Underwater gear removal...

[kidspot]

The question was raised in a class I recently attended about the purpose of gear removal and replacement underwater - Other than gaining familiarity with your gear what is the point to this excercise which was so thouroughly practiced in my BOW class (more so than mask removal) When in real life is the underwater removal of gear necessary?

Aloha, Tim

 

[H2Andy]

i think the rationale is task overload, and comfort with performing a complex
task underwater.

you're not practicing removing your stuff; you're practicing the skills that takes
to do that (pacing, breathing, thinking things through, not getting flustered, etc.)

also, you might need to do it if you get entangled or something

short answer: i don't know

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

Well ever have a tank come loose? When I do this drill I loosen the tanks after their first effort so they can spend a little time fixing things.

 

[hdtran]

i think the rationale is task overload, and comfort with performing a complex
task underwater.

you're not practicing removing your stuff; you're practicing the skills that takes
to do that (pacing, breathing, thinking things through, not getting flustered, etc.)

also, you might need to do it if you get entangled or something

short answer: i don't know

Any hints for those of us who are not very flexible (e.g. we couldn't possibly touch our toes with our fingers, and watching ballerinas do a split gives us a splitting sympathetic headache)?

I personally found the gear removal & putting on exercise the hardest, because I could not wiggle my shoulders out of the BCD (yeah, right, take it off like a coat. People should pay to see me put a coat on!)

[edit added...] My method (eventually) was to undo the shoulder clips. My instructor just sat & watched...

 

[H2Andy]

well... i am ashamed (?) to admit i haven't done this under water in over three
years. i recently broke a vertebrae and my right shoulder, so getting in and out
of my harness on land is struggle enough.

i carry emt shears just in case. my plan is to cut the harness to get out, worst
case scenario. harnesses are cheap.

the trick for me was to wiggle one shoulder "almost free," then wiggle the other
shoulder somewhat free, then go back to the first shoulder and work it until
it comes off (the elbow is the hardest part). the second arm is easy.
slow and easy does it. it just takes a little bit, not as long as it feels.

 

[kidspot]

I actually found the excercise fun, but just wondering what the purpose of it in "real life" was. As to tanks coming undone - I've been with 3 buddies where that happened, but I figured that's what I was there for - so I fixed it for them... Mine doesn't come undone easily since it's in 2 straps.

I found it much easier to remove over my head - then reverse it to put it back on, as long as I remembered to take the bungeed necklace off first - nearly choked myself the first time - lol

Any other reasons why it's a good excercise? (Personally I liked it for gaining familiarity with my gear)

 

[Sideband]

I think Andy is right on. There may be times where it becomes necessary to remove your BC but most will never see it. It task loads you in a 'safe' environment while building confidence in yourself and in your gear.

Joe

 

[Hoosier]

I did practice the gear removal (BCD) in underwater platform (not in the swiming pool, but in the real quarry at around 25ft). Actually, I used to practice all skills and techniques that I have learned for the scientific diving in the local dive trips. Otherwise, there is nothing to do and to see. LOL....

Especially, it isn't easy to take off/on BCD in underwater when you are wearing 7 mm wetsuit. You are a human ballon.

I think it is necessary to know how to do because

1. When you are entangled
2. When your tanks are slipped
3. When you are rescuing someone. One of exercises on the rescue class requires taking off the victim’s BCD and your BCD at the surface.

My 2 cents

 

[Rick Inman]

I may get banned for admitting it, but due to a prior shoulder injury, I have a quick release on my left harness strap, right below the D ring, hidden behind my 2nd BKUP light.
About 2 weeks ago we did the gear removal/replace in the pool. Almost assuredly a skill OW rec divers won't need. But I enjoy it because it does built confidence, and we had to do it when I was certified as a kid (along with breathing off a tank valve - another useless-but-fun skill). Bottom line, it's fun. But need the skill?? Well, you never know...

 

[Sideband]

Any hints for those of us who are not very flexible (e.g. we couldn't possibly touch our toes with our fingers, and watching ballerinas do a split gives us a splitting sympathetic headache)?

I personally found the gear removal & putting on exercise the hardest, because I could not wiggle my shoulders out of the BCD (yeah, right, take it off like a coat. People should pay to see me put a coat on!)

[edit added...] My method (eventually) was to undo the shoulder clips. My instructor just sat & watched...

If you have adjustable shoulder straps, loosen them all the way. Remove your left arm first by making a "chicken wing" with your arm. Poke your hand through the arm opening and slide the BC off your shoulder. Grab the right shoulder strap with your left hand and the bottom of the tank with your right hand then swing the tank around in front of you. Reverse to put it back on. If you can't make the left arm opening big enough then undo the clip. Keep the right one clipped though so you can maintain control and contact with the BC. As long as the right one stays clipped and your arm is through the hole you can't lose the BC.

Joe