That should have been your first clue when it comes to OMS gear...
Gear set up
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That should have been your first clue when it comes to OMS gear...
TONY CHANEY
Contributor
What about John Bennett who dove to 305 meters? so much for your knowledge!
TONY CHANEY
Contributor
DevonDiver
N/A
Inflator Hose Problem.
Firstly, buy an old bike inner-tube and cut it into 1" loops. Use some of those loops to secure the LPI hose to the LPI. That helps control 'fly-away' hoses.
Secondly, consider buying some Miflex, or other braided nylon, LPI hoses. They are more flexible and route easier.
Lastly, don't worry too much about the LPI hose for the redundant bladder - you won't use this except if your primary bladder failed. Most divers who use a redundant bladder system don't actually connect the LPI hose, they just have them bungeed together and tucked in out of the way. The reason for this is because any small leak from the redundant LPI can put air into your redundant bladder during the dive, this in turn can cause buoyancy dramas on ascent. It's a major consideration if you have a deco schedule to meet. My advice would be too connect the hoses using the rubber loops I mentioned, then just stick the redundant LPI along the side of the bladder, using one of the bungees to secure the inflator. It's there when you need it, but relatively unobtrusive otherwise. Like all things, you need to practice practice practice to deploy and use your redundant bladder system in an emergency.
Hose Routing
I use Scubapro Mk25s, but I have experience with routing Apeks. I found this pic online (not my own gear) to try and illustrate roughly how I would do it:
Edit: Just noticed I labelled it wrong. "Route for Secondary AAS" (in blue) should read '"Route for Secondary LPI"
Primary reg (long hose) and Primary LPI route from the right-hand stage. You can see that there is bit of curving req'd for the LPI (hence getting a more flexible hose). Long hose primary reg routes down the back of the wing, around the right-side waist and up/around the neck (search Hog hose routing).
The secondary reg (short hose), SPG and secondary LPI (if used) route from the left hand stage. SPG routes straight down (better behind the wing, unlike the photo). Secondary reg runs across the back of the wing and around the neck. Secondary LPI will also run across the back of the wing (not shown in picture). You'll want to make sure it doesn't block/interfere any of the other hoses.
GEAR FEEDBACK & CRITIQUE - A MINDSET
If you intend to progress into cave/tech/wreck diving at a technical level, then you do need to get used to critique. It's how we learn, develop and progress. Tech diving is a relatively new activity, outside of serious explorers and adventurers from past decades. There's a lot of 'standardisation' now, but things are still evolving and being refined. Critique is a process that enables evolution and refinement. May it always be so!
The tech community can be quite blunt and out-spoken when it comes to discussing certain subjects, like procedures used, deco algorithms, equipment configuration and the setting of personal limits/tolerances. It helps to remind yourself that other people are critiquing your gear, not you. Critique is offered as advice - and is intended for your benefit. A good technical diver should always be a 'sponge' when it comes to absorbing the opinions, values and knowledge of their peers and mentors. You don't have to agree with everything, but you should respect it...and give it consideration.
OMS vs alternatives
OMS is to technical diving, what Kia or Hyundai is to the motor industry. It's (relatively) cheap, has no special significance, won't win many awards, but it allows you to get the job done. As with bland cars... it can benefit from some tweaking and improvement for high-performance use. The design of OMS does reflect a certain lack of kinaesthetic performance... over-long LPI hoses, awkward harnesses, dumps where you don't need dumps, too much plastic and nylon clutter to give any minimalist benefits. It's heavily marketed kit, that is sold through many mainstream (non-specialist) scuba retails. A cynic might say that it is deliberately designed and marketed to appeal to the novice tech initiate, who doesn't know better - either that or it is designed/priced for rental use in busy tech operations.
Any of those potential drawbacks can be rectified if you are prepared to tinker with your kit. Most tech divers do a lot of tinkering.
The majority of experienced tech/cave/wreck divers will strive towards the most minimalist configuration possible. Simplicity, streamlining and reliability are seen as the critical factors. In practice, that means that the comfort harness goes, in favour of a basic webbing (Hogarthian) harness. Wing capacity is chosen to suit specific, calculated needs - rather than an over-size bladder, which then has to be controlled using bungee cords. Same goes for redundant bladders - there are other ways to approach the issue of primary bladder failure, and many choose to follow those routes, rather than go for a double-bladder. LPI hoses are shortened. SPG hoses are shortened.
Certain brands; like Halcyon, Oxycheq and DSS, make their equipment to more closely reflect the demands of the majority of experienced technical divers. OMS just seems to address the expectations of the inexperienced. That's just IMHO.
As a novice tech/doubles diver, who is used to jacket BCDs and generally, quite low performance gear - you won't really 'get' a lot of the advice given about equipment configurations. Much of it is wise advice though... so it pays to trust. Trusting can save you $$$'s in the long run. That said, there's no substitute for research, research and more research. There's certainly no substitute or equivalent for finding a knowledgeable mentor locally, who can guide you through the (expensive) maze of tech equipment configuration.
