this is not aimed as a dig at DIR

[weazelz]

For those with EO cords - the Halogen 50w slug for £60 is an absolute must tho' IMO - what a great idea

what is a 'slug'? sounds like a bad thing to take near salt

[Janos]

Ah cobblers. Just caught this thread but it's gone silly.

Some very interesting points on all sides but it's a very interesting point about the lack of raison d'etre for primary donation. I would have thought donating from a stage (which is what I do, on a 2m hose) would make more sense?

Janos

PS - Howard - I dispute that most RB divers run hyperoxic bailout. I would say most don't.

[RichW]

Ah cobblers. Just caught this thread but it's gone silly.

Some very interesting points on all sides but it's a very interesting point about the lack of raison d'etre for primary donation. I would have thought donating from a stage (which is what I do, on a 2m hose) would make more sense?

Janos

PS - Howard - I dispute that most RB divers run hyperoxic bailout. I would say most don't.

So you're going to have a 2m hose on every stage/deco cylinder? If you're using multiple stages then this is the logical conclusion of the argument.

How do you ID the correct stage cylinder when a diver comes to you for gas? Consider the presence of a bottom stage and a deco cylinder - it suddenly gets pretty ugly.

Rich

[Janos]

So you're going to have a 2m hose on every stage/deco cylinder? If you're using multiple stages then this is the logical conclusion of the argument.

How do you ID the correct stage cylinder when a diver comes to you for gas? Consider the presence of a bottom stage and a deco cylinder - it suddenly gets pretty ugly.

It's a good question.

I always donate the same stage (my deepest one) irrespective of depth. It doesn't matter if I donate the 10/70 even if we're at 6m.

My bailout stage is the only one with a 2m hose on, it's the only one where the 2nd stage is yellow. Any other stages are hard clipped (ie 2nd stage clipped to a steel ring round the neck of the tank) so can't be easily unclipped, but the boltsnap can be cut in an emergency.

It's a good system that works irrespective of how many stages you carry.

However if you've any suggestions for improvement I'm open to them. As I say: It's a good question.

Janos

[JasonP]

How do you ID the correct stage cylinder when a diver comes to you for gas?

Put it on the right

Jason

[Janos]

Put it on the right

FFS. Must you be so dogmatic about your kit configuration?

Janos

[RichW]

It's a good question.

I always donate the same stage (my deepest one) irrespective of depth. It doesn't matter if I donate the 10/70 even if we're at 6m.

My bailout stage is the only one with a 2m hose on, it's the only one where the 2nd stage is yellow. Any other stages are hard clipped (ie 2nd stage clipped to a steel ring round the neck of the tank) so can't be easily unclipped, but the boltsnap can be cut in an emergency.

It's a good system that works irrespective of how many stages you carry.

However if you've any suggestions for improvement I'm open to them. As I say: It's a good question.

Janos

Colour coded regulators? Lets not even go there.

In this case, the bail-out stage is not usable on the dive, and must takes up a place on the top left d-ring. This means for a 2 stage dive, I have to take 3 stages, and have one back on the leash. All this in addition to my lovely backgas.

Really, donating off the backgas is really seeming quite appealing now. And I don't even dive an RB80.

Rich

[Janos]

Colour coded regulators? Lets not even go there.

In this case, the bail-out stage is not usable on the dive, and must takes up a place on the top left d-ring. This means for a 2 stage dive, I have to take 3 stages, and have one back on the leash. All this in addition to my lovely backgas.

Really, donating off the backgas is really seeming quite appealing now. And I don't even dive an RB80.

I don't rely on colour coded regulators. I just think of it as a bonus. But I'm happy to leave that to another thread if you want.

Sorry. I wasn't clear on my configuration. I dive:
0m to 35m(ish) [1] - 1 bailout stage of air
35m(ish) to 60m - 1 x 18/50; 1 x 50%
Deeper than 60m - 1 x 10/70; 1 x 50% (and team bailout on the longer dives).

My bailout stage is always rigged the same way whichever way I'm diving. It's the contents that vary on the dive.

Janos

[1] - the ish arises because it's dependent on deco commitment. 60mins at 35m = 2 stages, 10mins at 40m in good clear conditions = 1 stage.

[Janos]

PS - I'm now thinking about bailout stage on one of the left chest d-rings, but worry about clutter.

Janos

[David Pye]

In this case, the bail-out stage is not usable on the dive, and must takes up a place on the top left d-ring. This means for a 2 stage dive, I have to take 3 stages, and have one back on the leash. All this in addition to my lovely backgas.
Rich

How so? I don't plan on an RB failure *and* a buddy needing to rob my lovely supply of OC bailout gas.

My OC bailout gas is for me if my RB fails. If my RB does not fail, it's available to a buddy who might need it *as a courtesy*, as the diving I do means I can manage to be self-sufficient.

In addition, my stage can be plugged into my RB manifold, so I can breathe off it via the OC regulator integrated into my BOV. Therefore, I can also donate the 2nd stage regulator on it to someone and we can both share the stage, if it were necessary.

David