How do you rig your BC?

[gangrel441]

OK to clear this up so we can go get beyond why I had the problem.

1. I was doing #5 in the exam.

I had already done the natural ascent 30'/min
I had already done OOA buddy breathing skill test both donor and receiver
I had already done buddy breathing ascent both as donor and receiver.
I had already done emergency swimming ascent with bobbing technique.
I had already done buoyancy control tests.
I had already done ditch and don.
I was doing a final test of dump and flare. Our Depth was around 8-10'. Each Time I would reach for the release handle for the weights, the console was in the way and I could not find the handle.
YES THIS IS A PROBLEM WHY THE HECK DO YOU THINK I STARTED THIS POST?

I have mild OCD and if I cannot find a resolution for this I will have to quit diving as I will never be comfortable with the knowledge that there is no safe way to rig this equipment! I am sure you have read other posts by me. They will show that I tend to over-think things and over analyze them compared to what most people will consider normal. That is exactly what OCD is. I cannot help but obsess about something until I have a full understanding of it. This is why I am not looking for further people obsessing about how to do air sharing. I used the abbreviation CESA as it was suggested in post #3 that, that is what I was doing. If that confused anyone, sorry.

My wife has mild OCD as well, so I understand where you are coming from. She is also my regular buddy. I didn't mean to imply that there was no problem. My point was that your set-up is fine, it is a matter of getting YOURSELF comfortable with it. You now know that if you reach for your ditch handle and you wind up with a handful of console instead, you need to move the console out of the way and reach under it. The best solution for your problem is to get to know your gear inside and out. This goes for any rig you dive. Be able to find your way around it blindfolded using only your hands.

A retractor for your console would probably be a big help, as it would make it quite easy to sweep the console out of the way as you reach for your ditch pockets.

I have 3 days left to get comfortable enough with rigging my gear to complete my last 2 dives for my OW exam. That is not much time considering how it keeps being pushed that there is no safe way to rig this setup!

Lots of people dive safely with the same type of rig as you do, so I wouldn't listen to anyone who tells you that there is no safe way to rig it. What I and others were saying is that it is never safe to ditch your weights at depth. This is regardless of whether you are diving a weight belt, a harness, integrated, etc....Most of us view ditching weights at depth to be a dangerous activity. I have never seen dump and flare taught as a skill. From 10 ft, it is probably not exceptionally dangerous unless you hold your breath, but I would never advise anyone to do this anyways. That's just my personal view. Your instructor may have his reasons.

 

[MSilvia]

I have mild OCD and if I cannot find a resolution for this I will have to quit diving as I will never be comfortable with the knowledge that there is no safe way to rig this equipment!

Maybe it's a stupid question, but if you don't believe there's a safe way to rig this equipment, why not get equipment that can be rigged safely instead of giving up diving?

My suggestion is that if the console is in the way and causing you problems, get rid of it altogether. If you have a SPG clipped off instead, it shouldn't prevent you from finding the integrated weight handles. Your depth gauge/computer/timer and compass can be wrist mounted. I prefer it to diving with a console myself.
Another option would be to stop using integrated weights, and go with a traditional weight belt that can be ditched easily.

That said, I agree with Gangrel441. Getting more comfortable with your gear will likely solve the problem without making significant changes, but practicing buoyant ascents seems unnecessarily risky. In any case it's not a drill I've seen done in any classes I've taken, and the reasons why not seem pretty obvious to me.

 

[Mr. Sunday]

I agree. Ditch the console. If a piece of equipment is not working for you replace it with something that does. A simple SPG and wrist mounts for your depth meter/comp might work well for you. You may be able to just purchase a new boot for your current SPG and new wrist mounts for your other equipment. Dont give up..adapt

 

[ZzzKing]

You can practice at home. Put on your gear and walk around and mess with different pieces. Rearrange until you get it working like you want. Do it with your mask on so your vision is restricted like when you are under water. Do it with gloves on if you dive with gloves. Be prepared to be made fun of for looking so silly but take heart, at least you haven't resorted to diving doubles in the bathtub yet.

