Streamlining my gear

[Teamcasa]

First off let me say good on you for wanting to improve and asking how. That's step one. Now, take the advice given above on getting your gear squared away, no loose or dangling stuff but do it for the right reason. That is, it will make you a better diver, less prone to disturb the marine life or sea floor and reduce the chances to get snagged on other stuff.

The notion of streamlining for the sake of speed or even reduced effort is kind of like asking a turtle to keep it's head down to improve its dive time. Scuba diving is not a race and speed is not your friend. In those occasions where you find yourself heading into a stiff current, your skill, ability and primarily your fitness level will make up 98% of how you do, gear selection and configuration only contribute a very small amount of to the overall effort. Don't get caught up in the hoopla. Dive slow, learn some more and enjoy it. Leave the racing to the racers.

 

[Rhone Man]

First off let me say good on you for wanting to improve and asking how. That's step one. Now, take the advice given above on getting your gear squared away, no loose or dangling stuff but do it for the right reason. That is, it will make you a better diver, less prone to disturb the marine life or sea floor and reduce the chances to get snagged on other stuff.

The notion of streamlining for the sake of speed or even reduced effort is kind of like asking a turtle to keep it's head down to improve its dive time. Scuba diving is not a race and speed is not your friend. In those occasions where you find yourself heading into a stiff current, your skill, ability and primarily your fitness level will make up 98% of how you do, gear selection and configuration only contribute a very small amount of to the overall effort. Don't get caught up in the hoopla. Dive slow, learn some more and enjoy it. Leave the racing to the racers.

That is one of the best posts I have read on SB for a while. Well said, sir.

 

[Splitlip]

I think some are missing Lynn's point. Because of the density of water v. the atmosphere, little things can be much more substantial.

Using the one finger analogy, suppose we hold a rolled up DSMB out the window? Or our legs? We all learned that we should be horizontal so we swim through the hole in the water our shoulders make.

I dive in current all the time, I think it makes a difference. I will however defer to the cave divers who must swim/fin against cave flows.

 

[fnfalman]

Don't bring more gears than necessary to do the dive in. Don't just clip on accessories and let them dangle everywhere. Put them in pockets or tuck them on waist belts. Clip off or tuck in gauges and octopus. However, I think that it's very important to not bring gears that aren't necessary. Redundancy at some point will become pain-in-the-wazoo.

I keep hearing about stream lining gear, but with a jacket BCD what other ways are there to streamline my gear besides attaching spg and octopus to the clips. Or is streamlining more or less geared to the BP&W and Tech divers.

 

[jrwalsh20]

Here's an experiment for you. Floor your car's accelerator and do a "0 to 60" with your driver's window open and both hands on the wheel. Then do the exact same thing with one finger sticking out the window. Please let me know the difference in your 0-to-60 times. Heck, go ahead and stick your entire arm out the window (make sure you don't get it lopped off) and tell me the difference in your time.

ok i did it. 3.9 sec 0-60 with hands on wheel, 3.98 with 1 hand - driver error? yes those are real times, my buddy just got a very nice new, very expensive toy and it gives off ZERO emissions - can you guess what i am? sorry to thread jack

 

[Mossman]

I think some are missing Lynn's point. Because of the density of water v. the atmosphere, little things can be much more substantial.

Using the one finger analogy, suppose we hold a rolled up DSMB out the window? Or our legs? We all learned that we should be horizontal so we swim through the hole in the water our shoulders make.

I dive in current all the time, I think it makes a difference. I will however defer to the cave divers who must swim/fin against cave flows.

Fluid dynamics is a bit more complicated than "little things can be much more substantial". Water will flow around it, perhaps creating a wake that speeds the diver's progress. Who knows? Certainly not cave divers, unless they have the requisite doctorate and have performed the requisite experiments. In any case, the effect of a single hose is negligible when compared to the entire diver and his/her gear.

Besides, the reason why George Irvine doesn't like a hose "flapping in the breeze" is because it wears out the swedge fitting. So much for "streamlining". See Doing It Right Gear Configuration | Global Underwater Explorers

 

[davetowz]

Here's an experiment for you. Floor your car's accelerator and do a "0 to 60" with your driver's window open and both hands on the wheel. Then do the exact same thing with one finger sticking out the window. Please let me know the difference in your 0-to-60 times. Heck, go ahead and stick your entire arm out the window (make sure you don't get it lopped off) and tell me the difference in your time.

uh... don't know about you, but when I dive my HP and torque ratings are based upon 2 fins and my ass pushing them, not a fair analogy using even a 70 HP car.

 

[DevonDiver]

The notion of streamlining for the sake of speed or even reduced effort is kind of like asking a turtle to keep it's head down to improve its dive time. Scuba diving is not a race and speed is not your friend. In those occasions where you find yourself heading into a stiff current, your skill, ability and primarily your fitness level will make up 98% of how you do, gear selection and configuration only contribute a very small amount of to the overall effort. Don't get caught up in the hoopla. Dive slow, learn some more and enjoy it. Leave the racing to the racers.

I agree and disagree. Streamlining and efficient forward motion through reduced water resistance isn't just about 'maximising speed'. For most divers, it isn't anything to do with speed (or shouldn't be).

Where streamlining pays the biggest dividends is during those nice, slow, relaxed dives. This is especially true where the diver employs a kick-glide-kick motion. Decreased water resistance will not only increase the momentum gained from the kicking motion (at a constant level of effort), but it will also increase the distance travelled in the glide motion, before momentum starts to slow and a further kick is required.

Maximising hydro-dynamic efficiency in the water, especially when using kick-glide-kick will make big improvements to air consumption, even when the diver is approaching the dive in a slow, relaxed manner.

 

[Mossman]

uh... don't know about you, but when I dive my HP and torque ratings are based upon 2 fins and my ass pushing them, not a fair analogy using even a 70 HP car.

Fine, then do the same experiment swimming in a pool, first with a LP hose nestled close to you, and then with it "flapping in the wind". If you really find there's a perceptible difference in the effort needed to swim the pool, or if it even slows down your lap time by a second, I'll buy you a beer.

I've learned from this thread that I should always dive with a hood even in warm water because my ears compromise my diving efficiency. Such streamlining should make it much easier for me to push my 40-lb housing with dual strobes through current.

 

[DevonDiver]

Fine, then do the same experiment swimming in a pool, first with a LP hose nestled close to you, and then with it "flapping in the wind". If you really find there's a perceptible difference in the effort needed to swim the pool, or if it even slows down your lap time by a second, I'll buy you a beer.
.

That's a wierd assumption, given the obvious consideration that professional swimmers put into their streamlining... where even the design of swimsuit materials utilises highly developed technologies to reduce water resistance.

It's odd to find a member here who is championing an ethos of mediocrity and apathy. Scoffing at the advice of other experienced divers doesn't make you appear more knowledgeable...