Undone Tank Band

[Firecrizzotch]

This wasn't a large incident but I've seen it twice (once in OW pool dives and once Saturday). My buddy and I were diving at Vortex Springs, FL and we had descended to the mouth of the cave at approx. 55ft to photograph some FW eels. We finished our business there and that's when I saw'im.

As we're coming out, this guy is coming down into the hole, and it's just not pretty; he's flailing around (I think he was weighted improperly due to his cylinder) and most importantly, his cylinder had become detached from the BC. So now the cylinder is floating far enough behind him that the hose is threatening to yank the reg from his mouth. So I rocketed over to him and realized he was wearing some kind of fins that were made of foam and what appeared to be mostly rental gear. Well it scared him when I patted his shoulder and flashed him the OK sign, which he didn't return.... Well I had no idea what to think of that (he's still breathing), so I just went to work on his tank and got it back in and secured. I then just watched him go on about his business. He may never have known he had a problem.... This raises alot of questions for me. I'm a new diver (only like 11 dives now), but where was this guy's buddy? Was he even certified (no OK symbol)? Who cleared him to rent equipment? :06:

I just hope to god he didn't actually enter the cave :jump013:. I didn't hear any fatality reports, so I guess he came out ok. However, it did make me feel really good to help him out, and I guess I solved my first real problem UW. Thanks for listening.

the crizzotch

 

[sea nmf]

My tank did not come all the way out, but I knew something was wrong because I could "feel" it. Not in my hose but just how the tank felt on my back.

I asked my buddy and she confirmed it but was unable to secure it properly.

This brings up something I had not thought about before this happened. I took my BC off and fixed the strap myself.

However, my BC is weight integrated. When I removed it, I didn't have anything to keep me down! Luckily, I live in Hawaii and was just diving with a skin so I didn't have neoprene to complicate matters.

But my eyes are now open to a major downfall of the absence of a weight belt!

Don't ask about why the buddy wasn't able to perform the task - it doesn't matter in this discussion. That is another thing altogether.

 

[DarkFrog]

However, my BC is weight integrated. When I removed it, I didn't have anything to keep me down! Luckily, I live in Hawaii and was just diving with a skin so I didn't have neoprene to complicate matters.

But my eyes are now open to a major downfall of the absence of a weight belt!

I know we practiced BC donning and doffing underwater in my OW class, but now that I too have an integrated weight BC, I've been wondering about how easy this manuver would be. In the cold New England waters, I'm wearing a 7mm wetsuit, booties, gloves and hood with 14lbs of lead holding me neutral. Just holding myself to the BC seems difficult enough without having to worry about securing the tank strap.

On a side note, my tank has started to slip before, but I usually either feel it start to bump my thighs or head(well, only really my thighs, but I imagine if it slipped "up" it would bump my head). We also covered how to prevent this sort of thing (wetting the straps first, cinching them down tightly), but sometimes I forget just how tight the (nice smooth) straps have to be to hold the (nice smooth) tank in.

Has anyone heard of people having trouble getting in/out of their bc underwater because of integrated weights?

 

[Firecrizzotch]

When I did my OW cert, I had a hell of a time with BC removal. Everyone else was sucking water in their nose while mask clearing, but I was the one flailing around trying to not to float to the surface. I've found that if you get it around in front of you and put arms through the arm holes backwards, then problem is solved. However, my cylinder always falls over and I end up putting the BC back on in the horizontal position....not pretty but I guess it works in a pinch

 

[String]

Thats one of the 2 main reasons i absolutely loathe weight integration on BCs and would always advocate a weight belt or harness instead.

 

[Firecrizzotch]

Thats one of the 2 main reasons i absolutely loathe weight integration on BCs and would always advocate a weight belt or harness instead.

I agree to an extent, but I was born without the amenity that some would call an ass. :11: Weight belts will not stay on me and hence, they sag, consistently pulling me backwards in the water. I bought an Oceanic Probe and it was like night and day....

 

[sea nmf]

Thats one of the 2 main reasons i absolutely loathe weight integration on BCs and would always advocate a weight belt or harness instead.

Well, I actually LIKE the weight integrated, except for this fact. It works great if you don't have an emergency. I hate the feeling of a weight belt on me. I don't find it comfortable.

However, I will probably start wearing one now.

 

[Iruka]

I've had to reattach tanks underwater on people plenty of times. What's really funny is after giving them a "you have a problem with your tank + wait" hand signal, as I'm behind them adjusting the strap, some of them spin like a dog chasing its tail, trying to see what the heck it is I'm up to back there......I feel like a rodeo performer.

 

[H2Andy]

two things will greatly help avoid this:

1. wet the straps before securing them (because straps will stretch when wet, thus causing slack); and

2. have your buddy check the straps as part of the pre-dive check

 

[String]

If you dont like a weight belt then buy and use a weight harness instead - far more adjustable than a BC without any of the hip pressure or slide of a belt.

Ive seen WI BCs ditch weights with alarming regularity when carrying >20lb or so.

Also passing that lot up to someone on a RIB would make you extremely unpopular.