Don't get despondent about any critique of your gear, it's meant well. You've got an adequate starting point, although there are definitely some good tweaks you can make. Over the middle-long term, you may find that the gear isn't optimal - but then, most of us on here have swapped through multiple kits before we reached something optimal for us.
Firstly, buy an old bike inner-tube and cut it into 1" loops. Use some of those loops to secure the LPI hose to the LPI. That helps control 'fly-away' hoses.
Secondly, consider buying some Miflex, or other braided nylon, LPI hoses. They are more flexible and route easier.
Lastly, don't worry too much about the LPI hose for the redundant bladder - you won't use this except if your primary bladder failed. Most divers who use a redundant bladder system don't actually connect the LPI hose, they just have them bungeed together and tucked in out of the way. The reason for this is because any small leak from the redundant LPI can put air into your redundant bladder during the dive, this in turn can cause buoyancy dramas on ascent. It's a major consideration if you have a deco schedule to meet. My advice would be too connect the hoses using the rubber loops I mentioned, then just stick the redundant LPI along the side of the bladder, using one of the bungees to secure the inflator. It's there when you need it, but relatively unobtrusive otherwise. Like all things, you need to practice practice practice to deploy and use your redundant bladder system in an emergency.
Hose Routing
I use Scubapro Mk25s, but I have experience with routing Apeks. I found this pic online (not my own gear) to try and illustrate roughly how I would do it:
Edit: Just noticed I labelled it wrong. "Route for Secondary AAS" (in blue) should read '"Route for Secondary LPI"
Primary reg (long hose) and Primary LPI route from the right-hand stage. You can see that there is bit of curving req'd for the LPI (hence getting a more flexible hose). Long hose primary reg routes down the back of the wing, around the right-side waist and up/around the neck (search Hog hose routing).
The secondary reg (short hose), SPG and secondary LPI (if used) route from the left hand stage. SPG routes straight down (better behind the wing, unlike the photo). Secondary reg runs across the back of the wing and around the neck. Secondary LPI will also run across the back of the wing (not shown in picture). You'll want to make sure it doesn't block/interfere any of the other hoses.
GEAR FEEDBACK & CRITIQUE - A MINDSET
If you intend to progress into cave/tech/wreck diving at a technical level, then you do need to get used to critique. It's how we learn, develop and progress. Tech diving is a relatively new activity, outside of serious explorers and adventurers from past decades. There's a lot of 'standardisation' now, but things are still evolving and being refined. Critique is a process that enables evolution and refinement. May it always be so!
The tech community can be quite blunt and out-spoken when it comes to discussing certain subjects, like procedures used, deco algorithms, equipment configuration and the setting of personal limits/tolerances. It helps to remind yourself that other people are critiquing your gear, not you. Critique is offered as advice - and is intended for your benefit. A good technical diver should always be a 'sponge' when it comes to absorbing the opinions, values and knowledge of their peers and mentors. You don't have to agree with everything, but you should respect it...and give it consideration.
OMS vs alternatives
OMS is to technical diving, what Kia or Hyundai is to the motor industry. It's (relatively) cheap, has no special significance, won't win many awards, but it allows you to get the job done. As with bland cars... it can benefit from some tweaking and improvement for high-performance use. The design of OMS does reflect a certain lack of kinaesthetic performance... over-long LPI hoses, awkward harnesses, dumps where you don't need dumps, too much plastic and nylon clutter to give any minimalist benefits. It's heavily marketed kit, that is sold through many mainstream (non-specialist) scuba retails. A cynic might say that it is deliberately designed and marketed to appeal to the novice tech initiate, who doesn't know better - either that or it is designed/priced for rental use in busy tech operations.
Any of those potential drawbacks can be rectified if you are prepared to tinker with your kit. Most tech divers do a lot of tinkering.
The majority of experienced tech/cave/wreck divers will strive towards the most minimalist configuration possible. Simplicity, streamlining and reliability are seen as the critical factors. In practice, that means that the comfort harness goes, in favour of a basic webbing (Hogarthian) harness. Wing capacity is chosen to suit specific, calculated needs - rather than an over-size bladder, which then has to be controlled using bungee cords. Same goes for redundant bladders - there are other ways to approach the issue of primary bladder failure, and many choose to follow those routes, rather than go for a double-bladder. LPI hoses are shortened. SPG hoses are shortened.
Certain brands; like Halcyon, Oxycheq and DSS, make their equipment to more closely reflect the demands of the majority of experienced technical divers. OMS just seems to address the expectations of the inexperienced. That's just IMHO.
As a novice tech/doubles diver, who is used to jacket BCDs and generally, quite low performance gear - you won't really 'get' a lot of the advice given about equipment configurations. Much of it is wise advice though... so it pays to trust. Trusting can save you $$$'s in the long run. That said, there's no substitute for research, research and more research. There's certainly no substitute or equivalent for finding a knowledgeable mentor locally, who can guide you through the (expensive) maze of tech equipment configuration.
Don't get despondent about any critique of your gear, it's meant well. You've got an adequate starting point, although there are definitely some good tweaks you can make. Over the middle-long term, you may find that the gear isn't optimal - but then, most of us on here have swapped through multiple kits before we reached something optimal for us.
