Preferred redundant buoyancy when diving wet?

[CamG]

Greetings Max Speed I choose to carry a lift bag and a reel.
It does have a dump but I inflate it at or around 80'-70' depending on if I need it or not for deco.
That being said I have given up diving below 60' wet entirely and now dive dry as a redundant with a lift bag as a third device.
If you are going to use a lift bag only then I recommend training with it in a quarry till it was second nature.
I have witnessed many foul ups and nasty incidents with lift bags.
It can get ugly real fast.

I practice often and desire my buddies to do the same as failures do happen and deployments become a necessity.
What ever you decide I recommend plenty of training time.

The first time I had to float my 95's with my DS alone was on a night dive when my wing totally failed at 35'.
It was a great comfort to know that I had done this before and it was not a big deal.
Plan for the unexpected because it does happen and at depth below 60' with a wet suit things can get harry fast especially in cold water!
Buoyancy issues, thermal properties, narcosis all are working against you!
Makes a good buddy sound pretty good.

CamG Keep Diving....Keep Training....Keep Learning!

 

[dumpsterDiver]

My normal wetsuit (FJ 7 mil) compresses enough below about 80' that I cannot swim up without leaving something heavy behind on an empty (simulated failed) wing. That is tested with just enough weight to ensure descent and a safety stop with an empty wing.

My thoughts on redundant lift:
.....

D) Anyone just send up a lift bag and climb the line? That makes me nervous because once the bag is reeling the line out it's pretty much gone if the reel tangles/jams and you have to let go. Plus that skinny line is hard to climb....

I did....

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/accidents-incidents/365071-bc-failure.html

 

[Crush]

I did....

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/accidents-incidents/365071-bc-failure.html

Personally I would not emulate dD's behaviour - he lost his lift, thudded onto the deck of a ship, chose to continue spear fishing, then sent up his DSMB. Kids, don't try this at home...

 

[dumpsterDiver]

Personally I would not emulate dD's behaviour -

That is good advice in most any situation..

 

[Ana]

I'm surprised only DanV mentioned swimming your rig up.

I understand there is very good efficient gear available, and things can happen in a way that limits your actions, but the people should aim for the simplest solution.
Not only is a great idea to develop the strength to swim your behind up, it provides additional confidence to look at things in a more detailed manner maybe even allowing you to troubleshoot the issue.

Swimming complex gear from 200 feet may be a bear, but to hear people needing elaborated redundancy on a single tank from 80-100 feet is kinda pathetic.

 

[danvolker]

That is good advice in most any situation..

You are supposed to warn us, to avoid coffee spillage, when you make posts like this

 

[cloudflint]

I find the old "weight yourself so your neutral at your target depth and pick up a rock on your way up" trick works well, though if your on a site without any rocks yer kinda scuppered! Ive found its handy to go in a swimming pool wearing the kit and just trunks and the amount of weight i wear in the sea and see if i can lift myself up to the surface by sheer fin kicking power. If i can do it in fresh water with no suit at all i know I am fit enough to do it in the sea with an albeit highly compressed wetsuit on

 

[danvolker]

I find the old "weight yourself so your neutral at your target depth and pick up a rock on your way up" trick works well, though if your on a site without any rocks yer kinda scuppered! Ive found its handy to go in a swimming pool wearing the kit and just trunks and the amount of weight i wear in the sea and see if i can lift myself up to the surface by sheer fin kicking power. If i can do it in fresh water with no suit at all i know I am fit enough to do it in the sea with an albeit highly compressed wetsuit on

That was how it was in the old days, when "anyone who needs a BC, deserves to drown" was a popular saying

Since we all use BC's today, being 6 pounds heavy at the bottom, is no big deal, since any of us should be able to swim that up===if you can't , take up golf instead...the bc will neutralize the 6 pounds....if it fails, no big deal....

 

[DevonDiver]

I'm surprised only DanV mentioned swimming your rig up.

Same as 'balanced rig' principle (see my earlier post & link)

 

[James R]

I have a dual bladder wing, and I like it fine. I don't have the blackup bladder LP inflator connected unless I need it (which has only been in training). In my opinion, water in the 80s with surface temps over 100 degrees, a drysuit poses a significant risk to me in terms of heat-related problems like heat exhaustion & heat stroke. Before some of you go making assumptions about dehydration and other crap, just don't bother - I drink over a gallon of water a day (more on days I'm diving/out in the heat) and am not unfit/obese/whatever.

Yes - I can swim my rig up.
Yes - I can send up a lift bag and line climb
Yes - I can inflate a lift bag and use it to make a controlled ascent

I basically don't want to have to do any of those things when I have a better, in my opinion - for me, option. If I am well into a deco obligation, the last thing I want to do is exert a good bit of effort and energy to complete my run schedule. Wouldn't it be easier to do gas switches neutrally buoyant, rather than trying to swim up, hold a line, or hold on to a lift bag to stay at a depth? To me that answer is yes. YMMV....