Left handed setup

[InTheDrink]

In an freeflow situation I would like to be confident that I can turn my tank off and on fairly comfortably. Course I'm left handed and my right hand is nowhere near as co-ordinated as my left, so reaching behind me to turn the valve isn't that easy.

So... I was thinking of switching LPIH/SPG to the right and Primary/octopus to the left hand side and turning tank 'backwards' so as the valve is on the left hand side where I can twist it off/on more easily. Any thoughts on this? Any reasons not to do this?

TIA,
John

 

[miketsp]

There's nothing to stop you rotating the tank 180degrees so the valve is on the left but keeping the rest of the setup identical with the 2nd stages on the right & spg on the left.

In fact I've come across a few operators around the world where this is standard, due I believe to a old engineering bulletin about Scubapro 1st stages exploding into the back of divers' heads. So there was a temporary instruction to point the 1st stage backwards away from your head. Many of these schools stayed with this habit even after the risk was eliminated.
It really confuses tourists renting gear of course.

 

[String]

Some regs can be changed to left handed (Apeks XTX for example).

You can buy left handed tank valves - they're used on twinsets for the left tank all the time.

 

[dannobee]

I'm left handed and my rig is in the standard configuration.

Practice. It will eventually become second nature.

 

[InTheDrink]

dannobee, no doubt you're right that practice will make it second nature but if there's no downside to kitting up as suits my handedness then might as well, no? In the same way that if I practise long enough, writing with my right hand would be legible but if there's no reason to do it I won't.

As far as left handed tank valves go - I dive a lot abroad so I think this could be impractical.

Thanks for the advice.
John

 

[String]

Im left handed but use my gear right. I dont see any harm in running the hoses the other way or using reversible regs though.

 

[sgtgray403]

just make sure u let ur dive buddies no in case of emerdency. they may try to assist you by going to your right side 1st. This of course if you plan on diving in dark water or obsticles.