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Quote:
| Originally Posted by [b Quote[/b] (Dominic @ Nov. 21 2003,16:04)]Makes it easier to corner when scootering.
Obviously, only caves with left-hand turns are DIR 
Long hose deployment & cannister light are the main ones. I seem to recall somebody saying it was only really a relevant rule for scootering.. |
Hi
This is for up to two tanks at a time and the reasons for them being on the left hand side are, in no particular order;
1. Long Hose deployment, whilst not using the bottles but just carrying them, is totally free of obstruction.
2. Regulator Hose routing is the same for each stage/deco bottle and the same as for the long hose, round the neck and in the mouth from the right, so an OOG incident is dealt with in exactly the same way. This has an added benefit as all the regs, hoses etc. are interchangeable. No need for left hand regs or different hose lengths. If your shallow deco gas reg fails, you can swop them around.
3. More streamlined, as the tanks, when correctly rigged will tuck in and prevent the 'gorilla' effect.
4. Canister light routing, as the light head is in the left hand, the cord runs from right to left out of the way of the stages and the light head can be clipped off to the right DRing which is uncluttered. The position of the canister light is instrumental as it balances the rig when wearing stages, more relevant before NIMH batteries as the old canisters where massive!
5. Scooter driving, as you drive a scooter with your right hand the right hand side of you body is streamlined to minimise turbulence caused by the propwash. It does not influence cornering per se.
The person who says that it was only relevant for scooter driving hasn't understood properly and probably does the 'lean left, rich right' thing and they are of course entitled to their opinion.
Sometimes DIR divers, particularly cave, will carry more than two bottles in which case they are noseclipped to the left hip DRing.
Hope that helps. I may have missed something but I am sure some helpful person will come along soon and point out any omission
Andy