How do you rig your BC?

[doghouse]

OK so I had some problems in how I rigged my BC, which lead to problems with the emergency ascent drill. So I am looking to see how your rigs are done and why.

Yes DIR and GUE and TECH people are welcome to respond, but don't please don't preach as to why one is better than the other.


The equipment I have is:

Aeries Atmos XT BC
Primary reg
Octo reg
2 Gage console compass on back
Crash shears

[edit] Hose lengths and pictures further down [/edit]

1. Crash Shears on Velcro for corrugated hose. (corrugated hose is not in Velcro holder)
Re: Hose extends further is not constrained by the Velcro and I can get it straight above me when ascending or descending.


2. Octo comes over shoulder and is clipped on the right upper D-ring. It is clipped so the hose comes across my chest and the octo is between my arm and chest. It is clipped on with a plastic c style clip that the hose pops into and out of.
Re: To air share just bend my arm and grab it, already inverted to hand to buddy. The hose is close to my body and not likely to get snagged.


3. Console clipped to D-ring below and forward of the weight pocket.
Re: Have not figured a better place out yet. When I clip it to the chest, I cannot read it any way, so why not put it on a C clip and pop it in and out as needed.

 

[Blackwood]

Yes DIR and GUE and TECH people are welcome to respond

Okay.

DSS steel BP + DSS wings. HP100 or AL80s. ScubaPro Mk25/S600s. Salvo HID.

http://www.gue.com/Equipment/Config/index.html

Note: I dive wet without a scooter.

 

[scarefaceDM]

What was the problem you had with the CESA?

entanglement issue?

Why is your Octo over your shoulder?
IS your Primary under your arm or over your shoulder?

Based on that I see an entanglement issue or confusion issue.

You would be best served to root your octo under your right arm and Bugie it to your neck. That way you donate a WORKING air source. and you switch to your octo. Simple.

Reason also, if you happen to hand an OOA diver an jammed, free flowing octo...your just made a bad issue worse. By donating a WORKING air source( the one you just took a breathe from ) will ensure a good air share and thus you can control what is happening.

My configuration: SS Back plate, Hog harness, octo on a short hose bungied to my neck. Primary on a 7 foot hose. Single wing with an STA. Primary cutting tool on waiste band. Secondary in a pocket on my leg.

 

[doghouse]

What was the problem you had with the CESA?

entanglement issue?

Why is your Octo over your shoulder?
IS your Primary under your arm or over your shoulder?

Based on that I see an entanglement issue or confusion issue.

[edit] I was doing an emergency ascent drill as part of my check out dive. [/edit]

Emergency ascent drill problem, I could not find the handle for the integrated weights as the console was blocking my ability to reach it. Ended up only getting one free, holding on to it with one hand, flipping upside down, where gravity came to my aid moving the console out of the way. I was then able to draw the second weight pouch free and complete the ascent.

My primary reg. and Octo both come over my shoulder. I have read about the "cave" method of the 7' primary and short octo necklaced setup. Just have not figured if that is for me. I don't know how much diving I will do, just want to be safe and comfortable.


I will try to take a picture tonight that shows my setup.

Blackwood - Thanks for the link, interesting minimalistic setup.

 

[scarefaceDM]

I am set up pretty much the same..no scooter and no twins...( GUE-DIR)

It is not just a CAVE method but more of an overhead environment routing. 5- 7 foot hose. But the BUNGIED OCTO is good for all types of diving rec or tech. The long hose is also great. It is a great way to streamline your rig.

Your main problem was the consol. A picture is worth a thousand words.

What was the problem you had with the CESA?

entanglement issue?

Why is your Octo over your shoulder?
IS your Primary under your arm or over your shoulder?

Based on that I see an entanglement issue or confusion issue.

quote]

CESA problem, I could not find the handle for the integrated weights as the console was blocking my ability to reach it. Ended up only getting one free, holding on to it with one hand, flipping upside down, where gravity came to my aid moving the console out of the way. I was then able to draw the second weight pouch free and complete the ascent.

My primary reg. and Octo both come over my shoulder. I have read about the "cave" method of the 7' primary and short octo necklaced setup. Just have not figured if that is for me. I don't know how much diving I will do, just want to be safe and comfortable.


I will try to take a picture tonight that shows my setup.

Blackwood - Thanks for the link, interesting minimalistic setup.

 

[Noviz]

Reason also, if you happen to hand an OOA diver an jammed, free flowing octo...your just made a bad issue worse. By donating a WORKING air source( the one you just took a breathe from ) will ensure a good air share and thus you can control what is happening.

