No Excuses for Poor Trim
Everyone gains a little bulk when diving a rebreather, but it is no excuse for poor trim. Stage bottles can still be carried cleanly, but the technique for carrying them varies from traditional open circuit scuba gear.
With over-shoulder counterlungs, the chest d-ring can be difficult to get to. Even if you are able to clip in that location, the bottle may interfere with ADV operation, dump valves, etc. A technique borrowed from sidemount diving helps the diver get the bottle into a streamlined path. It makes the bailout regulator easier to find and gives the diver good trim. (Click here to see my tech tips video on this topic.)
The bottom of the bottle can be clipped into a butt-plate manufactured by Dive Rite (Nomad) or Golem Gear (Amardillo). Golem Gear also carries a double d-ring that slides on the crotch strap and can operated in a similar fashion. The top end of the tank is slung under a bungee cord instead of clipped. The bungee attaches to the back-plate at about shoulder blade level and the front of the bungee is clipped to the chest d-ring. The clips on the stage bottle should be installed 180 degrees away from the tank valve hand-wheel so that the bungee will slide easily over the hand-wheel.
When the bottle is properly hung, it will ride lower than a traditional stage bottle with the valve tucking easily under the armpit of the diver. The tank should run parallel to the divers side in good trim. Tanks are quicker to remove and replace. Regulators are easier to access. Swimming trim is improved and the environment is protected from unnecessary damage.--Jill
More tech tips, videos, and other good rebreather resources at www.RebreatherPro.com
Everyone gains a little bulk when diving a rebreather, but it is no excuse for poor trim. Stage bottles can still be carried cleanly, but the technique for carrying them varies from traditional open circuit scuba gear.
With over-shoulder counterlungs, the chest d-ring can be difficult to get to. Even if you are able to clip in that location, the bottle may interfere with ADV operation, dump valves, etc. A technique borrowed from sidemount diving helps the diver get the bottle into a streamlined path. It makes the bailout regulator easier to find and gives the diver good trim. (Click here to see my tech tips video on this topic.)
The bottom of the bottle can be clipped into a butt-plate manufactured by Dive Rite (Nomad) or Golem Gear (Amardillo). Golem Gear also carries a double d-ring that slides on the crotch strap and can operated in a similar fashion. The top end of the tank is slung under a bungee cord instead of clipped. The bungee attaches to the back-plate at about shoulder blade level and the front of the bungee is clipped to the chest d-ring. The clips on the stage bottle should be installed 180 degrees away from the tank valve hand-wheel so that the bungee will slide easily over the hand-wheel.
When the bottle is properly hung, it will ride lower than a traditional stage bottle with the valve tucking easily under the armpit of the diver. The tank should run parallel to the divers side in good trim. Tanks are quicker to remove and replace. Regulators are easier to access. Swimming trim is improved and the environment is protected from unnecessary damage.--Jill
More tech tips, videos, and other good rebreather resources at www.RebreatherPro.com
