Who do you trust with your gear?

[Bob]

Well,
As a matter of fact I have seen BC's damaged by "throwing them around" Nothing broke, but the air bladder was punctured. That's not a problem though, is it? I was taught, and I teach to never bang on a second stage if it freeflows, just stick your finger in the orifice and the freeflow goes away. It's just that easy. I dove the Galapagos last year and I requested that my gear be handled properly on pick up, and guess what, it was. Dive gear is made to operate in extreme conditions, not to be handled in extreme and careless ways. By the way, I have four computers and never have had to smack or bang on any of them to get them to work. almtree: Bob

 

[Cacia]

I am curious what people think will happen if others set up their recreational gear that they cannot handle?

I agree it is good to set up your own gear, but why is it possibly catatrophic if they do it, unless you don't check your air properly? (done that, live and learn)

Then again, I don't ever see crew banging gear around and the "third worlders" are usually the best.

I, am, however, very picky about who opens and services the regs. Like to see the bench and smell his breath.

 

[MelC]

So what about those of us who are used to setting up our own gear at home when we go on vacation, why would we let someone set it up?...

Another humorous (in retrospect) situation specific example is when I kindly accepted the divemaster's offer to set up my gear on the second tank while I was preoccupied feeding the fish :bablefish . I made it over to my set up gear only to whip it all off again for another round. When asked what I wanted to do I pleaded for them to throw me overboard and they obliged (making sure to dress me in my equipment first). In my admittedly preoccupied state I felt strongly that the chances of my dying on the boat were much higher than dying from equipment set up by a reputable dive shop divemaster/proprietor.

Mel

 

[Blitz]

I guess that I just want to make sure that I check out my own life support.

 

[fire_diver]

Lots of interesting replies so far, from both sides of the fence. As for me, I am a "hands off" person. I, and I alone set up my gear.

Am I worried about a strap being wrong, or the reg being upside down? Of course not. Those things are immediately noticed and fixed. What I AM worried about is my second stage getting stepped on, or dropped on the deck, or a tank falling on it. I also worry about the tank monkey tossing my open first stage into a puddle of salt water, or putting it where saltwater drips onto and into it. I worry that they won't inspect the tank O-ring. 2 seconds by me helps make sure I don't have a blow-out at depth.

This gear aint cheap! If I find it's ruined, it will probably mean a year without diving so I can save up and buy again. If that ruined gear was my fault, then it's an expensive lesson learned. If I let the dive op handle my stuff and it breaks, then I'm SOL for diving AND irate at the shop monkey for ruining it.

As for "trusting" everyone as stated earlier, I trust no-one. I don't trust the other drivers on the road. I constantly watch and expect them to try to kill me. I'm not entirely trusting of the airline industry, so I fly as little as possible. I trust the boat capt to have a clue what he's doing, but the deck monkeys aren't the capt. If a boat breaks down, another can pick you up. If the boat sinks, at least I have my thermal protection and my BC to keep me from drowning until rescue arrives.

Comrade Stroke

 

[Cacia]

Another humorous (in retrospect) situation specific example is when I kindly accepted the divemaster's offer to set up my gear on the second tank while I was preoccupied feeding the fish :bablefish . I made it over to my set up gear only to whip it all off again for another round. When asked what I wanted to do I pleaded for them to throw me overboard and they obliged (making sure to dress me in my equipment first). In my admittedly preoccupied state I felt strongly that the chances of my dying on the boat were much higher than dying from equipment set up by a reputable dive shop divemaster/proprietor.

Mel

lol, always one on every boat....:11doh:

 

[captain]

Everybody has their own method to the madness. I may have a preferred hose routing or something I want a certain way. Just like it is easier to build a new house than remodel an old one it is easier to do it my way from the beginning than having to undo/ untangle someone else's work. If I need help I ask, simple. Maybe it's part of the solo divers mentality, self sufficiency.

 

[Blitz]

Everybody has their own method to the madness. I may have a preferred hose routing or something I want a certain way. Just like it is easier to build a new house than remodel an old one it is easier to do it my way from the beginning than having to undo/ untangle someone else's work. If I need help I ask, simple. Maybe it's part of the solo divers mentality, self sufficiency.

Didn't even think about that being part of my thought process, good point.

 

[Mossman]

I guess that I just want to make sure that I check out my own life support.

Most people truly on "life support" probably can't. Personally I can't even watch when they stick an IV in my arm.

But scuba gear ain't life support unless it's tech diving (i.e. an overhead, real or imaginary). Until then, there's always the surface.

 

[Mossman]

Everybody has their own method to the madness. I may have a preferred hose routing or something I want a certain way. Just like it is easier to build a new house than remodel an old one it is easier to do it my way from the beginning than having to undo/ untangle someone else's work. If I need help I ask, simple. Maybe it's part of the solo divers mentality, self sufficiency.

If you're comparing assembling your gear to building a house, obviously your rig is way too complicated.