Waterwulf
Contributor
First, I use a Horse Collar BC. I trained on them back in the early 70's, I have used them exclusively, I know how they work and am comfortable with them. Yes, I have tried several types of "new and improved modern' BCD's and hated them all. Maybe it's my short legs or big shoulders but they all tried to face plant and drown me while on the surface. I will not use one of those death traps. Ok, onward.
This is my new diving harness. It evolved because I wanted to consolidate some harnesses. I was wearing a weight belt, a tank harness and my chest mounted Buoyancy Compensator. Each had it's own harness and it was getting complicated. To make matters worse, I'm pushing seventy years old and am wobbly from a brain injury. My "balance control center" was damaged so I tend to fall over. I can be hazardous when I'm carrying heavy items, like tanks. On top of that, my cardio Doctor said he was going to repossess my Heart Stent if I went deeper than 33 feet, one atmosphere. All right, I'm a wreck but I still like to get underwater!
This is the inner side of the harness. It has four Q/R weight pouches, two small gear pouches and one larger gear pouch. A line cutter, small knife and a whistle are attached to it. The backpack is a standard tank pack. The crotch strap holds it down.
From the out side. Originally, I was designing and building it as a way to just consolidate the three harnesses into one. Then I saw a video of people using a Hookah rig and I had an idea. Why not make it suitable for both? Honestly, I'm pretty wobbly when I carry a tank on my back on land and falling with a tank on your back is not fun! I didn't want to drag a compressor around but a small floaty boat with a tank in it is perfect! Besides, I can only go to thirty feet anyway.
Now I have a fifty foot "breathing air hose" and some other gear on order to make my own SNUBA system. I figured why deprive myself of conveniences when I'm on SNUBA so I'm building the backpack hose attachment point with a three way valve. One for my primary regulator, one for an Octo and the third for my BC inflator.
The tank pack is functional and has a Q/R metal tank strap system that pops on or off as needed. It will fit an 80 or a 72 tank. This way, I can use this rig for SCUBA, SNUBA or even just snorkeling.
The BC has thirty pounds of lift and attaches to the harness with bolt snaps. I have another one with more lift. Both have the CO2 inflator.
I also order a little inflatable fishing type float boat. It's the kind you sit in and paddle with your feet. It has built in gear pouches and can fit a tank and me too if I wanted to climb on. It's a little high profile for open water but will be perfect for drift diving in spring rivers.
What do ya'll think of my contraption? I think it's going to be perfect for this broken down old man.
This is my new diving harness. It evolved because I wanted to consolidate some harnesses. I was wearing a weight belt, a tank harness and my chest mounted Buoyancy Compensator. Each had it's own harness and it was getting complicated. To make matters worse, I'm pushing seventy years old and am wobbly from a brain injury. My "balance control center" was damaged so I tend to fall over. I can be hazardous when I'm carrying heavy items, like tanks. On top of that, my cardio Doctor said he was going to repossess my Heart Stent if I went deeper than 33 feet, one atmosphere. All right, I'm a wreck but I still like to get underwater!
This is the inner side of the harness. It has four Q/R weight pouches, two small gear pouches and one larger gear pouch. A line cutter, small knife and a whistle are attached to it. The backpack is a standard tank pack. The crotch strap holds it down.
From the out side. Originally, I was designing and building it as a way to just consolidate the three harnesses into one. Then I saw a video of people using a Hookah rig and I had an idea. Why not make it suitable for both? Honestly, I'm pretty wobbly when I carry a tank on my back on land and falling with a tank on your back is not fun! I didn't want to drag a compressor around but a small floaty boat with a tank in it is perfect! Besides, I can only go to thirty feet anyway.
Now I have a fifty foot "breathing air hose" and some other gear on order to make my own SNUBA system. I figured why deprive myself of conveniences when I'm on SNUBA so I'm building the backpack hose attachment point with a three way valve. One for my primary regulator, one for an Octo and the third for my BC inflator.
The tank pack is functional and has a Q/R metal tank strap system that pops on or off as needed. It will fit an 80 or a 72 tank. This way, I can use this rig for SCUBA, SNUBA or even just snorkeling.
The BC has thirty pounds of lift and attaches to the harness with bolt snaps. I have another one with more lift. Both have the CO2 inflator.
I also order a little inflatable fishing type float boat. It's the kind you sit in and paddle with your feet. It has built in gear pouches and can fit a tank and me too if I wanted to climb on. It's a little high profile for open water but will be perfect for drift diving in spring rivers.
What do ya'll think of my contraption? I think it's going to be perfect for this broken down old man.
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