I read about this all the time, and this logic always confounds me. Why would you give a nice reliable air source to an OOA diver who you can't control (and probably shouldn't trust) and keep a "jammed free-flowing octo" for yourself? To "control what is happening"? Yeah. What's happening is YOU are OOA! :11:

Pardon the hijack/soapbox. MY answer to your question is... whatever works with your gear, if it works for you, and it works for your buddy, is fine with me. I think the best configuration is one you can handle without thinking, with your eyes closed and the whole world collapsing around you. The GUE/DIR guys have very good reasons for what they do and how they do it. For the vast majority of us, those reasons really have little meaning. I dive with a group of people who were all trained in the same place by the same instructor. We are all safest and happiest if we "do it Ed's way."

 

[Carribeandiver]

Firstoff, try DIR rigging, you will find it quite effective. However, if you like your current set up and have no desire to switch, fine, that can be understood.
BUT, why do you have a 3' hose on your primary second stage? You may be better served with a shorter hose since your Octo is on a 4' hose. You may try a 40" hose instead for your primary second stage.
The 4' hose to your inflator must be a typo. A 26-28" hose will probably be long enough.
A 4' hose for your counsole is too long too. Way long in fact. With the hose lengths you describe you either have hoses tucked in all over the place or have enough hose floating away from you that you catch on every thing in your path.
This is not intended as criticism, merely a suggestion that would alleviate potential problems with drag and snags.
Lastly, as a first option, use your deflation valves, if you have a jacket, usually there is one on the right shoulder and right lower rear. Use the hose to deflate when descending only. It will allow you greater control and the ability to be more horizontal in the water. being horizontal creates drag to reduce your speed of ascent/descent and reduces drag when swimming.

 

[scarefaceDM]

Not to get in the great debat of air share and OOA..forgive the Hyjack

Let me ask. What would happen if your octo froze up? freeflowed or was not working? just a second or two as the person taking a breath is sucking in water and not air? A major catastrophic event right? ( it can happen )

Now to avoid any problems what so ever. The theory and practiced many times over by many divers alike. You absolutly guarante and OOA diver a working air source. By donating a primary reg beign the one you just drew a breath from. Thus giving the OOA diver air as you control the air share while reaching slightly for your bungied octo around your neck. IF FOR THE SLIGHTEST OF CHANCE YOUR OCTO IS NOT WORKING...you can still control the OOA, now your in a situation where you both need to share air and make the move to buddy breath and acend slowly. Still in control.

I read about this all the time, and this logic always confounds me. Why would you give a nice reliable air source to an OOA diver who you can't control (and probably shouldn't trust) and keep a "jammed free-flowing octo" for yourself? To "control what is happening"? Yeah. What's happening is YOU are OOA! :11:

Pardon the hijack/soapbox. MY answer to your question is... whatever works with your gear, if it works for you, and it works for your buddy, is fine with me. I think the best configuration is one you can handle without thinking, with your eyes closed and the whole world collapsing around you. The GUE/DIR guys have very good reasons for what they do and how they do it. For the vast majority of us, those reasons really have little meaning. I dive with a group of people who were all trained in the same place by the same instructor. We are all safest and happiest if we "do it Ed's way."

 

[bubba105]

What was the problem you had with the CESA?

entanglement issue?

Why is your Octo over your shoulder?
IS your Primary under your arm or over your shoulder?

Based on that I see an entanglement issue or confusion issue.

You would be best served to root your octo under your right arm and Bugie it to your neck. That way you donate a WORKING air source. and you switch to your octo. Simple.

Reason also, if you happen to hand an OOA diver an jammed, free flowing octo...your just made a bad issue worse. By donating a WORKING air source( the one you just took a breathe from ) will ensure a good air share and thus you can control what is happening.

My configuration: SS Back plate, Hog harness, octo on a short hose bungied to my neck. Primary on a 7 foot hose. Single wing with an STA. Primary cutting tool on waiste band. Secondary in a pocket on my leg.

You talk about a working air source. If we're assuming a bad octo, I'd rather have the OOA diver find that out than me. If we're going to share air and it's MY air, I'm controlling the situation and the one good regulator. If I hand off my "good air source" and now find out that my octo is no good, I have to get the "good reg" back from a panicked diver or I become a panicked diver. Better one panicked diver than two, no?

 

[doghouse]

I will measure the hoses tonight and post correct measurements. Also update with a picture.

Pls do not hijack this into air share debate. I understand both methods, just not quite experienced enough to determine which I am comfortable with.