Long hose management when getting BC back on panga from the water

[Jai Bar]

Just back from my first liveaboard where we’d enter the water backroll from panga, then at dives end take our BCs with tanks off in the water and help the panga crew horse the BCs back on the panga from the water. I dive a long hose (7’) primary & necklace secondary reg OW setup and find the long hose awkward in this getting the BC back on the panga process — it’s swinging around loose and twice the ziptie I use to attach a boltsnap to the long hose 2nd stage clips that 2nd stage to the right shoulder D-ring when not in use broke due to getting pulled hard. Trying to figure out a good stowage solution for removing BC and hoisting on to panga. My thought is an elastic band (bungie?) low on the right shoulder strap to tuck the hose through, still probably leaving a big loop — maybe a 5’ hose instead of 7’. Any thoughts? Existing solutions?

Been there done that sooo many times, I hate seen my reg being dragged like a sea anchor. What I usually do is help other climb back into the panga/zodiac/dinghy/whatever, then I help pushing up my rig and while at it I make sure the reg makes it safely into the boat. Being the last rig onto the boat there are less chances of having a dozen bcds laid on reg.

Once on boat, if needed, I coil the reg in place and clip it. If the crew takes the gear onto main boat, I keep an eye to make sure the reg is not dragged on the floor

 

[Nemrod]

Just back from my first liveaboard where we’d enter the water backroll from panga, then at dives end take our BCs with tanks off in the water and help the panga crew horse the BCs back on the panga from the water. I dive a long hose (7’) primary & necklace secondary reg OW setup and find the long hose awkward in this getting the BC back on the panga process — it’s swinging around loose and twice the ziptie I use to attach a boltsnap to the long hose 2nd stage clips that 2nd stage to the right shoulder D-ring when not in use broke due to getting pulled hard. Trying to figure out a good stowage solution for removing BC and hoisting on to panga. My thought is an elastic band (bungie?) low on the right shoulder strap to tuck the hose through, still probably leaving a big loop — maybe a 5’ hose instead of 7’. Any thoughts? Existing solutions?

What did you come up with?

 

[Centrals]

Tied a Boltsnap on the primary 2nd stage. Tied it on the chest -D ring and then pass the whole set up to the crew.
Use the bungee on the alternative source to tie it down as well.

 

[divezonescuba]

 

[Lorenzoid]

The real problem I have encountered is the crew not having a good feel for how to handle your rig when you hand it up to them. No matter how you have attempted to secure the long hose, if they don't pay attention to it in the panga the hose can get caught on something, and you may not be sitting within reach of it on the panga ride back. If everyone on the panga were diving a long-hose rig, and the crew were familiar with handling them, it would be no problem. The problem is when you (or you and your buddy) are the only ones with a long hose, and the crew handles one rig after another like an assembly line without thinking. I gave up trying to find a way to stow that long hose so the crew couldn't mess it up, and I switched to the so-called streamlined OW configuration with the 40" primary and bungeed backup.

 

[Scared Silly]

Before handing my rig up I clip off the 5' hose (a 7' hose for the skiff crew is a PITA). The bolt snap is attached with cave line. My short hose reg sometimes gets attached but typically does not. Once back on the skiff I loop the necklace over the cylinder valve.

On our last trip we lost a necklace - not sure where or how. But ours are not permanently attached. That is, if pulled hard enough the necklace will come off, that is by design.