Shut down drills...

[Justin Owen]

Tried manifolded twin 7's in SDS yesterday, oh what fun! They were mounted on a BCD style wing using the cam-bands as they didn't have one set up on a backplate for me to try...

Anyway, isolating the manifold was relatively easy by hitching the unit up on my back and reaching over.

But, try as I might, there was no way I could reach the cylinder isolators!! I actually thought they'd be the easiest to reach...

It may have had something/alot to do with the daft BCD/Wing which seemed to push the cyliders away from me when i hitched it up - but anyway, does anyone have any specific techniques/advice on reaching the cylinder valves...?

Thanks,

[Mark Chase]

Fitting a cage can help as you can grab the gage and pullthe rig tawards you. But obviously this cost money

Alternativly, place your oposing hand on the bottom of the oposing tank and lift and twist the twin set in the direction of the valve your trying to reach. Use the other hand to reach the valve. This is what I do.

Main new to twin set error is trying to reach out and around your own sholder. Its better to put your arm straight back beside your ear. I watched Bob Cooper yesterday and he streached his arm straight out in front of him then lifted back from the sholder before bending at the elbow to finish the job. It looked a very efficient way of prepairing the arm for the job.

Note that it is much easier to do shut downs horizontal than it is to do them in the near vertical position.

Get some help and if all else fails you can always invert.  

ATB

Mark Chase

[kinetic]

Mark...can you please not do that...I just did the extended arm and over the shoulder exercise that Bob did, as you described and i've knacked myself in....all without leaving the comfort of my chair.

I need to exercise more.

Graham

[Tibbs]

Justin,

Don't apply surface logic to an underwater situation - you don't need to be able to reach the isolator in the shop, you need to be able to reach it underwater.

Try it on in the pool and see how you get on then. I can't get near my valves standing up, but can reach them easily when in the water.

Chris

[Mark Powell]

Justin,

try reaching your valves while horizontal in the water, not while vertical on dry land. It's a lot easier when you don't have gravity working against you.

In addition doing it in the water will also show you if your dry suit or undersuit is going to restrict your movement.

I would also look at the positioning of the cylinders on your back. Moving them up or down a couple of inches can make a big difference in how easy they are to reach.

Moving them up and down will also help you adjust your trim in the water.

There is no substitute for getting in the water and practice, practice, practice.

Good Luck

Mark Powell
Dive-Tech: Technical Diver Training

[kramynot2000]

Justin,

I have a hard time reaching my valves as well.  I've found that if I don't have enough air in my drysuit to take out the squeeze, I can't reach them at all.

Like many people, my main problem is with my left valve.  So I've been doing some stretching.  Also, if I'm doing a left valve shutdown, I grab the right valve with my right hand and try to pull the tanks up a little so my left hand can reach the left valve and turn it easier.  When doing an isolator or right valve shutdown I do the opposite.

Hope that helps,
Sacramento Tony

[Mark Chase]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (kinetic @ Dec. 07 2003,19:18)]

Mark...can you please not do that...I just did the extended arm and over the shoulder exercise that Bob did, as you described and i've knacked myself in....all without leaving the comfort of my chair.

I need to exercise more.

Graham

Sorry about that M8

I tell you what, my back is killing me today. I am not sure if it was the carrying the twinset, nearley cripling my self on the shutdown drills, or doing the whole dive head up hands locked and buttocks clenched to try and impress Bob

ATB

Mark Chase

[Davey Willo]

All of the above....

[Justin Owen]

Cheers guys, I was doing what Mark was saying and trying to twist my arm away from my shoulder.

Chris - I know the shop isn't the best place to try but it was that or simply spend the money blind on twinset/wing etc and find it in the pool! Didn't want to make an expensive mistake!!

Anyway - think i'm gonna be ok and will be ordering my wing once the combro arrives...!

[budgy]

I've seen people doing stretching exercises[URL http://www.divefitness.com URL] Some buy a slob knob. Others go out and get made to measure dry suits with extra large shoulders to give them the freedom of movement.  I couldn't do a shut down drill without a great deal of difficulty and after playing with position of the cylinders and trying both neoprene and tri-laminate dry suit options the only practical working solution I could find was to invert the cylinders and have the valve knobs right by my hands.  I can now run open or shut down drills standing up on surface or in the water.