Why the LHS for stages?

[Mark Chase]

Originally Posted by Andy Kerslake

Mark

Why are your stages in a fishpond?, must have been pretty deep

I was weighing them



ali 80 with 190bar 50% weighed 3lbs neg and sat on the bottom. Steel 10 with 230 bar of 18/45 weighed 1lb neg and flaoted arse up.

No regs.

ATB

Mark Chase

[Mark Chase]

Originally Posted by neilh

It's a little known entrance to a large cave system he's trying to keep quiet

You promised not to tell

ATB

Mark Chase

[Dangerous Dan]

Have you had an Ali 40 in the pond Mark?

Cheers,

Dan

[Andy Kerslake]

Originally Posted by Mark Chase

I was weighing them

ali 80 with 190bar 50% weighed 3lbs neg and sat on the bottom. Steel 10 with 230 bar of 18/45 weighed 1lb neg and flaoted arse up.

No regs.

Mark Chase

Ahh in order to save weight Mark decided he would not use regs, because he had perfected his Zen breathing techniques to a new unheard of level.

[Diogenes]

Originally Posted by ardhill

Ahh, but it is the richness of the stage comparing to another carried stage that matters.

So, if you are carrying one stage, then it is neither rich nor lean as it is your only stage cylinder. You are not going to make a mistake switching to the 'wrong' stage as you only have one.

If you had say a stage of 40% and 80% then that instructor would probably suggest that you carried the 40% on your left and the 80% on your right. So, when it came to switching to your 40% mix, you wouldn't accidentally switch to the 80% mix and risk Ox Tox.

I just carry one stage too ATM. If it was 50% it would be on my left, if it was 100% it would be on my left as I prefer to carry my one stage on the left. I can do the long hose thing that others have mentioned and as I am right handed, it is easier to clip it off to the LHS for me.

So, the Lean to the Left and Rich to the Right is to do with comparing the mix in the stages, not necessarily what they are if you carry ONE cylinder.
.

Aha!!...Penny drops!! I had thought that if/when I may move to 2 stages I would make sure I had the richest on the right. I hadn't really thought about the rule applying to stages only.

I appreciate the importance of markings, especially if separated from my buddy, keeping the stages shut-down before use and I would also anticipate using a mouthpiece gag on the richer mix.

The comments about analysis of the gases on the day and paying extra attention when kitting up are most valid.

[Janos]

Originally Posted by Andy Kerslake

Ahh in order to save weight Mark decided he would not use regs, because he had perfected his Zen breathing techniques to a new unheard of level.

Have you never breathed off a tank valve? Still, some people need to use equipment to compensate for poor technique

Back to the OP, I dive all stages left because I like to have at least one side of my body uncluttered. It's odd for the first few dives but you get used to it.

Janos

[Spike Jackson]

Originally Posted by Fletch

I was taught rich on the left & lean on the right. The theory is, is that should (in the unlikely event) a diver carrying stages grabs for a spare reg in an emergency, it will be from his right side because its more natural movement than grabbing from the left for the majority of divers, being right handed. Obviously the natural movement this way would be towards the safer (leaner) mix.

Since doing the course I realise that the majority of divers rig the other way around!

Thats interesting - its for exactly that reason that I carry my lean stage on the left (which is now my bailout stage for my CCR) - cause for me it is quicker and easier to reach that reg than the one on the right (and I'm right handed)

[Mark Chase]

Originally Posted by Dangerous Dan

Have you had an Ali 40 in the pond Mark?

Cheers,

Dan

No sorry M8 i dont own one.

ATB

Mark Chase

[Mark Chase]

Originally Posted by Howard Payne

You're laughing your arse off!
Are all the Koi marked with their MOD?

No Ling has them marked for steeming time

ATB

Mark Chase

[Scuby]

Originally Posted by Andy Kerslake

More importantly whichever side you use its the positive identification each time you switch to the stage that is far more important, and absolutely not to rely on which side the stage is on (if this applies).

So why not double your chances and use both the which side of the body it's on *and* a positive ID (and reg covers, reg types, colours, etc too)? That's certainly how I was taught, absolutely no reason why people with cylinders on both sides wouldn't visually ID them too.

David