR/Tech faithful. When I try and look down toward my waist, I have to move the octo out of the way. My chin hits the octo and I can't look down. I made the necklace so that it would hold the octo in my mouth if needed, so I didn't want to make the necklace larger. Is there somthing I should change to prevent this or just deal with it?

Also seeing things around my waist & shoulder straps is difficult. I have a Diverite pocket on my waist belt and have a real hard time seeing it. Do you mostly do things by feel?

Any help is appreciated. I appreciate this board and ST. The experience and insight of the members here has really accelerated my re-entry into diving. Without it, I would have missed out on a great revolution in my gear and diving.

 

[Thalassamania]

I posted this on the ST board, but I thought I'd put it here, hoping to pick up a few additional opinions.

Ok I got my new rig set up (30lb MachV, OMS Al Plate, Hog Harness, Zeagle weight pockets). Thanks ST!!! I spent a couple of hours in the pool and it is great! Better trim & bouyancy control than I have ever had.

I am not trying to be completely DIR compliant right now, but I am drinking the koolaid a sip at a time and I value the opinions of DIR practitioners.

Sippin's fine ... try not to swallow.

Anyway, I have a USD Conshelf 21 reg set and the octo is on a bungee necklace. The bungee is set with a loop that the octo can be pulled free if I need to donate it, but it is there where I can get to it easily. I still have the standard hose lengths (still thinkin on that).

In not accepting the long hose you are rejecting what is, in my mind, the major contribution of DIR to diving practice.

Now a couple of questions for the DIR/Tech faithful. When I try and look down toward my waist, I have to move the octo out of the way. My chin hits the octo and I can't look down. I made the necklace so that it would hold the octo in my mouth if needed, so I didn't want to make the necklace larger. Is there somthing I should change to prevent this or just deal with it?

The necklace is not there to hold your regulator in your mouth. It is there to provide a convenient location where a freeflow will be obvious and where it can be recovered without requiring the use of your hands. Thus the necklace length should be as long as possible whilst still permitting hands free recovery.

Also seeing things around my waist & shoulder straps is difficult. I have a Diverite pocket on my waist belt and have a real hard time seeing it. Do you mostly do things by feel?

Learn to do everything by feel, when it actually goes south there's a good chance you'll be silted in.

 

[Doc Harry]

When I try and look down toward my waist, I have to move the octo out of the way. My chin hits the octo and I can't look down.....

Also seeing things around my waist & shoulder straps is difficult. I have a Diverite pocket on my waist belt and have a real hard time seeing it. Do you mostly do things by feel?

The bungee should be just long enough that looking down doesn't cause you to hit your chin on the regulator.

"Looking" for things on your harness throws off your trim. Keep your chin up, head up, and learn where everything is by feel. You should be able to retrieve whatever you need and replace it by feel. If you can't, practice more.

This also means that your D-rings should be located where you naturally reach. It's okay to move them up or down a bit to make clipping and unclipping more natural.

 

[Flightlead]

I have a USD Conshelf 21 reg set and the octo is on a bungee necklace. The bungee is set with a loop that the octo can be pulled free if I need to donate it, but it is there where I can get to it easily. I still have the standard hose lengths (still thinkin on that).

I think this is a "worst of both worlds" configuration. There are a number of excellent reasons why you should be donating your primary. A search should find you many enlightening discussions. Regardless of use, you should have the minimum hose length necessary to get the job done for any hose. In this case the "job" is:

1) for your primary, delivering air to you and being of suitable length to donate to an OOG team member. 7' is used when you might have to move in single file head to feet (recipient goes in front). 5' is ok for open water.

2) for your backup, delivering air to you.

if you have standard length hoses you might be ok for open water donation of the primary, but you'll have a great hoop of hose off your bungied backup that is unnecessary, probably uncomfortable, and certainly a snagging/entanglement hazard.

if you are in an open water/recreational situation pick one or the other setup and go with it. its perfectly fine to dive a standard recreational setup on a bp/w for this situation.

have fun figuring it out!

 

[sbnole]

Thanks everyone for the insight. I did have a follow up on one point:

The necklace is not there to hold your regulator in your mouth. It is there to provide a convenient location where a freeflow will be obvious and where it can be recovered without requiring the use of your hands. Thus the necklace length should be as long as possible whilst still permitting hands free recovery.

I have read where the necklace was used to hold the reg in the mouth of an unconscious diver to help keep the airway open. I realize that is hopefully a rare occurence, but it seems to make sense. This would of course be in addition to the other more common advantages.

Has anyone used a 40" octo hose and a short primary? The octo would have to be on a necklace it could be pulled out of...

I know, just take the plunge to the full DIR hose set up. I may, I am just thinking through the options. Thanks for everyone's time.

 

[TSandM]

My husband has used a 40" primary hose, but found he needed an elbow to take the torque off the second stage in his mouth.

I can't see anything down around my waist or pockets, but it's not the BP/W or the bungied octo. It's being packed into a drysuit and tons of undergarment. I've learned to manage most everything by feel. I do have problems putting things BACK into my pockets, and I just ask my buddy to help make sure everything is properly stowed.

 

[Doc Harry]

I have read where the necklace was used to hold the reg in the mouth of an unconscious diver to help keep the airway open. I realize that is hopefully a rare occurence, but it seems to make sense. This would of course be in addition to the other more common advantages..

The bungee is not used to hold the reg in the mouth of an unconcious diver. Although that may sound practical, in reality when you are managing an unconcious diver, airway control is proactive not passive. Thus, the reg of an unconcious diver is actively held in place by your hand and fingers, not passively with a bungee. The hand/finger position is similar to that of holding a BVM (bag-valve-mask) when you are bagging someone, if you are familiar with that procedure. You can get training in dealing with an unconcious diver in PADI Rescue or GUE-Fundamentals.

Has anyone used a 40" octo hose and a short primary? The octo would have to be on a necklace it could be pulled out of...

I am sure that someone has tried this, but I can't see how it would be useful.

It seems to me that you are still undecided about whether to donate your primary or donate your octo. Go out and practice both. Decide which works best. Once you make the commitment to donating your primary regulator, the DIR configuration becomes obvious.

As you have experienced, determining your configuation is all very confusing if you are hemming and hawing about which reg to donate. Once you commit to one method or the other, your configuration will iron itself out.