I will be given a doubles setup with wing I am going to get my open water soon and an older friend gave me the harness and tanks. Was to hard on him with his age. My question is can I use this or do I have to have a single? He is a master diver and he will help me with setup and getting familiar with it. Thanks!!!!!
newbie question on gear
- Thread starter bfd_ast
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Whoowee are you gonna stir up a hornets nest.
IMO theres no reason you can't dive doubles early on but I'd start out with a standard poodle jacket and tank whilst doing your ow training.
IMO theres no reason you can't dive doubles early on but I'd start out with a standard poodle jacket and tank whilst doing your ow training.
How generous! You have a sweet friend!
It depends on what type of diving you will be doing and if it makes sense to dive doubles. If you are beach diving with buddies carrying only 1 cylinder, it may not be worth it. If not, it is very easy to remove the tank bands and manifold. Depending on the set up, you may get two functioning tanks after you buy a couple of tank plugs.
Regardless, I would definitely wait at least 20 dives (minimum) before you try diving doubles. You should have a comfortable foundation before hand. Definitely seek training from someone who is experienced with doubles. Your friend may be a good start but I would see a tec instructor. Take it in confined water to familiarize yourself with it and the necessary gas shut down drills with manifold operation.
It depends on what type of diving you will be doing and if it makes sense to dive doubles. If you are beach diving with buddies carrying only 1 cylinder, it may not be worth it. If not, it is very easy to remove the tank bands and manifold. Depending on the set up, you may get two functioning tanks after you buy a couple of tank plugs.
Regardless, I would definitely wait at least 20 dives (minimum) before you try diving doubles. You should have a comfortable foundation before hand. Definitely seek training from someone who is experienced with doubles. Your friend may be a good start but I would see a tec instructor. Take it in confined water to familiarize yourself with it and the necessary gas shut down drills with manifold operation.
Gren
Contributor
I need to get better friends.
I see no reason not to take OW courses in a BP/W but I do think doubles would be overdoing it. I think for the course, I would find a single wing and either use the dive shops tanks or find a tank on Craigslist.
I see no reason not to take OW courses in a BP/W but I do think doubles would be overdoing it. I think for the course, I would find a single wing and either use the dive shops tanks or find a tank on Craigslist.
At the very least, keep all of the gear you're given and get a single tank wing. I'm not sure who you will be doing your open water with, but the only agency i know of where you might be able to get away with doubles is GUE rec 1 (i could be completely wrong here though).
Once you get some dives in and get comfortable in the water, the switch to a twinset will be relatively easy because nothing is changing in your gear configuration besides two cylinders on your back as opposed to one.
Once you get some dives in and get comfortable in the water, the switch to a twinset will be relatively easy because nothing is changing in your gear configuration besides two cylinders on your back as opposed to one.
With a little mentoring there's no reason why you cannot use it. You my find that it is overkill in a lot of situations and not the best gear for the dive. Some don't care and like being able to make 2 dives without needing to change out cylinders. Of course it enables you for some very long or deeper dives. Doubles does not a deep diver make so go deep only within the bounds of your training and experience. If you want to spend 3 hours on a reef go for it!
Odds are you instructor will not want to deal with this in class so plan on transitioning afterwards.
Very few divers use doubles exclusively so you will probaby find yourself wanting a singles rig too. As a new diver you may want to break this rig down to provide 2 single cylinders and a plate with harness. You will want to add something like a 30 pound wing for singles diving. the doubles wing will be scewy to vent an drag in the ater like dumbo ears. As needs, gear and money allow it may revert back a doubles rig latter.
Pete
Odds are you instructor will not want to deal with this in class so plan on transitioning afterwards.
Very few divers use doubles exclusively so you will probaby find yourself wanting a singles rig too. As a new diver you may want to break this rig down to provide 2 single cylinders and a plate with harness. You will want to add something like a 30 pound wing for singles diving. the doubles wing will be scewy to vent an drag in the ater like dumbo ears. As needs, gear and money allow it may revert back a doubles rig latter.
Pete
You should be able to use the current wing with a single tank, I do with mine, just a matter of using straps instead of bolting the doubles to the harness. Some bungee cord around the wing can help too
Good idea splitting the doubles, but you will need to buy new valves, make sure you don't misplace the other valves and manifold as well as the bands, I lost / misplaced these bits when I moved many years ago, probably find them when I move next time.
Good idea splitting the doubles, but you will need to buy new valves, make sure you don't misplace the other valves and manifold as well as the bands, I lost / misplaced these bits when I moved many years ago, probably find them when I move next time.
Gren
Contributor
Starting out, you may not need the tanks as courses usually provide them so I'm not sure you need to split them up. Optionally, if GUE Rec 1 is available in your area, I believe you could use doubles from the beginning.
Bob DBF
Contributor
If it's an old set like mine, it would be double 72's with a single post. This setup is basicly a single tank and works well if your buddies are diving tanks over 100cuft, since splitting the set would only give 65cuft in each. Today divers tend to think of doubles as a tech setup with large tanks and double regs rather than the Old School solution to small low pressure tanks.
The issue would be moving them around, but if that was not a problem I see no reason not to dive your own gear in class. If handling them in class is an issue, rent the gear or split the tanks and dive singles, put them togather later.
Bob
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