Set up of kit

[Janos]

Originally Posted by Fiona

But not very DIR

Unless you're on an RB80. Or has that changed?

Genuine question: Am I right in remembering that it's not DIR to have a clip on your deco regs? If not why not?

The reason I ask is that on our cave course our instructors (who were Hogarthian if not DIR) asked us to clip off our sideslung regs to stop the second stages from coming loose. I'm now planning on clipping off all my regs (with a breakaway connection on my deepest bailout reg) but was wondering what the cons are?

Janos

[Janos]

Originally Posted by Digger

For regulators I tend to use a different (non DIR) method, just take the second stage off the hose, and then loop an O-ring over the hose, through the boltsnap, then back over the hose. You need a fair size O-ring for this, around an inch diameter hole, to use this method. But it makes the regulator in a real real emergency available to a panicked diver. It works fine for the rest of the time anyhow.

But to be fair, the long hose is only going to be clipped off when you're breathing a deco gas, which is what the panicked diver is going to go for.

Janos

[Mal Bridgeman]

Originally Posted by Janos

But to be fair, the long hose is only going to be clipped off when you're breathing a deco gas, which is what the panicked diver is going to go for.

Janos

In a DIR team though they are going to be looking at each other so there's not a great deal of time for panic between a buddy going OOG and someone offering a reg.
Mal

[Zaf]

Originally Posted by Darren555

Another useful guide. Pics can be enlarged by clicking on them.

How to Attach a Snap

Thanks Darren , a good link and easy to understand pictures
Zaf

[Janos]

Originally Posted by Mal Bridgeman

In a DIR team though they are going to be looking at each other so there's not a great deal of time for panic between a buddy going OOG and someone offering a reg.

Sorry Mal. I confused . I meant to say that when the long hose is clipped off, it's generally no longer going to be needed, as it will be stage reg that is donated, and the donor will go to their backup (not the long hose).

Janos

[Mal Bridgeman]

Originally Posted by Janos

Sorry Mal. I confused . I meant to say that when the long hose is clipped off, it's generally no longer going to be needed, as it will be stage reg that is donated, and the donor will go to their backup (not the long hose).

Janos

Indeed, but the way I read Digger's post was of divers on deco panicing and grabbing a long hose .... and I was trying to paint an image of two or three divers looking at each other ready to donate gas should the need arise ..... which is a very different picture.
Mal

[Digger]

Originally Posted by Mal Bridgeman

In a DIR team though they are going to be looking at each other so there's not a great deal of time for panic between a buddy going OOG and someone offering a reg.
Mal

I think if you guys reckon you are that tight and watching each other that much that you can have a reg in someone's mouth that fast then you are probably either not seeing where you're going/diving or deluded.

Having gone from losing all gas on an exhale there's not many people can go more than 10 seconds before panic starts kicking in. Try it sometime in Stoney or similar, and exhale all the way out. Then take reg out. Then get someone to swim away from you. It's hard, and your lungs will be burning by the time they're spun around and donating gas. Then try getting the reg off them that's clipped to their chest.

Actually, a nice test might be donate your deco reg, then switch to your backup. As the backup is on the left post (prone to roll off) then you just had a reg stolen out of your mouth by a diver who needed it in a hurry. So you have just exhaled. Now get the panicking diver out of your way and stick your backup in. And nothing. Here are your choices at this point - breathe off the reg clipped to your chest, or reach back and turn on the valve. You don't know whether the reg has failed closed because the valve is off, so to make life last a bit longer you go for the primary reg you were breathing off a minute ago. But it's tied using unbreakable line to your chest.

It's not all that convoluted. It only requires one failure and one piece of gear not to work quite as expected. and you could find yourself drowned by someone else's failure. Because you're sure not getting that reg off a diver who has just lost gas for a few more seconds than you probably need it.

Digs.

[Digger]

Originally Posted by Mal Bridgeman

Indeed, but the way I read Digger's post was of divers on deco panicing and grabbing a long hose .... and I was trying to paint an image of two or three divers looking at each other ready to donate gas should the need arise ..... which is a very different picture.
Mal

What about decoing on scooters in a cave? The system has to work in all environments.

How about when diving RB80? Is the reg clipped off in the same way? How do you donate then?

Digs.

[Mal Bridgeman]

Originally Posted by Digger

I think if you guys reckon you are that tight and watching each other that much that you can have a reg in someone's mouth that fast then you are probably either not seeing where you're going/diving or deluded.

This would be the scene in an ocean deco

Having gone from losing all gas on an exhale there's not many people can go more than 10 seconds before panic starts kicking in. Try it sometime in Stoney or similar, and exhale all the way out. Then take reg out. Then get someone to swim away from you. It's hard, and your lungs will be burning by the time they're spun around and donating gas. Then try getting the reg off them that's clipped to their chest.

Funnily enough, I have done that .... lights are not great in the shallows ...but I am still here

Actually, a nice test might be donate your deco reg, then switch to your backup. As the backup is on the left post (prone to roll off) then you just had a reg stolen out of your mouth by a diver who needed it in a hurry. So you have just exhaled. Now get the panicking diver out of your way and stick your backup in. And nothing. Here are your choices at this point - breathe off the reg clipped to your chest, or reach back and turn on the valve. You don't know whether the reg has failed closed because the valve is off, so to make life last a bit longer you go for the primary reg you were breathing off a minute ago. But it's tied using unbreakable line to your chest.

There's more than one failure there though .... but even so .... since unclipping the long hose is something quite straight forward, why wouldn't I just do that? .... or ask for my reg back for a sec?

It's not all that convoluted. It only requires one failure and one piece of gear not to work quite as expected. and you could find yourself drowned by someone else's failure. Because you're sure not getting that reg off a diver who has just lost gas for a few more seconds than you probably need it.

Digs.

Mal

[Mal Bridgeman]

Originally Posted by Digger

What about decoing on scooters in a cave? The system has to work in all environments.

How about when diving RB80? Is the reg clipped off in the same way? How do you donate then?

Digs.

Both situations are above "my pay grade", but hopefully someone who knows will be able to advise.
Mal