Using double tanks

[TorontoDive]

Hi! I'm new to diving and have seen many people using double tank setups and have always wondered how these people got trained to use them. I can grasp that they are useful in situations such as wreck, cave and solo diving as the extra tank allows a layer of redundancy but I've always been to afraid to ask how they got the training to use them.

Is there something like a "double tank" specialty or is it just something that's taught as part of cave/wreck courses? I'm not interested in rigging up a set for myself but I am always trying to learn about different things and the training for doubles eludes me.

 

[H2Andy]

hmmmm.... actually, there probably insn't a formal class, per se...
(i dont' know... just based on my limited knowledge)

your best bet would be to grab an instructor and spend an hour with them
learning to dive with doubles. they'll probably cover the extra negative
bouynacy, turtling, etc. for you

there really isn't much to it.. you just want to have supervision while
you try them out at first

 

[HNITSUJ]

talk to people here about things such as weighting, how to use the valves, hose routing etc. and most importantly how to isolate one tank from another in an emegency. Then get a set and do a beach dive, you will find there is no mystery to em. Oh, I should mention that you will now most likely have enough air to end up with a deco obligation.

 

[dab]

Hi! I'm new to diving and have seen many people using double tank setups and have always wondered how these people got trained to use them. I can grasp that they are useful in situations such as wreck, cave and solo diving as the extra tank allows a layer of redundancy but I've always been to afraid to ask how they got the training to use them.

Is there something like a "double tank" specialty or is it just something that's taught as part of cave/wreck courses? I'm not interested in rigging up a set for myself but I am always trying to learn about different things and the training for doubles eludes me.

Most entry level tech courses teach the basics of diving with doubles. Most open water instructors that I have come across have not had training or experience diving doubles. Use a tech instructor. There are many thing to learn, from proper trim to hose routing and an instuctor trained in technical diving is the one to direct you.

 

[ppo2_diver]

If you have a DSAT Tec instrucotr in your area, they can do a discover tech course which will go over doubles and how to use them.

 

[Diver0001]

Hi! I'm new to diving and have seen many people using double tank setups and have always wondered how these people got trained to use them. I can grasp that they are useful in situations such as wreck, cave and solo diving as the extra tank allows a layer of redundancy but I've always been to afraid to ask how they got the training to use them.

Is there something like a "double tank" specialty or is it just something that's taught as part of cave/wreck courses? I'm not interested in rigging up a set for myself but I am always trying to learn about different things and the training for doubles eludes me.

Most of the people I know started diving doubles before they really knew how to get the benefit of the redudancy. The first real training most of them had in how to really use twins was in Advanced Nitrox. Reaching back to touch the valve handle and thinking "could have done that" is different than being forced to do a complete S-drill in something like 90 seconds immediatly after 10 minutes of heavy swimming......multiple times. For kicks your instructor will even lay it on you in the middle of handing off a stage.... I was so whipped after some of these training dives that my forearm muscles still felt weak when I was breaking down my gear....

Having said that, the actually diving part is straight forward and you can just start with it after getting some advice on how to route hoses and so forth. If you have them set up correctly then you don't really feel them any more than you feel a single tank. In fact, my twins feel better in some respects under water than my puddlestomping gear does.

R..

 

[jepuskar]

Toronto, good questions, but your double tank specialty comment...ROFL!!

Give it a couple years before trimix is offered right after AOW!

 

[nostop]

I will be offering PADI Twin Tank Distinctive Specialty courses in Vancouver BC starting mid June. It's one day, confined and two ocean dives. Prerequisites are Advanced Open Water and ten dives. It's basically the first three dives of Tec 40 without any decompression theory or practice.

 

[Red Sea Shadow]

Hi! I'm new to diving and have seen many people using double tank setups and have always wondered how these people got trained to use them. I can grasp that they are useful in situations such as wreck, cave and solo diving as the extra tank allows a layer of redundancy but I've always been to afraid to ask how they got the training to use them.

Is there something like a "double tank" specialty or is it just something that's taught as part of cave/wreck courses? I'm not interested in rigging up a set for myself but I am always trying to learn about different things and the training for doubles eludes me.

You can find what you're asking for in TDI Intro to Tech course.

 

[Tortuga68]

Toronto, good questions, but your double tank specialty comment...

There's at least one agency that has a twinset course

Prerequisites are Advanced Open Water and ten dives

Are there people who have AOW and less than 10 dives?