Setting up harnesses

[Owenter]

I read on here a little while ago a suggested method for setting up a harness and backplate to an individual diver, anyone remember this as I've spent a while trolling - oops poor choice of word - browsing the old threads for it.

I have a student that despite all efforts he is still unable to hold a good position in the water, done the weighting thing and that seems almost perfect, also played with the position of the twinset so he can do the shutdowns. He is one of the - no clips - types and I suspect that the harness is incorrectly adjusted, he can get in and out ok but the whole rig does seems to move aroun a little too much for my liking.

All suggestions, contributions and help will be gratefully recieved.

[tom]

DIR-diver.com - Adjust the backplate

this?

[GLOC]

Try this link from Peter Steinhoff

DIR-diver.com - Adjust the backplate

B*gger!

[Owenter]

That's all well and good, makes perfect sense too. But still not sure how tight/long the shoulder straps should be. It appears that for this guy to have them long enough to get the gear on, they are too lose and allow the rig to move around.

Got me stumped, out to play again tomorrow, so will sheck the harness is set up correctly. But I assume it is as he just bought it from the GUE store just opened in OSLO.

[Mal Bridgeman]

Obviously the adjustment should be done whilst wearing the suit you are going to dive in...not some fancy T-shirt!!

The webbing should sit against the suit whilst allowing the wearer sufficient freedom to touch the top of the plate.

To get into and out of it....they have to stop thinking of it as a BC. You don't put a harness on like a jacket. You have to lower yourself so that your arms go through the arm loops at their widest...ie half way down. Then when you are in the loops raise your body up till the loops sit on the shoulders..... make sense?


Mal

[Owenter]

Mal,

Keep it coming!

He props the rig up and sits down in front of it, straight arms reaching back to find the straps, after much tugging and pulling he's in. Buckles up and then staggers to his feet.

I can't quite picture the procedure you mention.

You have to lower yourself so that your arms go through the arm loops at their widest...ie half way down. Then when you are in the loops raise your body up till the loops sit on the shoulders..... make sense?

So, err No not quite making sense yet.

[Mal Bridgeman]

Originally Posted by Owenter

Mal,

Keep it coming!

He props the rig up and sits down in front of it, straight arms reaching back to find the straps, after much tugging and pulling he's in. Buckles up and then staggers to his feet.

I can't quite picture the procedure you mention.



So, err No not quite making sense yet.

Okay to get the right height, sit down in front of rig as though wearing it but without the straps on....then slide down till his shoulders are about level with half way down the tanks.....he is at the right height then.

When I put my kit on, I connect the suit inflation hose, lower myself to the height described above, then slip the left arm in, with my torso rotated to the left, I then feel for the right hand loop, put my right arm through then "wiggle" to get the loop over the right shoulder....then rise up so that the straps now sit on the shoulders.

better? If not then pics are going to be needed!!

Mal

[Owenter]

Ok that's better, but have got some strange looks from my wife as I site here trying to don an imaginary twinset.

I've so far left him to it as folk take a little time to get used to new kit, but after 4 dives now I feel I need to intervene.

Thanks for the help, I'll let you know how it goes.

Personally, I use the clip conveniently placed on the left side by those nice people at OMS, getting in and out of the gear is no problem and no twisting of the torso is necessary, it objected to being twisted a few years ago and now flatly refuses to do so.

[ardhill]

Originally Posted by Owenter

Personally, I use the clip conveniently placed on the left side by those nice people at OMS, getting in and out of the gear is no problem and no twisting of the torso is necessary, it objected to being twisted a few years ago and now flatly refuses to do so.

I have a clip on the left of my harness too, but I still don it with the clip done up in the same way as Mal describes. I use the clip for getting out of it on the surface and into a RIB.

One thing though, I also put my left arm in first as it has the most stuff on my forearm and the dump on my upper arm. I want to get those in without catching them on the harness and making life difficult or damaging them. The second arm in is the one that might need to wriggle a bit if you can't get your body turned correctly. I usually can't turn properly either, but that is because I am usually sitting on the side of a RIB at the time with all of about 1 square foot of space to work in.

[mythic]

if you still having troubles then mabe you fancy a trip to bergen and i will take him on one of my now famous twinset setup dives. would be good excuse to hook up and go diving also