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

[LI-er]

Suicide clips are stupid. I refuse to attempt to count them all up, but it is over 4.

I chose to use snap clips on my camera because they're easy to work with gloves on, and the camera is clipped and unclipped throughout the dive. Being on my chest D-rings, they're easy to reach if I should snag something, but it's never happened. The only other snap clip is on my reel and for the dive light on a retractor which I have stated I'm willing to lose should it break off which would happen in an entanglement.

you have metal to metal connections all over the place - unnecessary

What's the problem with clipping a camera or reel or bottle to a D ring?

you are using white zip ties on critical connections on the BC - those are typically not uv resistant

The zip ties attach the miflex spg hose to the LP inflator hose for streamlining, not critical. There's a ziptie holding a ring to my camera where I occasionally attach it to a 3rd clip on my waist, again not critical. A ziptie holds a small clip on the shears, in the unlikely event I should deploy them it's just to clip them off to something rather than trying to put them back in the sheath. Theres a ziptie attaching a retractor to the corrugated hose, it's one of two attachment points and is not critical. 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.

retractor on your knife. That is incredibly stupid. When you get tangled in stuff and line is everywhere, you are going to add another unnecessary complexity? Again, Unwise. A much better option is to make a decent sheath, use proper bungi's or elastics to retain it and then add a wrist strap (or use it as an integrated bungi) to avoid dropping it.

I don't forsee a scenario where I'm so entangled that it's like a spider web with line everywhere and my retractor line will just put me over the edge. I've snagged a monofilament here or there in or on a wreck and the retractor line wasn't an issue. If it was, it could easily be cut, as it's just a backup to the sheath where it sits, it's not critical. It's also easy to detach, the retractor has got a plastic quick clip on it.

Putting a compass in a pocket? Perhaps that makes sense if you never use it, but I want it accessible since I use it frequently. Putting it in and out of a pocket is ridiculous or perhaps you have it on another retractor. I see coiled lines and retractors all over the place.

The compass/slate is rarely used, and I have never used the PLB or backup computer. The compass is easily retrieved from the pocket and yes it's on a retractor. When stowed there's no extra line except the folded up coil of the PLB at the very bottom of the pocket. There's a small coil that holds the pencil.

The pony bottle rig - back mounted looks like a problem. The tank should be rotated so the transmitter is not sticking out and vulnerable to being wacked, The second stage hose on the pony is too short- both for a back mounted rig where the hose should be routed under your arm pit and for a stage bottle where it should be the right length to double it up and secure with a couple of bungis. And of course a necklace on a slung bottle seems pretty silly as well

The bottle is slung not backmounted. When it's in use the transmitter is in a protected position. Why is a necklace on a slung pony "pretty silly"? I don't care to bungie the regulator to the tank and double up the hose, it's the right length to fit under my chin.

the go pro camera has to have two suicide clips (and the metal connections)? You couldn't make it work with a single connection? What happens when you have to remove your scuba unit underwater while solo and you have something like that across your chest which must be removed before you can do what your life depends on?

The camera is clipped and unclipped many times throughout the dive. Two clips on the top keeps it level and snug to my BCD and if I needed to remove it for any reason, it's about a 5 second process. There is a 3rd snap clip close to my waist to pull the bottom of the camera in tightly. All of this makes an entanglement even less likely than it would be if the camera was hanging by a single clip which would also cause a lot of drag. In an entanglement I'd simply unclip it like I do many times per dive.

I thank you for your suggestions but I don't see anything that would be an improvement, especially since you don't seem to understand several things about my rig and that's probably due to me not explaining it well enough or providing clear photos.

Please explain what's wrong with clipping something to a D ring and making a "metal to metal" connection, why a regulator on a necklace from a slung bottle is "silly" and please share your experiences as to how often you've seen plastic zip ties fall apart from sunlight exposure.

 

[fred32176]

This is what I put on my BCD - a secondary light and a line cutter. Everything else goes in those nice big pockets.

My kit varies by dive type. Stuff I often carry like a Tesla key and Cool pix W300 camera go in my right pocket as it has a clip. Variable stuff like a SMB and finger spool (ocean dives) or a primary light (springs) go in the left pocket. DC, compass, wrist strap or a primary light holder are worn. My Jon line remains at home until I do wreck dive where I can use it.

Easy peasy, take what you need and not stuff that you won't use.

 

[happy-diver]

There are many slingers out there that have an issue diving with an entanglement hazard pony on their back
So I have been thinking about the dangers posed also by the main tank, if I were entangled by a rock, or fish

So my basic rec rig has stainless boltsnaps and double enders everywhere, to fix my apparatus to its harness
and to itself and all the other standard bits and pieces like wing and inflator, and also a BFK on my inside leg

Calmish Ocean shorediving two piece well sealed wetsuit

 

[johndiver999]

Metal to metal connections are not recommended since they can not be cut in an emergency. I image the OP will say he never had that kind of issue, yet he has done relatively few dives. I've only had one issue where I was contemplating cutting something from my rig in an emergency, but it is nice to know you can - it gives you more confidence to calmly work out a resolution when a CF develops.

The OP indicates that he plans on his crappy clips failing in an emergency. That is too silly to address further other than to emphasize the point.

