DIR- GUE Importance of doffing/donning bp&w in water?

[admikar]

I probably wouldn't want to remove my rig underwater. No mater how much I deflate my drysuit, I would pop up. Probably could do it if I must, but prefer not to. On surface, no big deal. We have a cargo type of boat with flat floor and no good options to sit with your rig on you. So, kick the rig overboard, put your mask and fins on, jump in and don. Most of the problems arise if you overinflate the wing, make it float just under the surface. Air will migrate upwards, offseting tendencies for regs to go down. That being said, I have no issue donning like @larsdennert said, diving under it.

 

[ginti]

It is just not possible with a drysuit and doubles.

It is actually possible to remove the wing with back-mount doubles underwater, I have seen it

[EDIT: I've seen it underwater at 1.5m depths, and the bottom was another 1.5m below... clearly just a skill, nothing more than that. As @PfcAJ, it is probably too much risk to do it at depth since if you lose the wing, you're a bit screwed up]

There is usually no weigth on the diver, because the doubles are heavy enough.

I usually carry extra weight, since I tend to feel cold and I have LOTS of undergarments. But without the wing, I am still (obviously) very positive.

If you remove them you are extremely positive because of the drysuit. And the doubles extremely negative. If you put more air in the wing to make the doubles less negative you shoot up.

The easy solution to this problem is to avoid leaving the wing - always hold it. But it's a high risk, so I would do it as a skill (just for fun probably, I do not see real applications), but in controlled conditions.

The whole DIR/gue system is well constructed. If they dont see a rig removement as a necessary skill, then there is probably the reason for it.

I tend to agree; I have never heard of a person who needed to do it underwater. Still, I'm not sure 100%... I will double-check it with an instructor.

 

[Lorenzoid]

So, from the replies I think I can conclude there are very few scenarios in which it is necessary to don a set of doubles (like the OP's double 85s) while floating on the surface--only at some rare cave/shore diving sites.

And underwater, to get through restrictions, as the OP asked?--I'm thinking that's not a GUE thing, either. But I'm only Cave 1, so I know nothing about restrictions.

As for entanglements, my guess is that GUE doesn't advocate doffing and donning your rig to free yourself, but rather that it is a job for one's teammates.

 

[ginti]

And underwater, to get through restrictions, as the OP asked?--I'm thinking that's not a GUE thing, either. But I'm only Cave 1, so I know nothing about restrictions.

BM is the wrong tool if there are such restrictions. Go side-mount instead.

 

[rob.mwpropane]

View attachment 712257
Took a tumble on the way in

Damn... so instead of helping they decided to take a picture. That's cold... and exactly what my buddies would do, lol

 

[mcohen1021]

All tips welcomed...

Did you try doing this by throwing the entire rig over the top of your head and dunking your head down under the surface of the water? That's how I have always done it.

 

[SaltyWombat]

Did you try doing this by throwing the entire rig over the top of your head and dunking your head down under the surface of the water?

Have you tried putting it on in overhead manner?

Thanks, all. It didn't occur to me to try this. Worth a shot.

 

[Lorenzoid]

It didn't occur to me to try [throwing the entire rig over the top of your head and dunking your head down under the surface of the water]

I'm thinking I misunderstood your first post. When you said:

Yesterday I tried doffing and then donning my backplate & wing while on the surface of the water.

I got the impression you were trying to doff and don the set of doubles you mentioned in a later paragraph:

I also learned my 40 pound wing is too small for my double 85s, steel backplate, and 14 pounds of lead.

I'm pretty sure you can't "throw that entire rig over the top of your head." Maybe others here were uncertain whether we were talking about a single tank or doubles rig. I sure was.

 

[admikar]

I'm thinking I misunderstood your first post. When you said:

I got the impression you were trying to doff and don the set of doubles you mentioned in a later paragraph:

I'm pretty sure you can't "throw that entire rig over the top of your head." Maybe others here were uncertain whether we were talking about a single tank or doubles rig. I sure was.

Even steel single is hard to throw over your head. I'm sure what we mean is to inflate wing so it floats and then do the motion. You will sink under it, but still.....

 

[Celt]

I’ve always taken my gear off at the end of a dive in the water. If solo I’ll put it on in the water. To get into a twinset inflate the wing so it just floats. Tidy the hoses along the shoulder straps and keep them open. Turn your back to the tank and grab the wing pushing it under like your trying to sit on it. Put both arms through at the same time and they’ll slide on. I’ve had to take a twinset off twice in a wreck. To get through a hatch and clear a fouling. The idea that you’ll float away or the tanks will sink is rubbish.