Hints for New Owners of Equipment

[DNK]

I just purchased a whole kit - the Everything zeagle package from scubatoys.com. Don't work for them but highly recommend them and the package.
Oh well, here are a couple of hints I have picked up from various buddies regarding how to get your kit "tight".
1] If you have a wrist mount computer, where it on the right hand. This allows you to watch your depth, time, etc while using your left hand to operate your BC inflator valve.
2] Don't use a retractor for your gauges, they never seem to be strong enough and present a snagging hazard.
3] Use a stainless steel post clip tied to your gauges and clip it off to a D-Ring on your left shoulder strap. This allows you to:

• easily see your pressure/depth
• easily cli off to use your compass

Tie the clip on by using parachute cord, loop it three times around the d-ring on the post clip and the gauge cutout, then wrap three more times around the loops between the clip and the gauge, tie off with a square knot and melt the ends solid. This gives you a nice 1 to 2 inch slack, yet keeps it "tight".

4] Don't get one of those octo holders that look like a ball where you stuff the octo mouthpiece into the ball. They are a pain in butt to get the mouthpiece into, especially underwater if they should come loose. The better ones are the once that simply have an elastic cord with a slide on it. They securely hold the octo, allow for easy removal and easy insertion, even under water.

Any body have any other hints on how keep your kit "tight"?

Keep your stick on the ice .... errrr fins in the water.

 

[tedwhiteva]

take all your gear into confined water (pool or protected water) and practice all the drills over again several times - dumping and donning, clipping and unclipping (both of the first with you eyes closed or mask blacked out), breath an entire dive off the octo, double check your weight and trim. In other words, get used to and very familiar with your new gear

 

[SDAnderson]

and congratulations on your new gear! It's a big investment that makes diving more fun, more convenient and, for many of us, more frequent.

Your tips are all good ones. I'd skip the paracord for underwater use and go with cave line, instead: you don't need the shock absorbtion qualities and it's a little easier to work with. If you're going to use paracord, pull the inner strands out first. Here's a link to a step-by-step demonstration of how to tie and secure a perfect knot for underwater clips and bolts.

Dive safe.

 

[miketsp]

..snip..
1] If you have a wrist mount computer, where (sic) it on the right hand. This allows you to watch your depth, time, etc while using your left hand to operate your BC inflator valve.
..snip..

I only use my computer on my left wrist because when night diving I hold my divelight in my right hand so as to leave my left hand free for inflator etc.

..snip..
4] Don't get one of those octo holders that look like a ball where you stuff the octo mouthpiece into the ball. They are a pain in butt to get the mouthpiece into, especially underwater if they should come loose. The better ones are the once (sic) that simply have an elastic cord with a slide on it. They securely hold the octo, allow for easy removal and easy insertion, even under water.
..snip..

I've tried all sorts of octo holders and the one I like most is the yellow ball. With practice you'll find you can just squeeze the sides of the mouthpiece between thumb and forefinger and plug it straight in without thinking, if it does come loose.

 

[RICHinNC]

Congrats on the gear...

I too wear my computer on my left wrist. I have a longggg inflator hose so I can hold left arm up for safety, look up and see computer and path up....and leave right hand for whatever. Im just used to checking time on watch topside on right hand so its more natural for me to have computer on left wrist.

Another suggestion.....MARK YOUR GEAR....it all looks alike on a crowded dive boat.

 

[cmcarver]

I second the computer on the left arm. I place mine so that the face in on my inner forearm. So when I am ascending the computer is faceing me with my hand holding the inflator up. Night diving and even deeper day diving around here require dive lights. And I use my right hand for lights and what not. This setup also allows for the light to be in the right hand to use with gauges and computer if necessary.

 

[ScubaSarus]

Computer on left arm.
Use a extra heavy duty retractor for the gauges and take care of it.
Practice on easy safe dives since you have not tried your stuff in the pool which I dont care for because Chlorine is a big oxidizer as opposed to NaCl