regulator recovery

[TMHeimer]

Here's a question I'll ask my instructor when the course begins-- Regarding regulator recovery: The standard method is to lower your right shoulder and extend right arm back alongside tank, bring arm forward and catch reg. at elbow. I have found this works most times. I tried something else--stick right arm out straight to the side, then ark it around toward your tank and catch the reg that way (instead of going "under" the reg. hose you bring your arm "over" it). This method works 100% of the time for me. Has anyone else heard of this or do it this way? (I know you can also tilt the tank and follow hose from 1st stage--nothing to do with that method)

 

[SteveAD]

Any number of methods work. The downside to the outside to inside hook is that it leaves the hose routed under your arm instead of over.

 

[*dave*]

What happens if you have a reg that floats just above shoulder height or gets trapped near the first stage?

Here's a question I'll ask my instructor when the course begins-- Regarding regulator recovery: The standard method is to lower your right shoulder and extend right arm back alongside tank, bring arm forward and catch reg. at elbow. I have found this works most times. I tried something else--stick right arm out straight to the side, then ark it around toward your tank and catch the reg that way (instead of going "under" the reg. hose you bring your arm "over" it). This method works 100% of the time for me. Has anyone else heard of this or do it this way? (I know you can also tilt the tank and follow hose from 1st stage--nothing to do with that method)

 

[TMHeimer]

I guess the bottom of tank grab/first stage & follow hose down method. I have trouble with that due to a chronic bad right shoulder. In that case I guess I would have to grab my octo, breathe from that and ascend to try to retrieve the second stage.

 

[BonaireDan]

If you really get tangled up and have to grap the AAS you can do what you were taught in OW class - remove your BC, reorganize your hoses and replace your BC. This might prevent the need to ascend / end the dive. Some suggest that a great buoyancy control exercise is to be able to remove the BC in mid-water while maintaining a position of depth to within a couple of feet.

 

[TMHeimer]

Yeah, that's it. Great advice.