Twin sets and stuff like that

[Sparky750]

Cheers guys once i've got myself sorted i'll be sticking my name down with heavy breather on single 15 in big letters next to it. I know that twins are mainly for the deeper stuff etc but they obviously give you more bottom time so if i was doing a 20m dive my dive time would be around 25-30mins on an average day i obviously haven't done deco yet but there is lots of deeper stuff i'd like to do reading some trip reports on here just makes me more determined to learn and like i said my club doesn't seem to do anything more technical to what i've been learning. Thanks again for the offers and advice digger i've seen you eat i'd have to remortgage the house

Edit Sorry Sean i believe the term is festively plump :-)

[divingniknaks]

Sparky,

Mark Powell is running some Twinset Fundamentals type days, one this month in Wraysbury (too far) and one next month in Stoney.

The idea is to allow people to try different wings etc and is aimed at those who are new to twins.

Might be worth a chat with him ?

Dive-Tech: TDI, PSAI and ITDA Nitrox, trimix and advanced technical diver training courses

HTH

PS You also have BSAC 5 (I think it is) on your doorstep, quite a number of whom dive twinsets regularly and are atuned to that way of diving, not sure who's who on the committee but maybe the BSAC website might help ?

[DIVE BUDDHA]

i think that twin set diving is the best way, i found to go forward and not only could u do a few bits urself like i did !!
and theres plenty of people on y-d who would help ya out with a few dives to orientate urself !
good luck with learning the twin set ropes mate !!! and hope all goes well

[Janos]

Originally Posted by chrisch

Twins are for deep diving not for poor SAC. Please get the hang of single tank diving first. To dive twins properly you need several more skills like valve shutdowns. Its much better to be comfortable in the water first.

Anyone that moans about a new diver cuting short a dive due to high breathing rates is a muppet, not the new diver. The biggest muppets of all are the twinset divers doing 15m dives in Stoney..

Chill out and relax. The SAC will come - not if you worry about it though. Just dive and have fun.

Chris

What he said.

The secret is to just go diving more often. Don't worry about it, but the more diving you do, the better your consumption. And if you're buddy is pissed off because you're cutting their dive short then you're better off getting a different buddy.

Janos

[wannadivenotwork]

Been there, done this.

I actually moved to twinset as I wanted longer dives (not deeper, I don't plan anything deeper than 35M), a better balanced setup than 15L plus pony, better redundancy, and after trying some bussies kit, I much prefered it. I found I relaxed a lot more knowing that my redundancy gas wasn't just 3L.....

I have now dived with about 5 experienced/knowledgable twinset divers (and Tom) and am getting there. Its amazing how much you need to take into account, and how many changes you will make to your kit choice and config.

Cost is the biggy. Obviously it will cost you at least £500 to change from 15L + pont to twin 12/s, backplate, wing an probably extra 1st stage, but its the "hidden expense". I nearly fell for it and many have: If you rush out and buy something before trying all the options and speaking to experience twinset divers (or trainers) you may end up spending hard earnt wonga on the wrong gear and have to buy the same stuff agina and lose money on the first purchase.

I found there to be plenty of YD'ers happy help and spend a day at Wraysbury, Stoney etc to help out. And all it will cost you is some bacn sarnies and a gallon of tea!

[Mark Davies]

Steve,

I'll agree with you - YD is twinset obsessed beyond reason!

But don't let that influence you unduly. It's no surprise that nobody in your club is interested in twins because for the vast majority of diving they just aren't needed. Truth be told, for the vast majority of diving done on YD trips they are not needed either, but people still bring them!

If you are woried about your air consumption you will be far better placed with two single 15s than a set of twin 12s in any case. Stick with what you have and save money - far too often you see people on YD rushing into buying a twinset probably simply to 'fit in' only to see them selling them again 6 months later when they realise it's not suited to their diving (having lost a fair bit of cash in the process).

Unless you are regularly diving deeper than 30m you've no need for twins - and you may never do that. Progress your diving and see what grabs you - it might be to go deeper, but it might be taking pictures and the last thing you'll want is a heavy pair of tanks.

Take your time.

[chrisch]

Originally Posted by Mark Davies

...Unless you are regularly diving deeper than 30m you've no need for twins ...

Totally.

Spot on Mark.

Chris

[Woz]

Just to crap in everyone's handbag/p!ss in their window twin 7's are a thing of beauty and my set of choice for everything I can get away with.

Twin 12's are good at what they do but otherwise a complete and utter PITA. I'm using twin 12's this weekend begrudgingly as I'm off to 50m in Swithland. Otherwise it would be the 7's.

When I'm teaching OD I use a single 10 and stab jacket. For pootling it's still a great setup although I have a new Froggy single tank Wingy which might change my mind. Will see what happens.

[MATTBIN]

A small set of twins (7/10) is nice in the 25/30 range IF your SAC is high and despite regular diving etc you still cant get it down. However you only need them when YOUR diving is being restricted by lack of gas. I personalyy bought twin 10's only because I needed more than a single 12 and didnt fancy a 15/pony setup and I just cannot get my SAC below 22/25 regardless of how much I dive. Sometimes its just not possible to dive as much as is required to get the breathing down, so rather than run out of gas during a dive I take a twinset, it also provides for masses of gas redundancy for my buddy of course. I still have my 10's but I also use 12's for those longer deeper dives.

As Mark says take your time, see how your diving develops, then decide based on what YOU want to do.

Oh and dont worry about dragging your buddy up because you are getting low on gas, we've all done it and truth be told this time of year you'll both be frozen anyway.


Matt

[chrisch]

Originally Posted by MATTBIN

... I personalyy bought twin 10's only because I needed more than a single 12 and didnt fancy a 15/pony setup ..

Twin tens make more sense than a 15 plus a bailout any day, but for a new diver all the extra faff will surely increase their SAC.

Chris