More on Twins

[Tim Ingmire]

Ok, for those on twins (and those making the move now), a few questions:

1. When did you make the move (ie how many previous dives / years diving?)
2. Why did you make the change?
3. What are your experiences since moving (good bits / bad bits).

Reason, I can see myself moving at some point in the future but given the expense want to see:
1. If it's really worth it.  
2. If so then I can start pulling together the bits and pieces now, probably second hand stuff here and there so that I'll have a complete solution later on when I feel ready for it.

Main reason for me to do it is really to max out on time actually in the water - never mind the depth, feel that dive time!

Don't really want advice on equipment choices as that can come later.

(Edited by Timing at 2:15 pm on Dec. 3, 2002)

[Hobby]

I only got my twins relatively recently,I got them for the one reason which is primary in my selection of gear..."I got em'cheap".My Heisers I got from one of my Old Man's old diving buddies,all his gear was still in his shed,I got the homemade drysuit,twins,Cyclon reg.etc for £75,The twins still had air in and tested OK.My Sabre set I just landed lucky with,RN (so twinvert set up)surplus, used perhaps once with Sabre DIN valves and full test for £100.
Thats why I've got them.The rec.diving I do(I wish)I could easily do on a single,less weight to cart around(the Heisers are perversely heavy,(ask those who've felt em'ooer),cheaper to fill,cheaper to test etc.The twins do give me more dive time however,but if your Buddies on a single you lug it around for the fun anyway..unless you breathe like a schoolboy watching blue movies.
It used to be the case,once,when "fish prodding" that as you developed your skills you could go from twins to a single!Seems odd now does'nt it?HTH,Hobby.

[Mark]

Tim,

I'll tell my reasons etc. on Friday

You can try out my rig if you like - no problem.

Mark.

[Davey Willo]

Hey Mark, I see you linked to the GUE site, are you a like minded soul?? Are you DIR orientated if so how much? i.e. have you taken on the whole holistic concept or have you just taken so much from it, equipment config, training etc?

[Mark]

Hi Dave,

I'm not 100% DIR so can't and wouldn't claim to be. I'm pretty close though. One thing that makes it very hard is being in a BSAC club and having to dive with totally un-DIR divers. I do prefer to and try to only dive with people that are using the same gear/gas/attitude (etc.) as me and/or at least have an interest in DIS or DIR. I want to instruct so I don't have a lot of choice

I've not taken what I want from it and made up the rest because I think it's a very good way to go as it is. I think it's a very responsible way to dive and it suits me.

My nitrox/deco training was with UE in Portland (with Izzy) and I'll be going back for trimix in April. My gear is 100% (at last - just got new regs).

Did you know that GUE will start operating in the UK next year? JJ will be at LIDS in March (or so I have heard).

Hope that answers your question.

Take care,

Mark.

[Richard Greenwood]

Hi Tim,

I'm also fairly new to twin set diving. I've had my 10s for just over 2 years. I was doing more technical course, with a view to doing deeper, technical dives, possibly trimix in the future. The dives we want to do are beyond the level of what I would consider doing on a single & pony (ie deeper than 35-40m).

I am very pleased with using the twins. Having just bought a further set of twin 7s for shallower diving, I can't see me ever going back to a single & pony set-up.

I've found I'm now more balanced. The only downside I've come across on Club dives are others in the RIBs (who use singles) getiing p****d off at having to lift them back into the boat!!

Hope this helps.

Richard

[Davey Willo]

Mark

Yep I just read the report from Izzy on the DIS-UK list, very cool, it's about time.. I will definitely go to the seminars but the price of the DIR-F course is outrageous...

I intend to go the Trimix route trained by Andy Hayhurst (Dalesdiver) anyway, but would still have liked to have done the fundamentals, some of the reports I've read on the Scubaboard tech forums about the DIR-F are awesome, It's supposed to be a very humbling experience for those that think they can do it all and a great learning experience for those that want it, but for that price I'd want them to supply me with a new 55 as well as the training ;)

[Dominic]

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Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]would still have liked to have done the fundamentals, some of the reports I've read on the Scubaboard tech forums about the DIR-F are awesome, It's supposed to be a very humbling experience for those that think they can do it all and a great learning experience for those that want it

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What I always found disturbing was the praise it got on rec.scuba - &quot;What a wonderful course, I never realised that good buoyancy control was useful&quot; and &quot;From now on, I will always keep my buddy in sight on a dive&quot; were not uncommon.

If they really are so badly trained over there, it's no wonder GI recommends never diving without a fellow DIRer..

Anyway, back on topic... I switched to twin 7s last year, basically because I wanted to replaced my BSAC-standard Buddy Commando + pony with a Hog rig.. much to the bafflement of my fellow club members (Two meter hose? Why would anybody want a 2m hose??)

Now I'm just waiting for the long-promised clean air whip to be put onto the club compressor before I go over to Nitrox..

[Tim Ingmire]

Thanks guys,

At the mo its something for the future but if, like hobby, I get offered a set-up for peanuts then I'd be crazy not too - you can always sell it later right!?!

Am intrigued by the 'better feel' comments that I've heard here and elsewhere. &nbsp;Mark, thanks for the offer, I'd love to try out a set - see what you guys are really on about, esp compared to my 15+pony.

Come on you other twins afficionado's what about you?

[Sam]

I've just recently bought my twins - 7l 300bar and although I've only had 3-4 dives with them, I think that they are superb.
One of the main reasons why I changed was because of the unbalanced feeling I got from a cylinder and pony. &nbsp;I no longer get this, plus using a backplate and harness the set up is slightly higher on my back and closer in - giving a much increased feeling of security and no more of the 'wobble' factor that I got with a single and Stab jacket.

I've still got a bit to do on weight distrubtion and fine tuning the harness before attempting shut down drills etc, so although I have a manifold on the twins, I'm using them as independants for the moment.

Definately the way to go though