Tekky BC or not

[TheRedHead]

I didn't think 2 puters was DIR. In fact, one of the 2 was a wireless VTPro, hardly DIR. It was just funny seeing their rigs with their plate pads with "DIR Equipment" on the Halcyon logo. I think I was just making lite of the these guys all dressed for tech but not tech in 'em.

I don't even think of it as tech gear. A DSMB with spool or reel is a safety device. I don't dive with a canister light, but considering the viz last month in Florida, it would have come in handy on the wrecks. Now, if they would have brought a couple of sets of doubles, stage bottles and 3 regulators each for the dives, then they would have been in tech gear. I just dive the same way for every dive and don't worry about what people say.

 

[djanni]

I don't even think of it as tech gear. A DSMB with spool or reel is a safety device. I don't dive with a canister light, but considering the viz last month in Florida, it would have come in handy on the wrecks. Now, if they would have brought a couple of sets of doubles, stage bottles and 3 regulators each for the dives, then they would have been in tech gear. I just dive the same way for every dive and don't worry about what people say.

Okay... I think I'm just saying it differently. I was refering to the gear that's used to handle that set of doubles, stage bottles and etc.

To you the tech gear is the race car, if you will, and I'm refering to it as the outfit the driver wears while racing. Anyone can wear the outfit but only skilled trained divers such as yourself can handle the rest.

 

[rongoodman]

Why do you think those two divers weren't competent to use their gear?

 

[OCDinNC]

Diving with 2 computers is not DIR. It's more like the way I dive, except I have only 250 feet of line on my reel. I don't see the problem with their gear.

I get laughed at on boats for having an OMS harness with redundant bladders, H valve with redundant regs, reel with lift bag, etc. So many people want to travel real light. That's great, but what do you do when you get in trouble? When you're doing that drift dive in Jupiter and the boat crew only gave you a 25 min surface interval, and you know darn good and well that your profile is not going to make the whole dive without incurring deco stops, and it's 6' seas, aint it nice to have a bag to shoot to come up with, then you figure the boat might have a better chance of spotting you? (Jan 2006).

I am NOT DIR; I just like to be prepared. I dive solo a lot. I don't always have a buddy waiting to wave a reg at me if I "misjudge" my air or have a freeflow. The TDI Deco Procedures required a long hose and redundant lift source (extra bag or bladder), and cave requires a long hose. So if you like to do those dives, why not keep your gear configured close to the same, instead of switching it around all the time? I was overweight going to Cayman a few weeks ago. The divemasters laughed at me for having a backplate harness that was "too complicated". Oh well, it's my dive.

 

[Beppe]

(I assume you are refering to a bp/w setup -alot of mfgrs have what they call "tek" BC's,

O.K.guys,excuse me my ignorance but not being a tekky nor an American I'm not much into the lingo,so what's bp/w setup (backplate wings maybe?) and most of all what's a mfgrs(that's beyond me).And just to hold on the discussion that has developed here,to me the lesser the better.I bring only things I actually need for the dive.I know I'm a bit naive but...

 

[loosebits]

Yes, a backplate/wing - most would agree it's the best system for doubles and works great with singles. Lots of manufactures out there (some big names and some really small outfits) but here are a few to start with:

Dive Rite
Oxycheq
Halcyon (if you don't like money)
Agir-Brokk
Deep Sea Supply

Just google any of them and you'll find authorized online dealers.

Btw, you'll want two seperate wings for singles and doubles - wings that claim they can handle both are good for neither.

 

[stas]

"Although not a tekky myself...."
"...and sometimes I carry a 3 or 5lt.nitrox tank for deco..."

The previous two statements seem to be a little contradictary. If you are diving witha single tank for back gas and still are incuring enough of a deco obligation to require a deco gas (your nitrox bottle) to accelerae the stop, it better be a pretty big tank (and hopefuly with some redundency like a Y/H valve). Also, the the phrase "I bring only things I actually need for the dive" starts to mean that you have to bring a lot of gear (up lines/reels, bags, bottom timers, etc). Adding to this the fact that you now need to hand a bottle under your arm and have this whole assembly not rotate or move up and down, you might want to very carefuly re-evaluate weather the type of diving you are doing is safe and/or get a back plate and a wing to support all of this gear.
Stas

 

[Matsya]

"Although not a tekky myself...."
"...and sometimes I carry a 3 or 5lt.nitrox tank for deco..."

The previous two statements seem to be a little contradictary.

Why do these statements seem contradictory?

If you are diving witha single tank for back gas and still are incuring enough of a deco obligation to require a deco gas (your nitrox bottle) to accelerae the stop, it better be a pretty big tank (and hopefuly with some redundency like a Y/H valve).

Why would one need a big tank? and the Y/H Valve?

Also, the the phrase "I bring only things I actually need for the dive" starts to mean that you have to bring a lot of gear (up lines/reels, bags, bottom timers, etc). Adding to this the fact that you now need to hand a bottle under your arm and have this whole assembly not rotate or move up and down, you might want to very carefuly re-evaluate weather the type of diving you are doing is safe and/or get a back plate and a wing to support all of this gear.

OP has said that he just brings along a spare mask and torch. So why should the phrase "I bring only things I actually need for the dive" mean that OP has to bring a lot of gear? And even the gear that you have mentioned doesn't seem to amount to "a lot of gear". Why would he need to hang the bottle under his arm? There are several ways to carry a pony bottle other than hanging under the arm aren't there?

I am asking these out of curiosity to learn more because prima facie I am not able to connect up the points that you have made. No intention to flame.

 

[stas]

Why do these statements seem contradictory?

Because decompression diving is by definition technical diving. He is not carrying a pony tank (at least according to his post), he is carrying a cylinder containing a gas mixture with a higher percentage of oxygen then air (Nitrox) in order to speed up his decompression(Deco Bottle) . He needs a Y/H valve becuse he says he is doing deep dives (very deep if his profile is true) and needs the redundency in case something goes wrong. Overall, if what he says is not "fuzzy" due to a language barrier problem, he seems to be aproaching fairly serious technical diving from a recreational divers point of view. IMHO thats an execelent way to die.
Stas

 

[Beppe]

Because decompression diving is by definition technical diving.

Sorry guys, I've been a tekky for years without knowing it

he is carrying a cylinder containing a gas mixture with a higher percentage of oxygen then air (Nitrox) in order to speed up his decompression(

I actually use nitrox to desaturate my tissues more efficiently not necessarely to shorten up my deco time.I usually still have plenty of air to carry out a pretty long deco (30min.) even though I seldom have to deco that long( but 20+min. is normal)BTW,I carry a 18lt bottle.

becuse he says he is doing deep dives (very deep if his profile is true)

68mt.my last one(which is 200ft something,yes I do have a measurament barrier language problem),but usually in the range of 40-60mt.