Why dive doubles?

[Ghostdiver]

This is a gear question disguised as a tec question so I thought I would post it here . I am deciding between a BCD and BP/Wings and it seems the primary issue is whether I want to dive doubles. I always assumed I would want to dive doubles because I am the adventurous sort, but I got to thinking--do I really want to dive doubles, what extra benefit, besides extra air, do you get? Will a steel or aluminum 120 do? I know this is a pretty basic, fundamental question, but my LDS is an hour away so I thought I would hit up the members of the board to get their input before making the long trek to chit-chat.

 

[MechDiver]

You don't dive doubles because you're an "adventurous sort". You dive them because you NEED them. If you don't know whether you need them, you don't.

A backplate/wing IS a BCD.

A bp/wing does not require the wearing of doubles.

Will a steel 120 do what?

Does anyone make an alum 120???

Diving doubles is NOT a "basic fundamental question", as you already appear to realize or you wouldn't have posted it in this forum.

Phil

 

[vlada]

within rec limits - i.e. 130 ft or whatever BSAC says in Europe, within NDLs etc., for me personally it was time to switch to doubles when i started thinking about deco dives and trimix

If you are thinking that is in your future (i.e. deco and trimix) you are probably better off with doubles

The benefits of doubels are numerous, but the skill level that is required is higher as well

NOt knowing what your experience level is or what you goals are, it is hard to make any specific recommendations

DSAO

Vlada

 

[Walter]

Doubles do not require a back plate. I've dived doubles for many years with a jacket BC.

 

[Bob3]

There are basically 2 main + 1 compelling reason for using doubles.
You guessed the obvious, having more air.
#2 is redundancy for penetration dives.
#3 is balance.
I tore my doubles (over 72 cu ft) down years ago, made them into singles. No longer doing any deco diving, I could just pop up & swap out tanks if I needed more air.
I kept the twin 40s & 50s that I had as doubles because their balance is just so sweet, a heck of a lot nicer than a bigger longer single.
Besides, they look cool. :mean:

 

[Diver0001]

Ghostdiver once bubbled...
This is a gear question disguised as a tec question so I thought I would post it here . I am deciding between a BCD and BP/Wings and it seems the primary issue is whether I want to dive doubles. I always assumed I would want to dive doubles because I am the adventurous sort, but I got to thinking--do I really want to dive doubles, what extra benefit, besides extra air, do you get? Will a steel or aluminum 120 do? I know this is a pretty basic, fundamental question, but my LDS is an hour away so I thought I would hit up the members of the board to get their input before making the long trek to chit-chat.

In addition to what the others have said, you might want to consider doubles if you dive nitrox in moderate depths (around 30m give or take). At these depths you get enough benefit from nitrox that your air supply can become the limiting factor.

R..

 

[Walter]

Bob,

Do you have a set of triple 40's? Those are cool.

 

[Northeastwrecks]

IMHO, the single biggest reason to use a BP/Wing is COMFORT, regardless of whether you use singles or doubles.

I dive singles (Pioneer 36) and doubles (Explorer 55). My tanks vary from single AL63's to dual 104's. I can change the rig over in about 30 minutes.

I've never worn a more comfortable rig.

That said, you only need to consider doubles when your diving warrants it. IMHO, you should be totally comfortable with a singles rig before going to the added complexity of doubles.

 

[Big O]

As Rorurner states, you can buy the nitrox to do whatever dive you want (with the proper training) to do a deep dive. At that depth, consumption becomes a real issue. Sure you can dive a hp100 or a lp 120 with a pony or whatever at that depth, but its justas easy to dive doubles. With much more saftey gas on your back.

Dive doubles,

Dave

 

[Walter]

I've never found a back plate and wings to be as comfortable as a jacket.