Originally Posted by ajduplessis
I know of only 2 people that have dived to 300m an returned. None of them used OMS to my knowledge. @OP Every piece of kit have pros and cons. Stick to your choice and find an instructor that is like-minded.
I can think of 4.
1. John Bennett
2. Mark Ellyat: used OMS btw
3. Nuno Gomes
4. Pascal Bernabe
ajduplessis
Contributor
Pascal Bernabe's 330m dive is not verified or accepted in the dive community. If it was it would be a world record
That's a fairly brave statement 'the dive community'. I've met the man. Personally I believe the guy. And so do lot of others.
techintime
Contributor
I did the same thing you are doing with gear and a lot of others have done the same thing...you buy the stuff that you think is going to work and then little-by-little, as you start running into problems with it, you will migrate toward a more basic minimalist setup. For example, my first harness was a Dive Rite Delux (delux is better, right?), and after some frustrating dives with twisted comfort straps, and where I kept getting confused between multiple D-rings, metal plates, connecting rings and plastic buckles, I bought a Dive Rite Basic harness which was better, but still some extra crap on my chest that got in the way. I finally did what I should have done in the first place which was make my own basic, one piece harness. If most tech divers are going a certain way, generally there is a pretty good reason.
Make sure the "press knob" of the 2nd power inflator is NOT affected when you inflate your primary wing. You do not want to inflate your redundancy at the same time. It happened to me before.
Some divers will not connect the 2nd inflator hose to the inflator for that reason. They rely on oral inflation.
Sorry you got such a harsh reception. I know how frustrating it can be to buy gear and be told that your brand new gear isn't good enough. I've stubbornly persisted on in the past with gear, and usually regretted it. But in the process I learned why I like the gear that I do, so it wasn't a total loss at all. The key is to:
1) Dive with people who are doing the type of diving you want to be doing, so that you can see how their gear works and what they like about it, and
2) Don't put yourself into any unsafe situations because you have all the fancy gear. It's a process of getting used to the new equipment, and it takes time.
That said, the bungeed, dual bladder, way-too-much lift wing is one of the few pieces of gear I think is really borderline hazardous for diving. Here are two reasons:
1) There's just way too much lift in there. So when there's a problem, you don't stand a chance of fixing it. An instabuddy (with a huge bungeed wing) tagged along with the guy I met to dive with a few weeks ago (also an instabuddy, but we'd talked in advance and I had some sense of where he was coming from), so we dove as a team of three. Five minutes into the dive, he was on the surface, struggling to vent his wing and get back down. He eventually did, and five minutes later he was back on the surface. If there's a problem, you've now got two inflators to try to disconnect in time. It ain't gonna happen.
2) If you have a puncture, there's not going to be enough lift in there. The bungees squeeze out all the air. I've watched people unscrew their wing dump while using the pull-cord to dump air. I've simulated that situation myself, and all I had to do was tilt to one side to trap plenty of air. With the bungees, that isn't a possibility.
A key part of technical diving is buoyancy control. Too much depth or too little at the wrong time and you have big problems.
The good news is that you're in Florida, and there are tons of great instructors around. Consider taking a Fundamentals course to improve your buoyancy and trim and team skills (or carefully vet instructors to find one who teaches a really serious Intro-to-Tech class). You'll get a great sense of what it means to do technical diving, without ever having to enter an overhead. Your first day of tech class is the wrong time to try to be learning the fundamental skills. And once you've picked out an instructor, you can talk to them about gear choices.
1) Dive with people who are doing the type of diving you want to be doing, so that you can see how their gear works and what they like about it, and
2) Don't put yourself into any unsafe situations because you have all the fancy gear. It's a process of getting used to the new equipment, and it takes time.
That said, the bungeed, dual bladder, way-too-much lift wing is one of the few pieces of gear I think is really borderline hazardous for diving. Here are two reasons:
1) There's just way too much lift in there. So when there's a problem, you don't stand a chance of fixing it. An instabuddy (with a huge bungeed wing) tagged along with the guy I met to dive with a few weeks ago (also an instabuddy, but we'd talked in advance and I had some sense of where he was coming from), so we dove as a team of three. Five minutes into the dive, he was on the surface, struggling to vent his wing and get back down. He eventually did, and five minutes later he was back on the surface. If there's a problem, you've now got two inflators to try to disconnect in time. It ain't gonna happen.
2) If you have a puncture, there's not going to be enough lift in there. The bungees squeeze out all the air. I've watched people unscrew their wing dump while using the pull-cord to dump air. I've simulated that situation myself, and all I had to do was tilt to one side to trap plenty of air. With the bungees, that isn't a possibility.
A key part of technical diving is buoyancy control. Too much depth or too little at the wrong time and you have big problems.
The good news is that you're in Florida, and there are tons of great instructors around. Consider taking a Fundamentals course to improve your buoyancy and trim and team skills (or carefully vet instructors to find one who teaches a really serious Intro-to-Tech class). You'll get a great sense of what it means to do technical diving, without ever having to enter an overhead. Your first day of tech class is the wrong time to try to be learning the fundamental skills. And once you've picked out an instructor, you can talk to them about gear choices.
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