Horse Collar BC's

[Scubaroo]

usil once bubbled...
noit talking seriously rigged tech divers, what do the majority of divers do with wet suits on ?? I don't see many dual bladder BC out there. + can't you swim your rig with no bouyancy??

As I understand it, a flooded drysuit and a wetsuit are two very different beasts. I'm yet to flood a drysuit, but it's an experience I think I'll skip on. A wetsuit has some inherent buoyancy, which will increase as you get shallower and the neoprene compression is reduced. A fully flooded drysuit, particularly a flooded shell drysuit, means that you're trying to swim up in a soaked undergarment, and a bag full of water surrounding your body. Totally different. Not sure if you've tried swimming in clothes before, but I guess it would be a similar sensation.

 

[usil]

I had on a neoprene suit and flooded it so I still had some bouyancy but it wasn't all that bad swimming it up.
You just have to get your weighting right, but after that its a awsome!!

 

[Walter]

A horse collar is a valid choice for a BC. They are a PITA compared to a vest, but they work quite well. At the time CO2 cartridges were SOP, they were used in horse collars, vests and back floatation, they were standard equipment on all BC's. If you have a BC of any type with a CO2 cartridge, you can remove it and put in a plug.

 

[Northeastwrecks]

usil once bubbled...
noit talking seriously rigged tech divers, what do the majority of divers do with wet suits on ?? I don't see many dual bladder BC out there. + can't you swim your rig with no bouyancy??

That's why I always carry a lift bag.

Bladder fails, I debloy bag and use if for ascent. I've practiced it. It works.

As for the original question, I know that I saw a horse collar on www.diversdiscount.com. I think that it was under the tech BC's.

I just found it. Its called a Rip Tide Patrol. I've got no idea how well it works.

I've had mixed results with this company and no longer buy online in any event. However, there it is.

Good luck

 

[Jonathan]

Interesting I was going to say contact the Historical Dive Society until I checked the link. It does say it is specifically designed for dry suites.

I saw an LBLJ (horse collar) once on a diver - in Stoney Cove....

Jonathan

 

[Dectek]

usil.
You stated that you don't see many BC's with redundant bladders. That is true....But show me a BC bladder that will burp and loose all floatation ability with very little internal pressure.

 

[usil]

1- you are weighted incorectly
2- you'r suit dosn't fit you properly
3- you don't know how to dive dry

These are the only excuses for burping a suit!

If the suit is burping with "very little internal pressure" then the suit probably dosn't fit.

 

[usil]

cute dog!

 

[DameDykker]

Hi usil

Quite a few of the oldfashion members of my club dives a horse collar (also called a toilet seat ). Theay are very happy about them mainy due to the croach strap and the boyancy cararteistics. However, with a small person the collar might ride ud and fill with water during a tow and create a small pool just around the divers face - convinient for drowning!

Also you HAVE to put on the weight belt after the collar to be able to drop it.

Have fun with your drysuit but take a course or let somebody introduce the drysuit diving to you. And why not try the suit floating in a pool.

 

[Soggy]

Northeastwrecks once bubbled...
Are you planning to use your dry suit as the primary means of controlling buoyancy? That seems to go against most of what I've read and everything I've been taught or experienced while using a dry suit.

Unfortunately many (if not all) of the major agencies teach using the drysuit as a primary means of bouyancy. I don't have my SSI manual in front of me, but it states that directly somewhere.

I had to learn through experience that it was MUCH easier to dive when I was using my bouyancy compensator for bouyancy. Since I did my OW in a drysuit, I didn't know any better in the begining. This was exacerbated by having a boat captain give a long lecture about how I should dump all the air from my BC when I am under and only use my drysuit to stay neutral. Luckily, I have learned a better way.