kitting up routine

[MauiScubaSteve]

I guess it's universal we all have a routine know matter where we're from and we all ask, don't touch my gear

No it is not universal.

Less than a dozen members have expressed the "don't touch my gear" mantra and "I have a kitting up routine" in this thread; the obvious majority have remained silent.

I can reach my valve. I wear the same typical recreational rig for solo as for buddy dives. If there is a routine, it is the one taught in the pool sessions of OW training; put BC on tank, attach reg set to tank and BC, check air, don wet suit, anti fog mask, put on weight belt.

Is it really such a big deal if someone touches your gear, or even your valve? If a shut valve could kill you, should you be even buddy diving, much less solo diving?

 

[AfterDark]

No it is not universal.

Less than a dozen members have expressed the "don't touch my gear" mantra and "I have a kitting up routine" in this thread; the obvious majority have remained silent.

I can reach my valve. I wear the same typical recreational rig for solo as for buddy dives. If there is a routine, it is the one taught in the pool sessions of OW training; put BC on tank, attach reg set to tank and BC, check air, don wet suit, anti fog mask, put on weight belt.

Is it really such a big deal if someone touches your gear, or even your valve? If a shut valve could kill you, should you be even buddy diving, much less solo diving?

What a party pooper! OK it's universal for those that have participated in this thread.

Tell ya what Halomano you go have 2 rotator cuff operations and see if you can reach your valve(s). I've been solo diving since I've been 19 I'm 56 now, and your telling me I shouldn't be solo diving? Who the heck are you?

 

[DeepSeaExplorer]

I was thinking along the same lines...

I have a sequence that I go through, not because I'm affraid that I won't otherwise do it right, but because after years of diving, I use the most efficient method. Does it mess me up if I get interrupted or get out of sequence, no. I will even let my girlfriend setup my cave gear. I just give it a quick once over when she's done.

Gear setup should be automatic and worry-free. I cringe when I see the posts about all the extra preparation for solo dives. Please... if you're that scared, you shouldn't be solo diving.

When selecting a buddy, the number one thing I look at is how they setup their gear. Not necessarily the configuration of the gear, but how they go about it. If you watch, you will be amazed at some of the stuff people do. You can often see the uncertainty as they flip their regs around trying to figure out which way they go on the tank, etc. It's not that big a deal on a recreational dive and I'll still dive with someone that needs help putting their reg on, but I watch more carefully than I would otherwise. After a couple years of diving or a hundred dives, a diver should be able to throw on their gear and get in the water quickly without a problem. That's not to say that people don't occassionally forget something. (See my other posts about forgetting things like: wings, boots, etc.)

Don't get me wrong, a beginner will need extra time and have some uncertainty, sure. I will be the first to lend them a hand, but when a experienced diver needs a check list to go on a recreational dive, watch out...

And yes, I close my valves back a 1/4 turn because that's the way Pipefitters do it and no one in the world knows more about valves than Pipefitters, including scuba instructors. Industry standard stuff ya know...

No it is not universal.

Less than a dozen members have expressed the "don't touch my gear" mantra and "I have a kitting up routine" in this thread; the obvious majority have remained silent.

I can reach my valve. I wear the same typical recreational rig for solo as for buddy dives. If there is a routine, it is the one taught in the pool sessions of OW training; put BC on tank, attach reg set to tank and BC, check air, don wet suit, anti fog mask, put on weight belt.

Is it really such a big deal if someone touches your gear, or even your valve? If a shut valve could kill you, should you be even buddy diving, much less solo diving?

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

Tell ya what Halomano you go have 2 rotator cuff operations and see if you can reach your valve(s). I've been solo diving since I've been 19 I'm 56 now, and your telling me I shouldn't be solo diving? Who the heck are you?

Tell ya what AfterDrink, my 51 year old right shoulder, which was fully rebuilt at age 40 from the separation in Jr High School wrestling (ligament "half" detached from the side that was still attached, split 2/3 of length, "flipped" and reattached to the side not attached for 28 years?), can still easily reach my single tank valve.

If a shut valve could kill you, should you be even buddy diving, much less solo diving?

From my recollection, all I did was ask a question.

 

[AfterDark]

Tell ya what AfterDrink, my 51 year old right shoulder, which was fully rebuilt at age 40 from the separation in Jr High School wrestling (ligament "half" detached from the side that was still attached, split 2/3 of length, "flipped" and reattached to the side not attached for 28 years?), can still easily reach my single tank valve.



From my recollection, all I did was ask a question.

Sounds very painful. Must have taken a lot of rehab. After the 2nd op I don't have the flexibility I had before. My joints aren't the most flexible anyway and it's been less than a year since the op. Glad to hear your doing better than I in that respect.

Well for me to answer your question you'll 1st need to show me where I stated "a shut valve could kill me". I wrote it would cause me to work, not kill me. Try just reading the posts, not reading into the posts.

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

Sounds very painful. Must have taken a lot of rehab.

My orthopedic specialist, who works predominantly with High School and College athletes, ran from the room when I mentioned that MMJ worked better than Vicodin.

My normal life was my rehab; I started my nearly zero to hero training exactly 3 months to the day after the operation.

Ocean Divers staff was mildly put out because they were told "no hazing the old guy who just had shoulder surgery."

Well for me to answer your question you'll 1st need to show me where I stated "a shut valve could kill me". I wrote it would cause me to work, not kill me. Try just reading the posts, not reading into the posts.

Just because I quoted your "universal" statement does not mean my entire post was "only" directed at you. Since a shut valve couldn't kill you, why would you "assume" my question was directed at you?

 

[MitchFtLaud]

I don't have a set order or check lists that I have to follow, but everything has to be right before I can get my mind focused on the dive at hand, and until that happens I dont get wet. I do think some people overthink getting their gear ready and underthink getting their mind ready.

 

[AfterDark]

My orthopedic specialist, who works predominantly with High School and College athletes, ran from the room when I mentioned that MMJ worked better than Vicodin.

My normal life was my rehab; I started my nearly zero to hero training exactly 3 months to the day after the operation.

Ocean Divers staff was mildly put out because they were told "no hazing the old guy who just had shoulder surgery."



Just because I quoted your "universal" statement does not mean my entire post was "only" directed at you. Since a shut valve couldn't kill you, why would you "assume" my question was directed at you?

Since I was the only one you quoted I don't think it was an unreasonable assumption.
Incorrect maybe but not unreasonable or inexplicable.

Everyone wants to attack the weakest member of the group Can't let the bastards get you down

I haven't been as aggressive as I should be with my rehab. There are still things i can't do well, like reaching behind me. The doctor told me best case it would take a year to "get right" again. Longer now because of my rehab neglect.

I'll say this, this season my "kitting up" routine has detected a leak in the high pressure hose of my spg and a 2nd stage that had failed closed (after 20 dives) because the "tech" used the wrong parts in it. These issues were detected before I got wet and in time to change the defective gear with spares I carry.

 

[cmburch]

The only routine I have is try to use the restroom, so I don't go in my suit.

If I need to concentrate, I tell the person and they leave me alone.

I do not normally have any problems with someone interfering when solo. Other than looking for a tourist viewing the sea, for a zip-up.

If diving with friends, we always talk, help if needed, and check each other before submerging or swimming out.

 

[sylpha]

i'm just back from holiday & i was horrified to see someone sit on the boat & allow someone else kit her up then drop into the water without even checking her kit.


if it had been on my boat she wouldn't have been allowed to dive unless she at least checked her own kit!