New to Cave Diving

[OpticDive]

Just getting into cave diving and would like to know preferred equipment. Looking at the Dive Rite TransPak or TransPlate. Thanks for feed back.

 

[Dark Eternal]

Kind of depends what you want to do with it. Also a matter of personal opinion, most people prefer plates for backmounted doubles, and the nomad (transpac with additions) is a very common sidemount setup....

 

[ucfdiver]

Just getting into cave diving and would like to know preferred equipment. Looking at the Dive Rite TransPak or TransPlate. Thanks for feed back.

I say take cavern in full recreational gear and see if it's for you. No use buying new gear for something that you might not even like! By the time you finish that and get some dives around the local caving spots, I bet you'll have a better idea of what gear you want. One piece at a time is the easiest way to add gear too, no use complicating things more than you really need to.

Asking cave divers what the best gear setup is, would be like going to a car show and asking if Ford Chevy or Dodge is better. Everyone has their reasons for the way their gear is setup, some have obvious flaws you'll immediately weed through, some make sense until you dive them, and some are ideas that once you dive it, you'll love, and even those you might end up changing a year down the road....I guess that's part of the fun.

 

[TSandM]

I'd say contact the instructor you're contemplating for cave training, and ask him what he recommends for equipment. Different people can have strong and differing opinions about what works, and there's no point spending money on stuff your instructor is not going to like.

Even if your class will be a bit in the future, I think you'll find that most instructors will be more than happy to talk to you about equipment.

 

[OpticDive]

Thanks for the feedback. I was thinking of going to the TransPak/Plate and wings now only because I am looking at a new BC anyway and those could be used for eith OW or cave. Is that correct. I have used a BP/W setup befor and that seems to be alot more comfortable.

 

[ucfdiver]

Thanks for the feedback. I was thinking of going to the TransPak/Plate and wings now only because I am looking at a new BC anyway and those could be used for eith OW or cave. Is that correct. I have used a BP/W setup befor and that seems to be alot more comfortable.

You can use either of those. Personally, if you don't NEED the quick releases, I would save the money and go with a single piece of webbing harness. Not only is it cheaper, you don't have any buckles to fail somewhere down the line.

There's a dive rite demo day coming up soon, you really should check that out before buying anything.
http://www.cavediver.net/forum/showthread.php?t=8104

If you decide to go with a transpac, I have one I'm selling, PM me if interested.

 

[stairman]

I personally dive an aluminum backplate,but know a few divers with the transpack and yhey love it,including the owner of Dive-rite Lamar Hires.Solid webbing on a harness is stonger,but my cave instructor[Jill Heinerth]told me she had never seen a failure at the buckles as they are very ridgid.All in all we all have bought gear that we dont like for some reason and getting opinions sometimes helps.

 

[WaxWorld]

I did quiet a bit of cave diving with Don Shirley. Check out the link on my blog and read Ghosts of the abyss: the story of Don Shirley and Dave Shaw - Telegraph
I can put you in contact with him if you want to talk about gear!!!

 

[stairman]

Interesting writeup,thanks for sharing it.

 

[karst_divers]

Well I have been diving with Transpac for 7 years in the caves here in mexico and many diviers ask the same thing, I think its a grate harnes, strong, versatil, esy to travel and confortable .
A small diference when you are wering it, It is not so stable in your back as a BP. but using it you will get used to it