Undone Tank Band

[TwoTanks]

I dive a zeagle which has two bands and I have never had a tank come loose. On occasion my pony bottle would loosen up, so I got one of those rubber strap boots and it hasn't moved since.
As for weight integration I keep 8 pounds in the BC and 8 on my belt that way I can take off my BC without any buoyancy trouble at all. In an emergency it would take longer to dump all my weight, but this also gives me the option of only dumping half of it too.

Thats my two cents

 

[String]

Im trying to find someone to sell me a second strap/cam for my Mares BC.

With the one strap my long 15l tank swings a bit on the bottom and the BC has a hole for another strap.

FWIW i hate my BC but cant afford another one

 

[H2Andy]

here in the states pretty much any dive shop sells cam straps... shouldn't be
too hard to find?

 

[Ber Rabbit]

Another thing to keep in mind if you're boat diving: the "granny" or "no-swim" line that is often run from the anchor rope to the stern can unfasten your cam strap if you have to enter from the side of the boat instead of the back. Meeting at the anchor rope whether on the surface or at 15 feet or so and doing one more buddy check to make sure nothing has come undone is a good idea. During our recent trip to Florida my husband's cam was undone by the granny line on over half of the dives and mine fell victim to it once or twice. The line was really in an inconvenient spot for some reason, I've never had that much trouble trying to avoid one while doing an entry.
Ber :lilbunny:

 

[Doof]

You think having your tank come loose from the cam bands is bad? A friend of mine had his double 104's come loose from the backplate (forgot to double check the wingnuts) during his ascent from a wreck dive!

He managed to keep them from falling on the people below him by supporting them with his legs. Ever since then, he's been known as "Wingnut" amongst our circle.

 

[alemaozinho]

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

i like two tank straps and i moisten them(they,re mostly wet anyway,in my case) to prevent slippin out.I witnessed it a dozen times on the boat,that those cheap bcd,s with one tank strap dont hold it very secure(velcro)they also lack a cam in most cases.The cam act as a lever and allows to get the strap very tight.peace

 

[Former FLL Now MSP Diver]

Mine would let the tank slip if I wasn't able to wet it first. I ended buying a ScubaPro metal buckle strap and putting it on. That tank will never move again.

Marc

 

[jonahfab]

Similar problem just happened to my dive buddy. We descended down to a platform at 20ft, and my buddies tank had come loose. He was diving in a crushed neoprene drysuit with a wieght integrated bc. When he removed his bc to fix the situation he began to ascend. So there he was clutching the platform to stay at depth while I fix his tank and got it back on his back. We both learned a lesson and probably will be wearing wieght belts with 4 or 6 pounds to help alleviate this situation from happening in the future.

 

[kelpmermaid]

I ended buying a ScubaPro metal buckle strap and putting it on. That tank will never move again.

You some how manage to either catch the buckle on something or fail to secure it properly in your pre-dive preparation...I just ran into someone in that position. I thought those metal buckles were more secure, too, but this might have been user error...

 

[Hoya97]

Here are some suggestions that may help folks out.

When the BC is new, wet the strap VERY WELL - SOAK IT! - Then make the adjustments necessary to obtain a secure fit (while the strap is still wet). Once that is complete, let the BC dry. The next time you use it, it will always fit and you tank won't slip. You only have to do this once, when the BC is new. You shouldn't have to keep doing this unless you are changing tank sizes or unthreading the web strap every time you remove the tank.

To get someone's tank back in to place, get behind the diver with the loose tank. Resting the butt of the cylinder on the top of your thigh, grab the top edge of the strap and pull it down over the cylinder. The only thing encountering resistance is the tank (it's resting on your thigh). The diver, BC and everything else will move downward when you pull on the strap. This will slide the strap into position quickly and with a minimum amount of fuss. This maneuver can be done in mid-water or on the bottom.

When taking off a weight integrated BC, the trick is not to loose control of the BC. Take it off like you would a jacket, but keep a secure grip on it. Spin it around so that the tank is facing you and wrap your legs around it. Make any necessary adjustments you desire to make. With the tank still facing you, reach over the top and run your hands through the arm-holes. Lift the entire assembly over your head in a fluid motion. The water will buoy the tank, making it less heavy. The weight of the tank over your head will keep you in position. As the cylinder moves towards your back, simply guide it in position, keeping your arms as straight as possible. The tank should settle perfectly against your back without you being in danger of floating away from your equipment. The key to the entire maneuver is to simply maintain positive contact with the BC/Tank assembly.

Hope this helps.