Using a doubles wing on a single tank

[RJP]

OBTW, Hate replies are not helpful.

 

[ajduplessis]

Spin the dump valve off one of those bungee'd wings and watch what happens.

Do the same thing with a non-bungeed wing and it wont hardly even lose any gas.

Please dont bust Tony's little bubble. Bungee'd wings are 100% failproof and add no additional risk(s). You are sooooo behind times :sarcasm:

 

[Storker]

If you plan to actually dive doubles regularly be prepared to buy:

A couple set of doubles (at a minimum) A small set to learn on, a large set for bigger dives, and few more sets so you can have the "mix" you need

A 1/2 dozen to a dozen sets of regs. Doubles, stages, deco bottles, spares, argon etc.

A $800-$1200 can light.

Backup lights

A drysuit with 2-3 sets of undergarments for varying conditions.

Drysuit inflation set, tank, reg, hose, straps etc.

2-12 stages and deco bottles with rigging.

Training, Lots of training

Gas, lots of gas, Back gas, stages, deco bottles etc.

Boat rides or entrance fees.

Trimix Computer

Scooter(s)

Etc.

I beg to differ. I've got quite a few clubmates who dive doubles. Rec only. Because it suits their style of diving, and it puts the COG of their rig closer to their back. Many of them are quite adamant that a small doubles set is a lot more comfortable to dive than a big single tank is. They don't need all that stuff. They only need another first stage for their left post, and they're good to go. I've also got deco diving clubmates who just need one extra stage bottle and a reg for it. And the drysuit is mandatory around here, no matter if you dive a single tank rec rig, or a big-@$$ tec setup with a bunch of stage bottles and lots of He in the mix.

Bottom line: You don't have to be a hardcore tec diver with a gear budget the size of a small country's GNP to prefer doubles.

 

[RJP]

I beg to differ. I've got quite a few clubmates who dive doubles. Rec only.

Bottom line: You don't have to be a hardcore tec diver with a gear budget the size of a small country's GNP to prefer doubles.

"I think I'll just smoke crack socially."

 

[Storker]

"I think I'll just smoke crack socially."

And me thinking the correct quote was "I didn't inhale"...

 

[RJP]

And me thinking the correct quote was "I didn't inhale"...

"I... did not dive... with those doubles!"

 

[cool_hardware52]

I beg to differ. I've got quite a few clubmates who dive doubles. Rec only. Because it suits their style of diving, and it puts the COG of their rig closer to their back. Many of them are quite adamant that a small doubles set is a lot more comfortable to dive than a big single tank is. They don't need all that stuff. They only need another first stage for their left post, and they're good to go. I've also got deco diving clubmates who just need one extra stage bottle and a reg for it. And the drysuit is mandatory around here, no matter if you dive a single tank rec rig, or a big-@$$ tec setup with a bunch of stage bottles and lots of He in the mix.

Bottom line: You don't have to be a hardcore tec diver with a gear budget the size of a small country's GNP to prefer doubles.

None of which changes the fact that a diver looking to buy their first backplate and wing is almost always ill equipped to select *any* doubles wing because they typically have no idea what they will be using for exposure and tanks if and when they move to doubles.

Doubles implies longer exposures and long exposures *in the same conditions* cause many to rethink their insulation needs, the wetsuit or drysuit under garment that is fine for a 45 minute single tank dive often isn't enough for a 90-120 minute dive.

Tank choice also impacts wing choice. I've yet to speak with a diver buying their first BP&W that has any idea what they might end up using for cylinders.

Without knowing suit buoyancy and cylinders picking out the appropriate doubles wing is not possible.

Tobin

 

[eelnoraa]

Even for rec dive, if you have bought a set of double (say ~$750), a set of double reg (~$750), a drysuit & proper undergarment (~$2500), bp/w for double ($500), a computer/diver ($500), that is already $5000. Another $300 or (used for less) for a properly design single wing seems to be a no brainer investment to me.

I also don't agree double is easier to dive than single. Given a dive I can do with single tank, and if I have single set available to me, I will definitely do it in single. Everything is just easier, less mass to move around, less drag, less negative with full tank, a lot more mobile.

 

[TSandM]

See, I disagree! I would dive doubles all the time, if somebody else would do all the hauling of them. I love the stability and the way the negative nature of the tanks spreads out over my back. I appreciate the extra gas AND the redundancy. But I dive a single tank almost all the time, because it's enough gas to do the dives I do (although there are definitely times when I wish I didn't have to bend over and swap out tanks) and it's a LOT easier on my back, knees and ankles not to climb rocky slopes with my body's weight worth of gear on my back

 

[PfcAJ]

Doubles are cool for rec dives because I don't have to swap tanks on the boat. I can sit back and sip a capri-sun while erryone else is fiddling with gear.

Other than that, singles are sweet.