What is required for a doubles setup?

[Walter]

Phil,

Some manifolds are isolation, others are not. With either manifold, shutting down the valve merely turns off the air to the regulator attached to that valve. The other regulator still draws air from both tanks, it is one system. With an isolator manifold, there is an additional option of also shutting down the "3rd valve" or isolator which separates the tanks. This is extremely handy when a burst disk or neck o-ring blows. Of course, I've never heard of either of those happening underwater, but if it ever does, you'd want an isolator manifold instead of a non isolator manifold.

Rachel,

Diving doubles is actually easier than diving a single tank. The only learning I experienced was that I didn't have to compensate fot the pull of a single heavy tank when I leaned to one side.

 

[DutchDown]

Walter,

Thanks for a very good answer. I suspected that was the case, but wanted to know for sure.

Phil

 

[wreckchick]

Walter,

I wish I was so lucky. I strapped on a set the other day and just felt terrible in the water. It was the same feeling as when I switched to dry, like I had no idea what I was doing underwater. I'm sure I'll be fine after a couple dives, but they weren't the best dives of my life. They do act differently underwater, the reaction time is slower. If you are trying to slow your descent (for example) you have to add air then wait for the reaction, if you continue adding air until you slow down or stop, you'll start to go back up. At least that's what happened to me.

R

 

[scubasean]

Walter,

I wish I was so lucky. I strapped on a set the other day and just felt terrible in the water. It was the same feeling as when I switched to dry, like I had no idea what I was doing underwater. I'm sure I'll be fine after a couple dives, but they weren't the best dives of my life. They do act differently underwater, the reaction time is slower. If you are trying to slow your descent (for example) you have to add air then wait for the reaction, if you continue adding air until you slow down or stop, you'll start to go back up. At least that's what happened to me.

R

As I read this, I think I need chat with Rachel sometime soon...I haven't dived my doubles yet and would be interested in getting a few details about her first experiences.

:banana:

 

[wreckchick]

Have you ever seen an OW student come flailing down the line and pancake into the sand? That was me minus the pancaking although it was close, I did a serious MI manuver at the bottom. My trim is all bad, I feel like I'm wearing one of those sumo-suits, can't do anything gracefully or quickly and the whole rig wants to tip me on my head.

There's a thread somewhere on here about people's first experiences in doubles. "Not pretty" seems to be the consensus. You might want to look it up.

R

 

[Walter]

"If you are trying to slow your descent (for example) you have to add air then wait for the reaction, if you continue adding air until you slow down or stop, you'll start to go back up."

True, but that's the same with a single.

 

[diverbrian]

"If you are trying to slow your descent (for example) you have to add air then wait for the reaction, if you continue adding air until you slow down or stop, you'll start to go back up."

True, but that's the same with a single.

The problem is with my rig (and I very comfortable in doubles now) is that going from singles to doubles is like going from my Ford Mustang to an old truck. They both do the same things on the road, but one is definately more responsive!

They handle differently. You are correct, but the AMOUNT of time that you have to wait for a reaction is a noticeably different. I still dive my doubles when I may not need them just to stay used to the different "handling" characteristics.

My first dive in a BP/Wings and Dual 100's was, to be kind, less than fun. To be honest it was .

As Rachel and a couple of other board members will tell you, that went away, but it takes time. A pool session or dive in shallow water would certainly be in order for most people trying to dive doubles for the first time.

 

[Walter]

Maybe I'm the exception, after all I did dive triples before I dived doubles. I notice no real difference switching from one to the other.

 

[OneBrightGator]

I did dive triples before I dived doubles.

Dude, that's like (six letter word, starts with S, ends in TROKE)^2

Ben

 

[MgicTwnger]

Dude, that's like (six letter word, starts with S, ends in TROKE)^2

Ben

Dude, you should like check out Walter's profile. He's forgotten more about diving than most of us will ever know.