Tips on starting diving doubles

[SouthernSharktoothDiver]

@rx7diver Good tip. I might run one reg to my right lapel, where I'd normally mount my octo, and run the other to my necklace holder. Any tips on a good holder/release mechanism? My standard octo holder (cheap silicon thing) does fine as a holder and releases easy when needed, but it something of a pain to put back unless on dry land. I've heard about magnetic or other options, but I've gotten mixed reviews on those. On the occasion that I'm diving solo(ish, my cousin/dive buddy is around, somewhere, but it's rather dark and he could be up to a hundred yards away), I have considered a bolt snap, but that seems like a bad idea given I could end up needing the reg in a hurry (and I don't always dive solo)

 

[p_kos]

@p_kos,

That's a shame. I'd like to read your dive report if you ever do dive these indep double 72's!

You're in Ontario, so you're probably diving dry. (Is this correct?) I think of double 72's as being a wetsuit rig. At one time I dove double HP100's dry, which I enjoyed very much (though, at 24" tall, they were a bit short for moi).

rx7diver

@p_kos,

That's a shame. I'd like to read your dive report if you ever do dive these indep double 72's!

You're in Ontario, so you're probably diving dry. (Is this correct?) I think of double 72's as being a wetsuit rig. At one time I dove double HP100's dry, which I enjoyed very much (though, at 24" tall, they were a bit short for moi).

rx7diver

I dive them dry but with about 12lbs extra weight as per picture below. I have also dived them wet in the summer which was awesome. I too find 100’s short so I use 133’s for deeper dives.

 

[MarkA]

@SouthernSharktoothDiver,

Will you be carrying two SPG's when you're diving BM independent doubles? If so, how will you configure them? One on each hip? One over each shoulder? One under each armpit, attached to your harness chest straps? Some other way?

And have you selected your regulators? FWIW, a Poseidon Odin regulator 2nd stage has no "upside down" or "right-side up". And, some other 2nd stages can have the regulator hose easily switched to connect from the left side.

rx7diver

I am one of those strange people with BM independent doubles. My defence is I started with this more than a generation ago. Would I do it now? Unlikely and would go for the isolation manifolded twinset on a backplate and wing, long hose etc.

How I have it set up is everything from the right cylinder goes right (SPG, drysuit hose, second stage). Everything from the left cylinder goes left (SPG, BC hose, second stage). It helps that the regulators are Cyklons.

They are mounted on a jacket style BC using these twinning bands

Twinset Cambands

Superb twinset camming system - holds cylinders with absolute security The AP webbing camband system has proven itself for over 30 years to be the superior system available in terms of ease of use, adjustability and cylinder security NO TOOLS REQUIRED - simple to change over from the single...

www.apdiving.com

As one of my cylinders has recently failed its inspection it is probably time to change to a manifolded twinset.

 

[SouthernSharktoothDiver]

@MarkA I appreciate the advice. I'll try that configuration in the testing phase and see how it works. Also, are those bands rigid enough to use with a backplate?

 

[MarkA]

@MarkA I appreciate the advice. I'll try that configuration in the testing phase and see how it works. Also, are those bands rigid enough to use with a backplate?

They wouldn’t work by themselves, but Kent tooling sell adaptors to make them work. There is a video on here somewhere of a guy setting up independent twins on a backpack using cam bands. Some of the ideas he has are a little different though. As I said, I will probably change to a manifolded twinset.

 

[rx7diver]

... How I have it set up is everything from the right cylinder goes right (SPG, drysuit hose, second stage). Everything from the left cylinder goes left (SPG, BC hose, second stage). It helps that the regulators are Cyklons.

Yes, I did it similarly: Everything right (SPG, drysuit, and 2nd stage) stays right. And everything left (SPG and BC)--except 2nd stage--stays left.

2nd stage from the LH 1st stage is on a short hose over my right shoulder, necklaced under my chin (using a homemade necklace made from silicon oxygen tubing).

2nd stage from my RH 1st stage is on a standard-length hose that bows out and in, from my right (to facilitate reg recovery).

NO long hose. My indep doubles rig was used for solo, no-decompression, no-overhead diving to "deeper" (but NOT "deep") depths--you know, to look at submerged tree trunks and rocks here in MO and AR Army Corps of Engineers freshwater lakes. NO need to plan to share gas--although the standard-length hose provides a bit of an option in the case of unplanned events.

NO SS lure boltsnap on my 2nd stage. I have an old polymer reg retainer attached to my RH shoulder D-ring on my harness that I use for the 2nd stage off my RH 1st stage when I've switched to breathing off the other 2nd stage (the one on the necklaced reg).

Each SPG on its own hip.

I configure my Faber LP50's as above--except they are manifolded (so, NO second SPG, and I don't dive them dry (so, NO drysuit hose), and I won't dive them as "deeper" as I dove my ID HP120's.

rx7diver

 

[nadwidny]

Kinda like the hyperbole... One individual when bashing the idea of cheater bar manifolds actually admitted they never used one (just thought it looked stupid... Plus gratuitous swear words).

That was me. I bought one, looked at it and realized that it was a piece of crap. I didn't need to dive it to find out.

I can look at a pile of dog doo and know that it shouldn't be eaten. Same same with cheater bars.

 

[Boarderguy]

Pair them up and go get wet amigo. 72s sounds great when I think about my back. I just went into the world of double 100s and they're damn heavy. Faber 100s with manifold and bands are about 95lbs full... add to that all the other crap and it is def not for the weak of heart (or knees).

I made the mistake of taking a buddies advice on weighting. He said he dropped 24lbs going from single 100 to doubles. I followed suit but a little less and it was horrible. My "normal" weight for a single 100 was 28lbs of lead. I tried 8lbs in pockets on my waist band with doubles and was very light, but head heavy with my bands set high and tanks low. My next dive day with them I went to 16lbs on a belt on my hips and it was almost perfect. I'm quite happy being a little heavy so I can loft my under garments and stay warm in 48° water for 90-120 minutes.

No spg, transmitter on left post, go get wet.

 

[inquis]

Any tips on a good holder/release mechanism?

I would urge you to base things on the standard doubles & SM approaches. No need to reinvent the wheel.

Left post second stage on a short hose routed behind your neck and into a 90 or 120 degree elbow attached to the second stage. Bungee to hold the second stage just below your chin. Fisherman's knot, mouthpiece between the knots and cinch it up.

I would run a 5 ft hose off the right post, under your arm, across your chest, behind your neck, and curved into the second stage. (5 ft retains many of the advantages of the tech-oriented long hose, but doesn't need to be tucked so a little easier to handle.) Comfortable to share, lies close to your body, and your neck reduces the weight of the hose. Boltsnap near the second stage to clip to the right chest D-ring when not in use.

 

[SouthernSharktoothDiver]

@inquis Sounds like a good setup. I'll give it a go.