What do you use to attach things to your BC?

[shakespear]

Never had anything before but I have a camera coming and I have seen those retractable tethers. How do they work?

What about adding a knife or light?

thanks!

 

[SelkieDVM]

You could just use a brass or stainless snap bolt. Some folks around here don't approve of retractors as they can present an entanglement hazard.

I don't (yet) do the type of diving were this is a big issue and I do use a retractor for my gauges. It makes it very simple to pull my compass out quickly to take a reading.

Haven't seen the inner workings of one but I'm guessing its just a cord or wire on a spool with a spring to reel it in. Mine has a switch so you can leave extended too. They come in various sizes for heavier objects etc.

Having said all this I did have one fail on the first dive. Cord broke as I was climbing back on a boat in bumpy conditions. (Another reason not to use them I guess - when will I ever learn!)

Cheers,
Lilla

 

[scarefaceDM]

If you want to attach your camera to your BC.. depends on the camera housing. If you do have a lanyard, that can go around your wrist. When not in use. A bolt snap secured with a tie wrap/zip tied to the housing and then secured-clipped to a D-ring. Safer that way. Retractors are spring loaded which can fail and leave you dangling when you do not want to. Some are good and some not so good.

Attaching stuff to a BC jacket.
Use bolt snaps and attach to d-rings ( if you have them)
You can use tie wraps/zip ties to attach a knife to a BC jack waiste band or harness.
You can also use a good retractor...but they can break when least expect it.
You can also put your light in a pocket when not in use. Depends on the size of course.
A compass can go on your wrist. always ready and you do not have to fumble to get it nor pull a retractor to have it.


Avoid having too many things dangling. You then become a hazard to the envirnoment. If your diving around corals and such...you may dammage the coral with your dangling gear. Octos are the worse. Ever see folks diving and there OCTO is dragging along the coral...or the sandy floor...what happens if it is needed the end user get a mouth full of sand or a non functioning Octo.......and there big ass light is hanging from god knows what and again dragging along the coral.

I can go on....but use your judgement and to each his/her own.
You can browse this forum to find out how the DIR crowd attaches gear in a streamline fashion. And you can adapt that style to your needs.

 

[Scubastud16]

Stainless steel bolt snaps.

 

[ghostrunner007]

Stainless steel bolt snaps, if you are going to use a retractor get a good one not a cheap one, my wife has her computer on one and never has a problem. The key is to only put on your BCD what you need. everything else goes into pockets. Less things dangling the better

 

[RoyN]

Just to make note, if using a harness BC, then there isn't much pocket.

 

[scarefaceDM]

well if your gonna go that route.

No pockets..no problem. Get X-shorts ( if they still make them) or glue some pockets onto your wetsuit.( there is a supplier on this board that has some nice pockets. Look in the gear section-I think there or manufacture special etc... )

If you are diving drysuit..then make sure to have pockets on them. Pockets are for your loose gear. Slates, spare mask, lights, spools, SMB, a cutting tool or what ever you need for a particular dive.

Rule of thumb. Take only what you need for the type of dive you will be doing.

Just to make note, if using a harness BC, then there isn't much pocket.

 

[ghostrunner007]

I put pockets on my drysuit and for when I am diving in a wet suit (not very often ) I use a halycon pocket on the harness

 

[Nemrod]

Leave all the stuff in the dive store, carry your camera in your hands if you value it, if not, adios little digi snap. N

 

[Gilldiver]

First, I use a harness, but most jacket BCs have places that this can work with.

Anything that I need and don't want to loose is put on a leash that has a bolt snap at one end and is either run through the build in loop on the object or has a shackle on it. I also never use a knot on the leash, I learned a long time ago how to do an eye splice with nylon rope.

Not for a camera, the leash is long enough for me to hold the camera in front of me and have it cliped into my upper left harness D-ring. I have the camera in my left hand most of the time when I am not shooting. But if I have to have both hands free, I do a little toss out and towards the back with the camera and it will stay out of the way next to my tanks. If I am running a stage tank, I may have to guide it back but it is easy to do once you get the hang of it.

When entering the water I will either have the camera handed to me, or I will clip the leash off to a line from the boat, drop it over the side, and get it after I roll in. Getting out is the same way, clip it off or hand it up.