Swap SCUBA gear underwater

[Jazz]

Hi there everyone,

I just need some clarification. At what level of PADI training do we need to swap gear underwater. I do not remember doing it in my Open Water but my friend just did his course and he DID! I thought that only at DM stage that it's required.

Any ideas???

Jazz

 

[dweeb]

I just need some clarification. At what level of PADI training do we need to swap gear underwater. I do not remember doing it in my Open Water but my friend just did his course and he DID! I thought that only at DM stage that it's required.

PADI may or may not be the sole determinant of the content of your friend's OW course. It could have been structured to meet the requirements of another agency, or even a combination of PADI and another agency.

PADI doesn't require it until DM, but it belongs in an OW course, and many instructors teaching under other agencies do require it.

 

[Firefilly]

I certed NAUI OW in '95 and had to do it. My buddy certed PADI OW two weeks ago and had to do it. Even as a newby (based on my number of dives, not years of cert), I can't imagine knowing your gear and being comfortable enough to lose something without freaking not being a "basic" skill.

 

[DORSETBOY]

Dont remember teaching swapping gear underwater in the ow! as said above though it is done on the dmt course, good fun as well. when we did ours the instructor was pulling off our mask, inflating our jacket and pulling the regs out of our mouths to add to the stress of the situation. I know that padi dont condone doing this but I dont bear any grudges against my instructor!

 

[RIDIVER501]

I doubt there was a gear swap in a PADI Basic OW course. that doesn't come into play until the DM level where you gear swap while buddy breathing.

In the basic OW couse you do a scuba unit removal and replacement and a weightbelt removal and replacement on the surface and under water but you aren't exchanging equipment UW.

 

[miketsp]

With the tendency to weight integrated BCs that can be quite a tricky exercise if you're wearing a lot of neoprene and all your weight is integrated.
If you know you're going to be doing penetrations which may require gear removal then you go prepared with a part on a weight belt.

 

[Mako Mark]

PADI doesn't require it until DM, but it belongs in an OW course, and many instructors teaching under other agencies do require it.

Now that is just silly. What would posess an open water diver to want to swap their equipment with another diver U/W????? That is just asking for trouble.

I can imagine it now... "oops, I accidently took the wrong set of gear and descended to 60 ft,.......lets swap back...."

yeah right.Gimme a break.....

 

[String]

Being able to remove your kit and refit it underwater however is a very important safety drill for dealing with getting stuck somewhere, entanglements and other things.

Its not taught here by anyone as part of syllabus afaik but every instructor i know of teaches it in the pool at least from entry level.

Its one of my reasons for disliking weight integrated BCs.

 

[Firefilly]

I can imagine it now... "oops, I accidently took the wrong set of gear and descended to 60 ft,.......lets swap back...."

As stated in previous post, I'm still a newbie diver and as such, I can't think of a situation that would require a gear swap but I just assume all the exercises we went through (we also had our regs and masks jerked off, etc.) were to get us to "not freak" when the unexpected happens.

Ridiver, as far as gear swap vs. take off and put back on,,, can't speak for buddy (PADI), was assuming his was same as mine (NAUI) and I remember swapping gear with my instructor,,, don't remember everyone having to do that particular exercise but he liked picking on me and I didn't mind

 

[RIDIVER501]

That is the reason to keep at least some of your weight still on a belt on yourself.
I dive integrated, but still wear 10lbs on my belt in case i have to do a removal replacement UW. I dive 28 lbs in full wetsuit, so 1/3 for me 2/3 for the integration roughly. a lot of People dive much more then 28lbs think of all the stress on your gear cramming all that weight in the integration system.

Splitting the weight will help keep you down if you ever have the need to doff and don and keep the weight you carry on your belt manageable and comfortable.