Only you can set your gear up the way you like it.

 

[MBH]

Doghouse, try it this way; route your octopus hose under your right arm and bungee the octo's second stage to your right chest d-ring. Route your primary second stage hose over your right shoulder. Route you HP console hose under your left arm and bolt snap the console to your left hip/waist band d-ring.

Don't waste you money on a retractor. If you're going to dive a jacket BC I'd advise you to keep it as simple as possible and avoid having stuff dangling everywhere.

 

[ams511]

A few observations on this thread:

Donating from a working primary is not entirely DIR, if you purchased an Air2 type inflator you would need to do this also.

You could add a swivel to your primary hose and route the hose under your arm al la Sherwood Maximus.

For maybe $ 25 you could purchase a shorter hose for your console and see if that helps. If not then for another $ 25.00 you could purchase wrist boots for your gauges and compass from Leisure Pro.

Forget the integrated weights and try a weight belt. You can pick up a used one on here or ebay.

Finally, I can understand you do not want to upset your instructor by telling him according to DIR he is teaching you incorrectly. However, what I do not understand is why you did not ask him for help rather than using SB if you have so much trust in him.

 

[doghouse]

Finally, I can understand you do not want to upset your instructor by telling him according to DIR he is teaching you incorrectly. However, what I do not understand is why you did not ask him for help rather than using SB if you have so much trust in him.

As I said previously, there a many people here and I was looking for more than one opinion. That combined with the fact that he is over 1 hours drive away where the internet is in my house.


Most of everything in this thread has been a waste of time, and I shall not be monitoring it for answers any longer. If you wish to continue debating other topics than what was asked feel free to use this thread.

 

[SparticleBrane]

Hmm...it sounds like the equipment issues you're having could be solved by going going here.
I find it ironic that people won't take advice from divers who have thousands upon thousands upon thousands of dives. Their entire lives are completely dedicated to SCUBA and making gear configurations safer and better for everyone involved...and yet people tend to shy away from it. Why?

 

[superstar]

Doghouse, try it this way; route your octopus hose under your right arm and bungee the octo's second stage to your right chest d-ring. Route your primary second stage hose over your right shoulder. Route you HP console hose under your left arm and bolt snap the console to your left hip/waist band d-ring.

Don't waste you money on a retractor. If you're going to dive a jacket BC I'd advise you to keep it as simple as possible and avoid having stuff dangling everywhere.

This gets my vote

 

[gangrel441]

Hmm...it sounds like the equipment issues you're having could be solved by going going here.
I find it ironic that people won't take advice from divers who have thousands upon thousands upon thousands of dives. Their entire lives are completely dedicated to SCUBA and making gear configurations safer and better for everyone involved...and yet people tend to shy away from it. Why?

Another call to join the collective, eh? The answer is that there are other divers who likewise have thousands upon thousands of dives, dive in environments other than warm water caves, and have likewise made gear configurations safer under their own circumstances. There is more than one answer to an open-ended question, and to say that only one answer is "right" is....well....wrong.

Sorry, but I know of at least one situation where a couple of divers came up here to dive Lake Michigan, rented some gear and made some arrangements through a local instructor that I know personally who has thousuands upon thousands of dives locally and is a tech instructor with a different agency. He made a recommendation of a small procedural change specifically because of the cold water these divers would be diving in. Said divers blew off the advice, followed their training-by-numbers routine, and as a result, froze up their first stages while opening valves. These divers came back complaining about faulty gear. Instructor asked them if the followed his procedural recommendation. They responded of course not, for they already know all anyone ever needs to know. Hmmmm.......

Nothing is "right" for everyone, no matter how much some will insist it is.

On the other hand, I don't recall this thread being started for the purpose of debating the merits of DIR. Some just choose to take it in that direction.