The OP indicates that the BC manufacturer placed white zip ties to connect the BC hose to the BC over 10 years ago. That looks like crap, so I doubt that is original, but even if it is, it is way past time to remove and replace. I have seen MANY, white zip tie failures in boating/outdoors where uv is an issue. I simply avoid using them, but if a critical 10-yr old white zip ties looks good, then go for it. It makes a ton of sense from a risk/reward standpoint! Better to seek advice, argue against it when received, and then fail to spend 15 cents and 30 seconds to rectify!

I am personally so distrustful of zip ties that I remove them, install braided, heavy fishing line affixed with a constrictor knot and then generally top it off with the placement of a cheap black zip tie. That makes sense to me. When I grab a used BC from "the pile", I really don't want to be wondering about old zip ties.

As for a bungi around the neck of the slung pony bottle, why do that? Are you too scared that you can not spit a regulator and grab a back up that is within your reach?

The neck lanyard makes the system more complicated. It makes it harder and slower to remove the scuba gear underwater in a solo entanglement, it makes it slower to hand up at the stern of the boat, it adds another step in gearing up that can be inadvertently omitted, it may prevent the diver from seeing a freeflow or a leak in an instant and of course it makes a total CF out of handing off a pony bottle underwater- something I think the OP referenced in a prior thread. Is that enough reasons to forgo the neck lanyard? Where is the risk/reward analysis for not doing it like a normal stage bottle? You should be able to come up with some good reasons to diverge from normal tech diving protocols for basic rigging and configurations, I think.

Of course if you back mount the pony, then a neck lanyard makes all the sense in the world
(seriously), I always use one.

Also, if you do not dive with a pony then what do you do? How do you plan on providing emergency air to another diver? You have only one second stage, right? Something like that could be a huge issue, especially since actual buddy breathing has not been taught in 15-20 years or something. At the very least, have you practiced an ascent while breathing off the standard BC inflator?

If I saw you diving with that rig, I would probably say nothing, but the OP asked for feedback, so I offer my opinion without trying to be overly polite. Some of these issues really are trivial, until they are not.

 

[tridacna]

The OP's pics look more like a "How NOT to set up a rec rig" than anything else. The very opposite of safety and simplicity. I think I may use those in class to demo "How not to set up your gear".

 

[LI-er]

Metal to metal connections are not recommended since they can not be cut in an emergency.

That's ridiculous. An smb, reel, torch, or any other piece of dive gear clipped to a metal D ring can simply be.. wait for it... unclipped in the event it snags on something. What are you going to use to attach gear to a D ring if not a metal clip, a plastic one? Now THAT's stupid (using your favorite word).

metal clip I image the OP will say he never had that kind of issue, yet he has done relatively few dives.

I've done 745 dives over 45 years and snagged monofilament on wrecks maybe 3 times. A quick snip with my shears and all was good, I never got wrapped up in the stuff and I can't imagine how someone would unless they're diving in extremely dangerous environments outside the realm of typical recreational diving on common dive sites. And I dive wrecks more than anything else. From the way you talk and recommend gear configurations it sounds like you spend most of your dives in bad entanglements and plan your entire gear configuration around untangling yourself from a spiderweb of fishing line, I can't help but wonder how that happens.

The OP indicates that the BC manufacturer placed white zip ties to connect the BC hose to the BC over 10 years ago. That looks like crap, so I doubt that is original

You doubt wrong. Those zipties came with the BCD when purchased, it's standard to attach the corrugated hose to the inflator and the pull dump with zipties, most BCDs are built like that, and as I stated, the zipties on mine are in as good a shape as when the BCD was brand new. I'm not looking to win any fashion contests and wonder why you're so self conscious about the appearance of your gear to the point that a few zipties aren't in style.

I have seen MANY, white zip tie failures in boating/outdoors where uv is an issue.

I don't leave my rig sitting in the sun for long periods of time, maybe that's why my gear is in such good shape after so many years of use. You might want to consider doing the same since you've got UV ziptie degradation issues.

I am personally so distrustful of zip ties that I remove them, install braided, heavy fishing line affixed with a constrictor knot and then generally top it off with the placement of a cheap black zip tie. That makes sense to me.

Sounds like a lot of unnecessary work to me. Especially since you cap it off with... wait for it... a ZIPTIE!

As for a bungi around the neck of the slung pony bottle, why do that? Are you too scared that you can not spit a regulator and grab a back up that is within your reach?

There is no bungee around the neck of the slung pony bottle, you're wrong, again, just like you were when you assumed it was back mounted despite numerous photos showing the clips to sling it.

And no, I'm not scared, and I'm not stupid just because I don't do things in a way that meets your odd standards, but keep hurling insults and it will be obvious without me even having to say it that you're an аsshole.

The neck lanyard makes the system more complicated... Of course if you back mount the pony, then a neck lanyard makes all the sense in the world

I prefer the necklaced reg to a bungeed reg, no matter how many times you tell me your way is better. I had it that way when it was backmounted and I kept it this way when I decided to sling it. Your statement that "you should only use a necklace on a backmounted pony" is yet another silly statement.

Also, if you do not dive with a pony then what do you do? How do you plan on providing emergency air to another diver?

I use the stony bottle on most dives precisely that reason. If I plan to dive solo on a shallow dive then I might not bring the pony, if I'm hooked up with an instabuddy I point out that I cannot easily supply them with gas if they screw up.

 

[lostsheep]

The OP did not actually mean, “feel free to critique mine” they posted pictures of the rig; when was the last time someone came in here with a…unique… idea and actually wanted feedback?

They never want feedback, they just want vindication which is NEVER going to happen.