What do you consider "life support gear"?

[redacted]

I see this phrase used alot. But most commonly in relation to someone trying to influence the seperation of a diver from money.

So just what does life support gear mean and what of our gear do you think it refers to?

I figure that "life support gear" means that without it you die. And If I really thought that there was any piece of gear that I could not survive a dive without, I don't think I'd be diving without redundency. And once I have redundency, I would not consider it life support.

 

[jonnythan]

It's just a term used to scare people, as you pointed out. That's pretty much the extent of it.

 

[Rick Murchison]

I think the term is inappropriate for Scuba.
However, if we're gonna have to use it, the only things I'd consider "life support" would be the breathing gas delivery system. All else is convenience.
Rick

 

[cyklon_300]

of life support equipment.

http://engr.smu.edu/~cd/EE5340/lect31/sld015.htm

 

[Vie]

I think the term is inappropriate for Scuba.
However, if we're gonna have to use it, the only things I'd consider "life support" would be the breathing gas delivery system. All else is convenience.
Rick

I concur with Rick’s opinion. IMHO, if the term “life suppport equipment” must be used in an ordinary recreational Scuba diving situation, I would assume that it refers to my regulator(s)/tank(s).

 

[Firebrand]

I have to say life support gear is that wich protects your life in the given situation. Apply that to scuba and it varies from one dive location to another.

A dry suit in 72 degree spring water would be considered a luxury, not life support; but put it in 32 degree water, and suddenly you find that a dry suit IS life support equipment.

Overall though, I would limit my life support equipment to my tank, regulator, and BC. Without the BC, you either sink or float. If you're at depth, your BC keeps you from sinking to the oblivion and becoming a statistic.

 

[jonnythan]

Without the BC, you either sink or float. If you're at depth, your BC keeps you from sinking to the oblivion and becoming a statistic.

OT, but if your BC is the only thing preventing that, you're doing something very wrong

 

[Rick Murchison]

Overall though, I would limit my life support equipment to my tank, regulator, and BC. Without the BC, you either sink or float. If you're at depth, your BC keeps you from sinking to the oblivion and becoming a statistic.

Hmmm... makes me wonder how I survived the two decades I dove without a BC...
Rick

 

[Charlie99]

I figure that "life support gear" means that without it you die. And If I really thought that there was any piece of gear that I could not survive a dive without, I don't think I'd be diving without redundency. And once I have redundency, I would not consider it life support.

If I used the same sort of definition used in scuba, then while driving down the freeway, my car is "life support gear". There are lots of failure modes of cars that would endanger your life.

It's a highly overused term.

 

[Firebrand]

Let me clear up what I meant. I don't rely on my BC to keep me from sinking, only that it COULD if used for emergency situations. Besides, if you look at some of the other threads, the discussion is on proper buoyancy control to prevent the diver from finning to stay neutrally buoyant. Just a thought.

Also, current BC's keep the tank mounted to your body. If that is accomplished without a BC, whatever keeps the tank attached to you, I would consider life support.