Necklace bungee thoughts.

[ferris213]

I was looking at the http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/dir/454646-cave-porn.html thread and was interested to see one of the divers was using her necklace bungee set quite long. I was wondering if there was a standard, or do you guys just do what is most comfortable for you. I have searched the sticky thread at the top of this forum (Some of the links seem to be dead) and done a bit of a google search and most people seem to recommend setting it fairly tight "just did your chin and it is there"

I was also wondering about the method of fixing the bungee to the reg. I have mine tied on with the double fisherman bend with the bungee secured pretty tight behind the mouthpiece zip tie. I don't think there is any way that the reg could be pulled free if someone grabbed for it. Is it better to have the bungee on the mouthpiece side of the zip tie? This would make it less secure but also able to be pulled free.

Finally, what is the hog position on moulded mouthpieces for the primary reg?

Sorry if these questions have been asked a million times before, and thanks in advance.

Ferris

 

[PfcAJ]

Imo, a lot of people have the bungee too long. It should be long enough so that when the reg is in your mouth, the bungee is not stretched, but if it was any shorter, it would be. This keeps the reg out of the flow and reduces the chance of it freeflowing (think scooters or high current situations).

^Thats me. My backup is real close to my chin.


Under the ziptie is incredibly secure IF you tighten the ziptie appropriately (aka as tight as you can possibly make it. Then make it tighter). I do not want that reg having any chance whatsoever of not being there when I need it. So for me, no fishermans knots or any of that. Certainly none of those pre-made Manta bungee things.

No go on the moulded primary reg. Can cause gag reflex in some people. That's bad when you've already got an OOG situation on your hands.

Hope this helps

 

[gekodivebali]

Not sure moulded mouthpieces make much sense on a hog primary since moulding is making it work only for you and the primary is meant to be shared. Diving with a mouthpiece moulded to someone else's mouth can be very uncomfortable and i don't think i'd want to share gas in this manner if given a choice...
As for the bungies, i use commercially available, pre-made ones. They can be found for relatively cheap and offer the advantages of being snug, can be freed quickly if needed and can be taken on and off easily...

 

[nimoh]

I don't think the molded mouthpiece is an issue. If you are breathing from someone else's primary, it is isn't for very long since you would be ending the dive anyway.

 

[chrpai]

I can't stand the rubber pre-made bungees. They are hideously over sized and come free of the second stage way too easily. Also a length of shock cord is way cheaper.

I second what PfcAJ says.

 

[PfcAJ]

I don't think the molded mouthpiece is an issue. If you are breathing from someone else's primary, it is isn't for very long since you would be ending the dive anyway.

If you're having a bad day in a shallow cave (think Mexico or Peacock), you could be pretty far from the door. Like an hour.

Would you want to choke on some goofy mouthpiece for an hour? Scared? Out of gas? I mean, its not long, so its ok, right?

 

[DevonDiver]

I've encountered divers (some very experienced/tech-level) who've had severe gag reactions to certain mouthpieces. One diver couldn't tolerate a mouthpiece for more than a few seconds before severe and debilitating gagging/retching started. Those were relatively 'standard' mouthpieces, of the type that 'only' had the insert which fits across the roof of the mouth (not molded/seacure etc). I can't imagine how much worse a molded/customized mouthpiece would be for them.

For technical/overhead dives (where longer air-share is potential) it's an obvious no-no. Even for recreational/open-water diving, I think it's a significant issue. The last thing you want during an OOA/air-sharing scenario is puke and panic...

 

[TSandM]

I use the double fisherman's knot setup, but without looking at my gear (I'm not home right now) I'm not sure where the loop sits with respect to the ziptie. I do know it will pull off if pulled hard enough, and I prefer this, because when we dive off our own boat, we have to get out of the gear in the water, and sure as shooting, I occasionally forget to take the necklace off before trying to part company with the rig. I'd rather have the bungie pull off than be stuck in it. It takes quite a hard pull to do it; it's never happened accidentally.

I have read advice from time to time that the necklace ought to be only long enough that you can pick up the backup reg without your hands. Mine is longer than that, because having the reg directly under my chin like that is annoying. Allison's does seem a bit long.

 

[nimoh]

If you're having a bad day in a shallow cave (think Mexico or Peacock), you could be pretty far from the door. Like an hour.

Would you want to choke on some goofy mouthpiece for an hour? Scared? Out of gas? I mean, its not long, so its ok, right?

with that extra info, I agree with you. For some reason I was only thinking of open water dives, and decompression dives where you would only need to share until the next gas switch. Furthermore, I have never had to breathe out of a mouthpiece molded for someone else, so not really sure of the extent of the discomfort.

 

[dbulmer]

I don't think the molded mouthpiece is an issue. If you are breathing from someone else's primary, it is isn't for very long since you would be ending the dive anyway.

I'd rethink that - I once ended my non deco dive on the end of a long hose. My rescuers were in deco though so obviously I had to do the deco as well - the scenario was when I got trapped midwater in DSMB line. Not one of my best moments I hasten to add.