Independent Doubles

[AfterDark]

I took my ID's out for the 1st time Sat. I don't have a wing yet which is the way I ultimately want to dive them, I modified my poodle jackets plastic back plate to accept the banded 72's. They ride a little high but I'm adding a crotch strap that will breakaway if I drop my weight belt to keep them in place. Other than that the dive went to plan. I used the right side tank to 1000psi, I changed over to the reg on the left side tank and used that down to 500psi. Switched back to the reg on the right side tank and finished my 90 minute dive with a 3 minute SS, returning to the boat with 500psi in each tank. Depths ranged from 15fsw to 40fsw. I'm also looking at adding a bracket for an 02 bottle for deco dives. These will be used for long duration, deep deco, and long duration solo diving. I'm real happy with my new toy!

 

[DA Aquamaster]

Independent doubles work well and for simplicity sake, manage the gas by breathing 1/3rd out of one side then 2/3rds out of the other, then switching back to get the second "third" out of the first tank. This will leave 1/3rd in reserve in each tank at the end of the dive, but more importantly, will get you to the "turn" point in the dive with gas in either tank at least equal to what you used to get to that point.

I'd also sling an O2 bottle rather than putting it on a bracket, it woll serve you much better over the long run.

 

[DeepSeaExplorer]

I curious why are you going with independent doubles instead of a manifold?

 

[mksmith713]

If I were to dive ID's, it would be for the challenge of mastering them if nothing else.
I've been playing with manifolded doubles and they weren't too difficult to manage once I got my face out of the sand.
I have no real desire to dive ID's but I wish you luck and lots of fun.

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

I curious why are you going with independent doubles instead of a manifold?

I'm also moving "towards" independent doubles rather than a manifold, for the following reasons (and will be using "travel bands" rather than conventional bands):

1.) Ease of transport, easier to fill, much easier when traveling.
2.) Manifold not required.
3.) Since a manifold is not required, and I'm using "travel bands" (4 soft cam bands), any pair of tanks can be used, and it is very easy to switch out tanks.

I understand the advantages a manifold offers, but independant doubles have more advantages than drawbacks for the types of dives I do.

Best wishes.

 

[mksmith713]

Do you consider side mounts as being ID's?
I could see me going that route if I lived up in cave country.

 

[AfterDark]

I curious why are you going with independent doubles instead of a manifold?

Less work, more options, less moving parts less to go wrong. Two independent air delivery systems IMO is safer, simpler, and more reliable than manifolds. After 2 shoulder ops I can no longer reach that far behind my back, and I'm not interested in turning valves underwater when I can just switch regs.

 

[AfterDark]

Do you consider side mounts as being ID's?
I could see me going that route if I lived up in cave country.

Carrying tanks anywhere but on my back appears to me cumbersome and akward. They look to me to be in the way of accessing other equipment but, I must be wrong about that. The suggestion of slinging an 02 bottle is not out of the question as they are small and easy to keep out of the way.

Sidemounted tanks on some of the shore diving I do doesn't seem like a good idea to me. I don't mean to condem something I've never tried, I'm just giving my impressions. I may very well try some kind of slung gas bottles someday just to prove myself wrong. Right now my ID's are looking good and fit my type of diving very well.

 

[AfterDark]

Independent doubles work well and for simplicity sake, manage the gas by breathing 1/3rd out of one side then 2/3rds out of the other, then switching back to get the second "third" out of the first tank. This will leave 1/3rd in reserve in each tank at the end of the dive, but more importantly, will get you to the "turn" point in the dive with gas in either tank at least equal to what you used to get to that point.

I'd also sling an O2 bottle rather than putting it on a bracket, it woll serve you much better over the long run.

That's almost what I did. Rules of thumb are good but gas management is really governed by the dive and conditions.

 

[DaleC]

Welcome to the dark(ish) side. Slightly slate grey actually with a hint of burn't umber. Anyways, that doesn't matter. What is important is that now you can put 50/50 on one side and trimix on the other