Need tips on gear removal at depth for OW

[mark99]

Here are my hints, based on a lot of trial and error during DM training (for removal/replace of jacket BC on the bottom).
1. Weighting is key- as stated above, you'll need some weight on a weight belt, you may or may not take some out of the integrated weight pockets to compensate. As improper as it sounds, it is much easier to do these "bottom skills" when you are overweighted.
2. Make sure you position on one knee (on the left knee, with right foot flat on the ground forward).
3. After releasing the buckles, reach around with the right hand and grab the bottom edge of the tank, and then get your left arm out of the strap. Guide the tank/BC around your right side (with your right hand holding the bottom of the tank) and over your right leg to a position in front of you. You obviously have to be a bit careful about balance at this point, since if you have full tanks and full integrated weights, your center of balance will be tipping to the right. This is why it's easier to have your right knee forward.
4. You can then let go of the bottom of the tank and set it down. To replace, grab the bottom of the tank with the right hand and reverse. Don't let go of the tank with the right hand until your left arm is through the arm strap.

This "around the side" only works if you are on the bottom- midwater it would be a disaster. In that case I agree the "over the head" is the way to go.

Mark

 

[SparticleBrane]

I would suggest, before trying to think about weights or any of that other mess, to think about your breathing. As a brand new diver, your breathing is probably fairly deep and possibly sporadic compared to how you normally breathe. There's also possibly a good deal of breath-holding going on...you'd be surprised just how often you subconsciously hold your breath in everyday life above water. The instant you start concentrating on something underwater and you're not thinking about your breathing (or not experienced enough to do it automatically), people tend to hold their breath and then they start to go up like a cork.

The next time you do this skill, simply exhale if you start to rise up...

 

[del_mo]

First, make sure your BCD is completely empty of air. I find my cumberbund likes to fold in when I put my BCD back on, so I essentially grab it by the cumberbund ends (right arm is already through the strap) and secure the cumberbund before I try to put my left arm through the strap. If you released your parachute straps, there should be plenty of room to put your left are through elbow first. If not, you can always unclip the left parachute buckle and since the cumberbund is already secore, the BCD won't be going anywhere.

Also, unbuckle from the top down, and re-buckle from the bottom up. You don't have to look pretty doing this, just have to get it done.

 

[SparticleBrane]

Yet another reason to get a bp/w.

 

[offroaddiver]

I dunno if people still have to do this or if it was just my instructor. Deflate bc sink it to bottom of 10' pool and have to go down to the bottom and put gear on at the bottom. Kind of the sink or swim deal.

But like others have said. Wear a weight belt and take it over head.

Look for some skills and ask more experienced divers about demonstrating different doning and doffing of the gear. Personally i like the gear float on the surface, where you float the gear then sit on it put arms in loops then slide down and voila just tighten up straps. (don't do if in swimming trunks and bare backplate)

Also are you comfortable in the water with all your other skills? If so just remember to relax. You'll need all the skills you learn and then some while diving. It all pays off.

 

[ReneeDr]

Thank you so much to all of you who chimed in here with tips for me. I now have some clear ideas in my mind what went wrong. I was using integrated weights in the BC so of course that is why I fell over when I removed the bc off my left shoulder. Now, I know that I could add a weight belt for this task and put my right leg up to compensate for the balance on the right. I will also try just using a weight belt without integrated weights and see if that is easier since my OW dives will be with a weight belt instead of integrated. I now see how the weight belt will make it more difficult removing the bc at the surface though. That part was very easy for me with the integrated weights. Now, I can see benefits of both weighing systems.
Thanks so much. Practice is tomorrow! I can't wait.

 

[Crazy Fingers]

It seems pointless to me to practice the skill using a weight belt if, in reality, you are going to wear a weight integrated BC. The skill is there to help you if you need to use it in the real world, not just something to get a check mark on.

I think the number one thing is to not let go of the BC! Then bring it up and over your head. It should slide on like it's covered in KY jelly.

 

[JohnnyH]

Personally, I teach new divers with a weight belt. If they intend on using a weight integrated BC, I explain the pros and cons (see the thread about that here: http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=179571) and then, once they have mastered the skill with the weight belt I offer to do it with the integrated weights - but again, only after the student has shown proficiency in doing it with a belt.

A few other points - it is sometimes easier to unclip the left shoulder before pulling off the BC (don't forget to reclip it!). Also, I like the 'flip over the head' to re-don method. However, make sure that when you put your arms through the BC straps the hose to the reg in your mouth isn't blocked by your right arm. (The hose needs to be below your arm when you put your arm through the BC strap) If not, then when you rotate the BC up and over your head the hose will wrap around your arm and pop the reg out of your mouth. The other thing to remember is to slide your arms past the elbows through the BC straps before flipping it up and over.

(As an aside, one of the things I do for my job is conduct check-out dives for Scientific Diver candidates. One of the required skills is weight belt ditch and recovery - which must be done with a two-piece 7mm wetsuit. The check-out is conducted in our Giant Ocean Tank - 23' deep - and I have the candidate, who is knees on the bottom, drop the belt and 'spiderman' up the reef - fiberglass - spin and pull back down. All sans belt. Then they must grab the belt and spin it back on. If any skill causes the candidate to not pass on the first try, it's this one, and it's a great example of what it would feel like to separate yourself from your weight integrated BC.

I used to have them go up the vertical window frames instead of the reef, but one of our spotted moray eels has taken up residence between the frames right where I conduct the skill check-outs and it's in bad form to stick your fingers in-between window frames where an eel lives - to GOT divers, one staff and one vol, needed stitches in '06 from eel bites...)

 

[Allison Finch]

I was at 90 feet two weeks ago when the purge on my vest started leaking like crazy. I stay pretty close to neutral so it was a minor inconvenience. However, I decided to see if I could fix it. I wear a weight belt....always. I simply took my tank off, disassembled the purge hose, cleaned it for particulates, reassembled it, put the gear back on and swam off. It, luckily, it fixed the problem.
You have to be comfortable doing this kind of thing. They used to teach you these things back in the "ole days".

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Wear the weight belt. As a DM I have to wear one anyway to demo and just keep it on for all pool classes. In OW unless asked specifically to wear the jacket bc I dive BPW and it's a non issue.