How long before you started diving doubles?

[KMD]

Went to doubles around dive 50 or so. Have more than doubled the number of double dives than single dives.

P.s. I would like a half-caff decaff with a twist of lemon.

 

[dschulte]

I had about 30 dives on my BP/W and then started doubles around dive 95.
:monkeydan

 

[Tavi]

I started out with a Transpac II with a rec wing. Switched to a BP at dive #30. my first doubles dive was #85.
My first set of doubles was 130's. I now have 100's also. I have 3 different weight Bp's and 2 different Sta's so depending on the dives and the exposure protection, I can set up a rig so that I don't need any additional weight.

The 100's are sweet!! The 130's are nice when you need the gas.

 

[lamont]

I drank the kool-aid and was BP/W, long hose, etc on post-BOW dive #1. I took DIRF around dive #25. By around dive #50 I was comfortable with buoyancy control enough so that 100 fsw shore dives and 60 fsw drift dives in current was comfortable. I started diving doubles a few dives after #100. I've got about 150 dives with doubles now (250 total) which are really starting to push the limits of what could be considered recreational fairly hard.

 

[rongoodman]

BP/W and drysuit first dive after OW. Tried DIR-F at about 20 dives. I'll take a second shot at it when I get comfortable in doubles, hopefully by the end of this summer.

 

[GetNarc'd]

On the note of Steel backplates and doubles, I'm curious about something.

Assuming that these setups are used for dives within the constraints of rec limits, most of them have any extra weights semi-permanantly attached to the webbing or BP. If the diver can't deploy any weights during an emergency ascent, then they'll have slight positive bouyancy at best, which will slow you down considerably. Is the reason that this isn't a concern because the prepared diver will have a reliable redundant airsource, and therefore never be forced to make an emergency ascent?

I appologize if I didn't state that clearly.

 

[dsteding]

On the note of Steel backplates and doubles, I'm curious about something.

Assuming that these setups are used for dives within the constraints of rec limits, most of them have any extra weights semi-permanantly attached to the webbing or BP. If the diver can't deploy any weights during an emergency ascent, then they'll have slight positive bouyancy at best, which will slow you down considerably. Is the reason that this isn't a concern because the prepared diver will have a reliable redundant airsource, and therefore never be forced to make an emergency ascent?

I appologize if I didn't state that clearly.

I think I know what you are driving at, which is what to do about the fact you have no ditchable weight.

The answer is two-fold: (1) dive a balanced rig, there have been lots of discussions about the ability to swim up a properly weighted rig. (2) if your rig has to be heavy (stages and the like with steel tanks) you should be diving dry to have redundant buoyancy.

If by "emergency ascent" you mean a buoyant ascent, then the answer should be that you've configured yourself (including training) and your team so that no, you'd never have to make such an ascent.

 

[GetNarc'd]

If by "emergency ascent" you mean a buoyant ascent, then the answer should be that you've configured yourself (including training) and your team so that no, you'd never have to make such an ascent.

Okay, that was my assumption. Glad you understood what i meant.

 

[rsdancey]

Assuming that these setups are used for dives within the constraints of rec limits, most of them have any extra weights semi-permanantly attached to the webbing or BP.

Diving in the PNW, most people diving doubles have ditchable weights; either weight belt, or a weight harness system. Even a few pounds of ditchable will give you enough positive buoyancy to ascend rapidly in an emergency if you've weighted yourself correctly.

Ideally you'd never make a CESA. Doing one is, in my opinion, an indication that you missed a whole lot of intermediate steps to resolve the problem. But if you have to, you should be able to do so - there's always that 1:1000 unforseeable problem....

Ryan

 

[xiSkiGuy]

I switched to a BP/W around dive #60. I did my first doubles dive on dive #90. Contrary to some conventional wisdom, I found doubles to be a very easy transition. In fact, I quickly found doubles to be more stable than singles. I don't even own singles anymore (but I do have 3 sets of doubles).