Independent Doubles

[Clernix]

@divezonescuba Chris you are actually "The guy on Youtube" I have been referencing. First off thank you for your build guide. If it had not been for seeing your video this trip would not have been possible. All the issues you just talked about are exactly the case.

No local dive shop in the middle of no where in Indonesia is going to want to put your doubles together with a manifold and bands. Plus they would have to put three pair together since we are out on the boat all day or rebuild each time it would be insane. I'm grateful they agreed to the Indie's.

I don't want to leave my camera behind and I don't want to watch my gas in heavy current. I want to go on vacation have an amazing time seeing one of the last healthy reef areas in the WORLD!. I don't dive for the fun of diving or the technical piece of it, I dive to see the wonders of the sea.

I have been diving for 40 years I think I am ok taking one reg out of my mouth and putting another one in. If my left ass checky is too floaty I'll just twist a little!

 

[34109411]

Hola~ I am heading to out in a couple weeks. The shop I am using only has 80's but I will burn that in about 30mins. I am an older bigger guy so air consumption is higher. If I can get a 100 or even better a 120 then I am gtg.

Anyway, I would really like to use this shop. I was watching a YouTube video where a tech puts together set of 80's as Independent Doubles on a backplate/wing. So two complete regulator set ups. The local dive shop did insist on a octo on each regulator.

Has anyone ever set something like this up?

well close to that it's call sidemount.

 

[tursiops]

@divezonescuba Chris you are actually "The guy on Youtube" I have been referencing. First off thank you for your build guide. If it had not been for seeing your video this trip would not have been possible. All the issues you just talked about are exactly the case.

This may explain a lot.

 

[happy-diver]

Try speeding the videos up ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

 

[Clernix]

I put the rig together today and had it in the pool. Its a great design. I had to change the direction on the regulator hoses which came to the left side. I am bringing an old Zeagle set out of moth balls and turns out you can't turn the Zeagle regs. At least we couldn't figure it out and the shop I was at did not sell Zeagle so the owner was leery about messing with them.

My local dive shop is a Apeks rep and I had bought a set there, so we got those swapped. Just as @divezonescuba said the shape of the back plate holds the tanks firmly in place with the 4 cam straps.

I love new scuba!

 

[rx7diver]

I put the rig together today and had it in the pool. Its a great design. I had to change the direction on the regulator hoses which came to the left side. I am bringing an old Zeagle set out of moth balls and turns out you can't turn the Zeagle regs. At least we couldn't figure it out and the shop I was at did not sell Zeagle so the owner was leery about messing with them.

My local dive shop is a Apeks rep and I had bought a set there, so we got those swapped. Just as @divezonescuba said the shape of the back plate holds the tanks firmly in place with the 4 cam straps.

I love new scuba!

@Clernix,

I'm having a hard time visualizing your final set up. Can you post a pic?

My first experience with doubles was with independent doubles. A long time ago I assembled them on a whim. I oriented both cylinders the "normal way" (i.e., with valve knobs of both "standard" valves pointed to the right), both valve orifices pointed straight ahead (i.e., toward my back), and both primary 2nd stage hoses leaving the right side of their respective 1st stages (the "normal way", to route over my right shoulder). No octopus 2nd stages. These were Scubapro Mk 10 first stages, mounted turret-down. In particular, I didn't need to change the direction of the 2nd stage hoses. Maybe I'm misunderstanding what you've written.

P.S. Yes, reaching the valve knob of the left-hand cylinder (the knob closest to my head) required quite a stretch. But with a bit of practice in confined water, it became easier.

rx7diver

 

[Clernix]

OMG MK 10's you're dating yourself. I couldn't afford the Mk 10's I had a Mk5 primary and Mk2 Octo. The cute divemaster had her a Mk10 lol

I will post a picture of the set up when it's finished. I have some hose clamps coming so the hoses are not all just hanging and flopping around.

I changed the direction of the regulators because I wanted the left-hand tank regulators coming over the left shoulder. I also ran the octo in that direction.

The local shop is insisting on Otco's on both tanks, which i am fine with they are trying to follow protocol. I'm so grateful to them for the support they have provided so far and are agreeing to during my trip.

 

[rx7diver]

OMG MK 10's you're dating yourself. I couldn't afford the Mk 10's I had a Mk5 primary and Mk2 Octo. The cute divemaster had her a Mk10 lol

I purchased my first pair of Mk10's new in 1987, my very first regs. The Mk10 and independent doubles intro I wrote about above was in 1989. I still love and dive my Mk10's and still recommend them (for use on max 3,300 psig cylinders). A couple of years ago my then-college junior daughter used one of my Mk10's for her open water checkout dives and subsequent dive trip to Roatan. (I own a total of four Mk10's and service them, myself.)

You know, if you still have your Mk5, you might consider using it with your independent doubles, depending.

rx7diver