Helmets

[Ben Harris]

<font color='#8D38C9'>wasnt starting this as a dir / cdg OR anything argument.

I use a helmet with hid light mounted plus backups. Its new. have found no problems in blinding, communication, mask clearing, hose deployment, etc.

Only so far had bonus of having two hands free, great for sea diving with wrecks and shots / reels, etc.

have seen millions of pics with cave divers using them,

just wondered if anybody else did or had personally experienced problems with them to pre warm me as to what to expect. Just finished my tri mix quals but so far have never seen any written word in a training manual about them, are they in a cave diving manual in regards to setup, etc.

ben

[Bob Cooper]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]I use a helmet with hid light mounted plus backups. Its new. have found no problems in blinding, communication, mask clearing, hose deployment, etc.

Have you asked your buddy what he/she thinks about it?

How do you give light signals?

How do you monitor your buddy (how does he/she monitor you?)

We really shouldn't be having these discussios on a DIR forum!

[Ben Harris]

<font color='#8D38C9'>Its kinda cave related, basis for DIR

Dont any WKKP divers wear helmets?

No problems blinding in v dark clyde dives, have asked buddy, wouldnt keep wearing it if did. They light is slightly sngled so eye to eye is away from beam

in close prox I cover the beam out of care.

Light signbals more of an effort for me than buddy, I have to move head, etc. Admit complicated light signals a problem but if viz that bad that only lights work then arent we really solo diving?

havent had any problems yet monitering buddys leading or following in dives.

Im very open for critisism on this and i am looking for the downside so it does not surprise me in an accident. So far though there seems to not be one. The advantage of having both hands free over whelms the effort of helmet.

[malcolm smith]

Hi Ben, have you tried a goodman handle for your light? If this solves your hands free problem, you may find your helmet is redundent if it is no longer essential as a platform for your light.
I suspect it's function as a head protector is not relevant in your diving.
Regarding discussing this in this forum, I think it's good to have a bit of cave diving related talk in a dir based forum for a change  
Cheers, Malcolm.

[Mark Chase]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Bob Cooper @ Oct. 07 2003,20:15)]Our choice, our &quot;standards&quot;, our procedures!

So there..........!

Bob

Top reply Bob

The best DIR responce I have read to this date. Honist and to the point.

ATB

Mark Chase

[Finless]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Bob Cooper @ Oct. 07 2003,20:15)]Advantages

I can't think of any......!

Having both hands free to cope with lines - tying off, reeling in etc ?

[Davey Willo]

Ben

Your signature, your avatar, and your obvious trolling make me think you should get a life....

Jay, 2tanx sort this tosser out please.

[Bob Cooper]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Finless @ Oct. 08 2003,15:50)]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]Having both hands free to cope with lines - tying off, reeling in etc ?

A properly designed reel, used properly and in conjunction with a properly designed primary light/goodman handle makes all this easy, without all the problems associated with helmet mounted lights (see my earlier post).

[Ben Harris]

<font color='#8D38C9'>Cheers for all the informed feedback lads, I do appreciate it all.

Glad to see we can all get along and have a good debate without losing our sense of humour.

Always look on the bright side of life.

Ben

[Tibbs]

What happens when the viz is crap, of there are loads of floating particulates in the water? With a handheld light you can move you hand right out and use it at an angle to cut the scatter right down, whereas with helmet light you can't.

Noticed this on a dive this year out of Brighton, where we were at the end of the plankton bloom and all the dead organisms were clumping together and falling to the bottom. The guys with the handheld lamps could use them, whilst those with helmet mounted ones were swimming around in the dark.

Chris