Necklace bungee thoughts.

[SoCalSwami]

An annoying aspect of selecting the right necklace length for me is negotiating with my DUI drysuit inflator valve. The 'perfect' length necklace for me (not too loose or too tight) sits dead center of the inflator which causes a host of other issues, largest of which is the 'in-the-way-ness' of the backup reg every time I reach for the DS inflator button or attach/detach DS hose.

 

[eelnoraa]

I put the bungie through the zip tight that holds the mouth piece. So it is very not likely to come off. I kind of think being able to pull off can be an issue. It is the last thing you want to come off in water.

My bungie also put the octo right onto of the drysuit inflator when I am standing. but once in water, in trim, it is not in the way. at least I have never has issue.

 

[Peter_C]

I put the bungie through the zip tight that holds the mouth piece. So it is very not likely to come off. I kind of think being able to pull off can be an issue. It is the last thing you want to come off in water.

Right before I took Fundies our instructor was going thru our gear at the Breakwater. He spotted the bungee on my backup and proceeded to tell me how easy it was to remove as he tugged on it hard...(It didn't come loose) so he tugged hard on it again, and low and behold when he had it stretched at maximum length the thing finally slipped off. It was probably pretty close to breaking!

I still have it mounted under the zip ties, but when I replace the bungee I will probably go back to a loop again (Fishermans knot). It is very hard to remove if done properly.

The Manta or any other silicon neck loop is crap, as they just do not hold the reg at all. Of the two people I have known to buy them, both ditched them after their regs slipped out multiple times in their first dive with them.


My personal thought on molded mouth pieces is they are okay IF your buddy has put it in their mouth and found they do not have any issues with it. The best way to prevent someone gagging is to cut the bite wings off at the back quite far. I can not stand a regular old reg mouthpiece as they make my jaw hurt in a matter of minutes. My petite woman has zero issues with my Sea-Cure. We are not cave divers, and I am not a GUE, UTD or DIR diver by any means, since I like my Sea-cure and my fixed waist d-ring *shrugs* Luckily I can be a recreational diver without fear of retribution.

 

[nimoh]

I have seen the bungee through the zip tie done, and my thoughts are that if it is tugged on hard enough, it will likely pull the whole mouthpiece off, with the fisherman's knot it still takes quite a bit of force to pull it off, but perhaps if something is pulling that hard on it, it is better for it to come off.

However, I don't see zip tie method vs fisherman's knot method as a major issue or really any issue at all. If something is snagged on my backup, I would mostly likely remove the bungee from my neck and fix the issue and if someone is going for my backup, they would have my primary in their face before they were able to tug hard enough to remove it (or to break it with the zip-tie method). I can't think of anything else that might tug hard on a backup.

 

[Colliam7]

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 am not aware of a 'standard'. The bungee length in the pictures would be INCREDIBLY (aka WAY TOO) long for me. But, that doesn't mean that it is too long for the diver using it. Personal preference is the order of the day. My preference may be (WAY TOO) short for others.

As a guide to my personal preference, with my necklace bungeed around the mouthpiece, if I lay the necklace ends out, without stretching the cord, the doubled over length is 12 inches. When I am in the water, the second stage rests just below my chin - if I put my chin to my chest, the mouthpiece rubs against my chin.

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.

Again, personal preference. I use double fisherman's knots, position the bungee behind the zip tie on the mouthpiece, and have never had a situation where my mouthpiece unintentionally pulled free from the cord. I HAVE had that happen, often, with the Manta rubber necklaces, and regard them as a SCUBA POS. I will not ever use them again, whether placed under the zip tie or not.

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

I am part of the consensus on this. A molded mouthpiece on the donated primary is a prescription for disaster.

 

[Peter Guy]

I'm one who uses a knotted bungie secured by a zip tie -- not the zip tie that secures the mouthpiece however -- which means two zip ties on the mouthpiece (of course). I do not have the zip tie very tight -- I want to be able to pull it off in case it gets caught on something (or someone pulls it) -- OR, as has happened once or twice, I forget to take it off when doffing the gear! When that happens, the free bungie ends snaps my neck and reminds me that I need to remove it but it doesn't choke me!

 

[ferris213]

Thanks for the detailed replies everyone.

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...

I hadn't considered that the moulded mouthpiece can do that to someone, but I can certainly see how turning your OOA buddy into a gagging, retching panic monster might be sub optimal... I have donated my seacure mouthpiece reg to a couple of different buddies during drills and the consensus was that it wasn't particularly comfortable, but it certainly didn't produce the reactions you all have witnessed.

That said I am going to be replacing it, so does anyone have suggestions on a good mouthpiece? The standard one that came with the reg (Mares Abyss) was so small and flimsy it never felt secure. I have one of the new scubapro ones and will try it this weekend. Does anyone have any experience with these Atomic Comfort Mouthpiece discounts on sale Atomic ?

I know it is going to be trial and error but any help would be appreciated.

 

[ianr33]

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?

That's why god made sidemount.

 

[nimoh]

That's why god made sidemount.

not sure how sidemount solves that problem. Is there something inherent in sidemount diving that prevents using a molded mouthpiece?

 

[rongoodman]

not sure how sidemount solves that problem. Is there something inherent in sidemount diving that prevents using a molded mouthpiece?

Sidemount solves the problem because it removes the need to share gas. You should have enough gas in each tank to exit safely.