Recreational divers, post your rig here, let's share good and bad ideas

[LI-er]

The post by @Celt made me aware of the issues with several of the replies on this thread and why there's such a difference of opinion, and why I summarily reject the advice that has to do with entanglement (which is most of it).

The answer is in already the title of the thread, where I specifically and intentionally wrote "recreational divers".

So much of the advice directed towards me is about entanglement hazards.

As recreational divers, who spend most or all of their diving known and frequently visited sites, on what are usually relatively clean wrecks, we're not going to run into a vast array of dangerous entanglement hazards. Again, in 745 dives I can count the number of times I've snagged monofilament on one hand.

It's not like we recreational divers are making regular visits to the Andrea Doria, and our gear isn't configured like that.

 

[Umuntu]

The other zipties on the inflator hose were installed by the BCD manufacturer. None of the zipties show any wear or deterioration after a decade of use.

I’m not aware of SeaQuest / Aqualung ever using any colour other than Black zip ties on the corrugated inflator hose that are new from the factory. Do a google search for your BC and look at the images if you dispute this.

Given that the zip ties on your corrugated inflator hose are white, and match all your other zip ties on your gear, it would appear that you replaced the OEM zip ties at some point.

you are using white zip ties on critical connections on the BC - those are typically not uv resistant - another seemingly trivial issue, but unnecessary and unwise, since the consequences for failure could be catastrophic failure of BC.

This is good advice. White zip ties are not as UV resistant as black zip ties. They get brittle and it’s hard to tell whether they have deteriorated until they break.

YMMV, since advice is not something that you seem to take well.

 

[LI-er]

Given that the zip ties on your corrugated inflator hose are white, and match all your other zip ties on your gear, it would appear that you replaced the OEM zip ties at some point.

If I did I can't remember, but it's been a long couple of decades.

That much being said, the white zip ties are perfectly fine. If they replaced the factory installed black ones, they've lasted a lot longer and don't owe me a thing.

 

[BoltSnap]

The OP here appears to be that he isn't looking for advice that he will consider and possibly use. He is merely looking for confirmation and praise of his methods and rationalizations of what he is doing.

 

[LI-er]

The OP here appears to be that he isn't looking for advice that he will consider and possibly use. He is merely looking for confirmation and praise of his methods and rationalizations of what he is doing.

Well no, but I understand that you're the type of person who understands a person better than they do themselves and tells them what they're thinking, why they're thinking it and if they disagree with you of course they're wrong.

In fact the Op is looking for advice that is useful, dispensed without insults such as "you're stupid and scared", coupled with meaningless statements such as "it looks silly" and "pulling a compass out of a pocket is ridiculous" and "you should hang your camera from your BCD with only one clip not 2 or you're going to die in an entanglement" and you "shouldn't use zip ties because after baking in the sun for 8 hours a day they're eventually going to break therefore you should replace them with heavy braided fishing line that is capped off with... another zip tie". Oh and my favorite: "you're not being fair to an instabuddy that a boat might force you to dive with because if you don't bring your pony you don't have an octopus"

I'm seeking advice that is useful and given with reasons that make sense, and are modifications that I CAN consider and possibly use.

There have been a few posts to which I responded favorably but most are not applicable for me and the type of diving that I do.

 

[rjack321]

F- gear stowed in closed pocket. This pocket expands (by releasing a Velcro connection) to about double if needed, possibly if you pick up an item.
G- integrated air horn & retractor for corrugated inflator hose
H- lightweight clip to stow dive computers when not diving & rubber regulator holder for primary to keep it off the bench. Also visible is adjustable regulator venturi level, breathing adjustment dial, and swivel.
I- mini spg on a swivel attached to thin miflex hose (which could be shorter).
J- backup shears in sheath on corrugated hose & whistle

Good job! You have something dangling from every possible point!

Can we see some of your videos? Would be great to see how all this crap makes for idyllic memorable dive images

 

[LI-er]

Good job! You have something dangling from every possible point!

The only crap "dangling" from my rig is the SMB & reel clipped to the D ring just forward of my right weight pocket, the 19cf bottle neatly slung under my left arm, and my camera which I clip to the BCD rings when I'm not holding it in my hands.

Your post is a perfect example of why I can't take most of these replies seriously.

 

[Allen-1]

The only crap "dangling" from my rig is the SMB & reel clipped to the D ring just forward of my right weight pocket, the 19cf bottle neatly slung under my left arm, and my camera which I clip to the BCD rings when I'm not holding it in my hands.

Your post is a perfect example of why I can't take most of these replies seriously.

“If you run into an ******* in the morning, you ran into an *******. If you run into assholes all day, you're the *******.”​

― Raylan Givens Justified

 

[LI-er]

“If you run into an ******* in the morning, you ran into an *******. If you run into assholes all day, you're the *******.”​

― Raylan Givens Justified

Or...you're a proctologist.

 

[rjack321]

The only crap "dangling" from my rig is the SMB & reel clipped to the D ring just forward of my right weight pocket, the 19cf bottle neatly slung under my left arm, and my camera which I clip to the BCD rings when I'm not holding it in my hands.

Your post is a perfect example of why I can't take most of these replies seriously.

The light dangles too.

I confess I do appreciate how you trimmed out the truly unnecessary by using the button gauge on the hose with a right-angle elbow. Also adding the retractor to the ridiculously long corrugated power inflator hose is *chef's kiss*