Setting up harnesses

[Owenter]

Thanks for the offer Mystic, will take you up on that some time when I have the time that is, gonna be busy as we have take some new premises and will be expanding the shop.

That and Bergen is an 8 hour drive for me and I don't own an umbrella.

Dived with this guy again yesterday and it was much better, spent some time setting up the harness as per the info given here and sorted out some minor trim details and it is now as good as I can make it, he will have to dive with it and work the rest out.

I try my best to avoid the whole DIR debate but the idea that having clip or clips in shoulder straps is somehow bad, wrong, dangerous etc... is just UTTER, UTTER, UTTER BOLLOX. Why develop a system that makes things more difficult?

Go one someone try and convince me that it is easier to don a harness without a clip than one with, but you'll have to go some!! During a recent rescue scenario we had to de-kit someone with one of these one piece harnesses, very difficult. In the end dumped all the air out and let the whole rig sink, I wanted to cut the straps but the supposedly unconscious diver refused to let us.

[neilh]

Originally Posted by Owenter

Why develop a system that makes things more difficult?

The point is not to make things difficult, but not to include unnecessary failure points like clips (cue discussion about whether clips every actually fail ). It takes a little time to set up and get used to, but many people find they can get in and out of a one-piece harness ok.

Originally Posted by Owenter

Go one someone try and convince me that it is easier to don a harness without a clip than one with, but you'll have to go some!!

It would definitely be easier to get into a harness with a clip - but that's not the point It's about whether you can get into and out of it comfortably. If you can get in and out without a clip, then why have one? If you just can't do it then you need to do what you need to do.

Originally Posted by Owenter

During a recent rescue scenario we had to de-kit someone with one of these one piece harnesses, very difficult. In the end dumped all the air out and let the whole rig sink, I wanted to cut the straps but the supposedly unconscious diver refused to let us.

In a rescue situation I'd probably cut the harness. I have trauma sheers in my pocket and if it's an emergency then sorry, but you can buy yourself some new webbing if cutting you out helps save your butt! (It's not exactly expensive )

For a rescue course I'd be more inclined to announce that is what you would do, then get the "victim" out of the harness and then carry on as though you had cut it.

[Mal Bridgeman]

Originally Posted by Owenter

Why develop a system that makes things more difficult?

Hi ... Glad it went better.

As to making things more difficult....some advice I was given is that it's not the "system" itself but the change from your current way of doing things that makes it seem difficult. Dive the new way for 20 dives and you will have forgotten about the "old" way.

I went through a migration from regular BC, to soft harness and soft backpack / wing, to soft harness SS backplate / wing then one piece harness / BP / wing. Each stage of the change felt odd and took a little getting used to. I've now done about 150 dives in the one piece harness and would not go back to the other configs

HTH
Mal

[tootricky]

Originally Posted by Mal Bridgeman

Hi ... Glad it went better.

As to making things more difficult....some advice I was given is that it's not the "system" itself but the change from your current way of doing things that makes it seem difficult. Dive the new way for 20 dives and you will have forgotten about the "old" way.

I went through a migration from regular BC, to soft harness and soft backpack / wing, to soft harness SS backplate / wing then one piece harness / BP / wing. Each stage of the change felt odd and took a little getting used to. I've now done about 150 dives in the one piece harness and would not go back to the other configs

HTH
Mal

I have to agree here. When I first switched to a one piece harness I found it a real PITA. Less that a season later I can get in and out of it without issue. The only problem I seem to have is not disconnecting the drysuit feed

Cheers/Nic

[Dovershark]

Hi guys,

great advice, was just wondering about these OMS clips, Where can i buy them from? Cant seem to find any on the net.

Thanks in advance for replies.

Adie

[ardhill]

Originally Posted by Dovershark

great advice, was just wondering about these OMS clips, Where can i buy them from? Cant seem to find any on the net.

I don't know about OMS clips in particular, but I use an AP valves one. They are similar to, but not quite a 'pinch clip'. Apparently they are stronger than the normal pinch clips. I do know that if you grab it by accident when lifting up your kit, it won't open up like a standard pinch clip dropping your wing and tank(s) on your toes or the ground.

Oh yes, I bought mine from my LDS, you can probably get them on the net somewhere.

[Woz]

Originally Posted by ardhill

Oh yes, I bought mine from my LDS, you can probably get them on the net somewhere.

Call AP Valves, tell them you have a Commando with a broken PRESS clip and they'll pop one in the post for nothing.

[Dovershark]

Can i simply thread it onto my harness without any cuts? Then the webbing can be doubled back on its self and allow about half a foot of slack for when i unclip. Hope this makes sense?

[EdHornby]

this would work perfectly fine - as would using two D rings and a mini boltsnap - this is the method that Woz uses IIRC

[Woz]

Originally Posted by Dovershark

Can i simply thread it onto my harness without any cuts? Then the webbing can be doubled back on its self and allow about half a foot of slack for when i unclip. Hope this makes sense?

That's called a "drop clip". I'd put a bit more slack in than in this photo and tuck the excess webbing into a small snoopy loop to keep it out of the way.