Is It The Wing, or Is It Me?

[FJTrekr]

While not new to diving, I am new to doubles (15 dives).

Diving double AL80s, SS backplate, 5 lb. v weight, lights, Dive Rite Classic wing, dry suit.

My weighting is good - can hold at 10 ft. with 500 psi, easily. I don't use the drysuit for buoyancy.

The problem is that I can't get any air out of my rear dump (it works properly). It seems I have to break horizontal position to dump air via inflator hose.

I think the little air that I have in the wing sits too high to be dumped. I have not worn bigger, wider tanks to know if I would still have the problem.

Anyone have a similar issue? Is the wing too wide for double 80s? Is there a technique I need to work on?

Thanks.

 

[Mako Mark]

I have never noticed this and I have used he classic a lot. OTOH I would probably hardly ever think of using the back dump as you should be able to deflate without breaking trim.

Try mounting the wing a notch higher, that way, where the deflator is attached to the wing is not held so close to the bp.

 

[do it easy]

My rear dump is pretty useless too. The amount of air I need in the wing to remain neutral isn't enough to be dumpable. On the other hand, there is a certain angle that I can position my inflator hose so that when I hit the button, only the excess air comes out and I'm left pretty close to neutral. It makes ascents no brainers.

 

[PerroneFord]

That's an awfully big wing for AL80s. I have a classic and used it with my AL80 doubles as well. But honestly, a wing closer to 45# of lift would be far more suitable. The classic wraps around the AL80s pretty badly.

 

[cool_hardware52]

While not new to diving, I am new to doubles (15 dives).

Diving double AL80s, SS backplate, 5 lb. v weight, lights, Dive Rite Classic wing, dry suit.

My weighting is good - can hold at 10 ft. with 500 psi, easily. I don't use the drysuit for buoyancy.

The problem is that I can't get any air out of my rear dump (it works properly). It seems I have to break horizontal position to dump air via inflator hose.

I think the little air that I have in the wing sits too high to be dumped. I have not worn bigger, wider tanks to know if I would still have the problem.

Anyone have a similar issue? Is the wing too wide for double 80s? Is there a technique I need to work on?

Thanks.

No wing vent will vent gas unless you arraign for the valve to where the gas is. A common error for those new to wings is to pull down on the string on the OPV. As the OPV on most wings is on the diver's side of the wing pulling down just pulls the valve away from the gas bubble.

You need to go slightly hips up, and pull the string up, like you are reaching around your back. That lifts the valve up to where the gas bubble in the wing is.

Tobin

 

[FJTrekr]

I think Tobin identified the problem with my mechanics.

I knew I couldn't just pull the line because the whole wing comes with it, but I was holding the body of the valve in place while pulling, which still doesn't put the valve close enough to the bubble. Since the wing wraps so far around the tanks, pulling up and around toward the middle of my back will get the valve in the right position.

Seems obvious now. I will try it soon.

Thanks to all responders.

 

[Flightlead]

I dive a DR Classic with twin HP119s...a bit fatter tank. I have absolutely no problem with my pull dump and use it preferentially over the inflator.