Inverted Twins; Pro's & Con's

[Steve S]

Originally Posted by Mal Bridgeman

You need to get more sensitive buttocks I think

Mal

You aren't the first person to say that.............That's why Digger is on my avoid list

Safe diving,
Steve

[wilbo]

Originally Posted by Mal Bridgeman

I was surprised at how obvious the "listen for bubbles" approach works .... I don't think you have to be too heightened in the sense department .... especially since the first stages are practically in each ear the way I dive them. You need to get more sensitive buttocks I think

Mal

Now there is another joke there somewhere - but I am not quite sure I root it out..

Originally Posted by Steve S

You aren't the first person to say that.............That's why Digger is on my avoid list

Safe diving,
Steve

Oops.

[Ferg3333]

Best explaination I ever got was off a plumber, if you invert a tank and its started to corrode you may/could block the downtube into the cylinder at some point resulting in loss off gas from that cylinder. But the likely hood is remote, just look at the YBOD..............

So its whatever you are more comfortable with, personally I dove twin 12's the correct way up and tbh most people can reach the valves. My regular buddy did it for a while then reverted to normal.

[Steve S]

Originally Posted by Ferg3333

Best explaination I ever got was off a plumber, if you invert a tank and its started to corrode you may/could block the downtube into the cylinder at some point resulting in loss off gas from that cylinder. But the likely hood is remote, just look at the YBOD..............

Wow that's a new one I think what is more likely is that for whatever reason a diver may decide not to invert or fit a remote winder, dive indies or some other way to shutdown and get into a dangerous situation at some point by trying to stick with the 'norm'.

Safe diving,
Steve

[MATTBIN]

Originally Posted by Ferg3333

Best explaination I ever got was off a plumber, if you invert a tank and its started to corrode you may/could block the downtube into the cylinder at some point resulting in loss off gas from that cylinder. But the likely hood is remote, just look at the YBOD..............

So its whatever you are more comfortable with, personally I dove twin 12's the correct way up and tbh most people can reach the valves. My regular buddy did it for a while then reverted to normal.

Which is why the valve has (or should have) a small tube that dips below (or above if inverted) and debris which collects around the neck (if any could ever do so between services of course). In fact with inverts I should think it even less likely, they are after all re-inverted for both transport and fills, thereby dislodging any crap away from the neck/tube on regular intervals. I dont think tbh I'd let a plumber influence my choice of tank orientation, having seen some of their 'handiwork'

Matt

[Steve S]

Originally Posted by MATTBIN

I dont think tbh I'd let a plumber influence my choice of tank orientation, having seen some of their 'handiwork'

Matt

Absolutely superb mate

Safe diving,
Steve

[ardhill]

Originally Posted by Ferg3333

Best explaination I ever got was off a plumber, if you invert a tank and its started to corrode you may/could block the downtube into the cylinder at some point resulting in loss off gas from that cylinder. But the likely hood is remote, just look at the YBOD..............

But, no matter if you are diving inverted or valves up, your tanks 'should' be at the same angle in the water with both ways - horizontal.

And on the "where are the bubbles coming from issue". I have only once had a bubble leak incident, that was whilst diving inverts and OK, I will say it... I was able to 'feel' which side the bubbles were coming from.

As far as the poor hose routing thing is concerned...

I guess if Fiona and Wilbo were to set up a set of inverts now to dive themselves, they could both do a better job of routing than those pictures, as they are both more educated in routing issue than they were then.

Routing needs to be done so that it is safe in the water, which I can certainly do, I am sure so can Steve and others. It may not look as pretty as some other sets out of the water, but so what?

In the end, dive what you are comfortable with, are safe in and what works for YOU. Then again, I don't care what anyone else thinks of my configuration as long as it is safe and works for me. I would dive side mounts in open water if I thought it would be better than my current configuration.

Lets not forget the primary reason why people invert - to be able to shutdown quickly if needed. That is a very important skill if you are involved in decompression diving - which you probably are if you dive a twinset. I know there is some hassle with donning an inverted set on a RIB, or on some shore dives, but frankly I couldn't care less if I can't shut down a valve up set quick enough, as that is what will keep me alive if I have an uncontrollable freeflow for whatever reason.

As I said in my previous post, I am trying to use valves up ATM, I have an open mind and know the down sides of inverting, but at the end of the day, if I can't do the shutdowns to my satisfaction, the rig will be inverted again. If I was to keep diving on boats like Hazel's & Helen's up at Scapa, I probably wouldn't even think about going valves up as their boat takes all the hassle out of the equation.
.

[Janos]

I dive an inverted twinset and it's brilliant. On all the "tech" courses I've done, the instructors have only asked me to do a shutdown once (on each course) because it is so easy.

Yes you have to have custom hoses, but the only real one is the 1.25m inflator hose. Drysuit hose is normal length, 2m long primary, and a 1.1m secondary reg. (For me at least).

AP valves do resuable fittings which make it a doddle. Have a look in the archives too.

Janos

[dry suit diver]

Originally Posted by Steve S

Hi matey,

I have a split ring through the bottom hole on each side of the plate and I clip the 2nd stage to one and my goodman handle and spg to the other, I then hook the necklace of the other 2nd stage over the isolator for transport, it keeps them neat and stops any drag issues

My stand takes the manhandling on a boat issue away as I leave it in the inverted position on the bench. More thought has to be given when kitting up on a RIB though, but it can be done and TBH I don't see diving inverts from a RIB any harder than diving upright twins from one.

Safe diving,
Steve

of course if you have a bungied wing like me then you can keep all the hoses tucked behind these when transporting at sites.

I know where the leak is coming from as I can feel the Valves far easier on my butt than on my shoulderline ( everybody can reach their ass for a good scratch, shoulder blades is a bit more difficult)

kitting up on boats RIBs and for shore dives is no more difficult than with a single(the right way up) and knowing that I can reach the valves makes my diving safer.


TBH

at the end of the day if its safe and works for you, then go inverted.

I went inverted as my shoulder is not in good working order due to a lot of silly stuff I did as a kid/teeneager- OK mid twenties pi55heid.


hose routing is all up in the gap between cyliders and backplate, with the exception of the HP gauge hose which is routed to come out on my left side- its how I like it. Getting longer hoses was not a problem, Kent Diving sorted me out for not very much money at all.

[Mal Bridgeman]

Originally Posted by Janos

I dive an inverted twinset and it's brilliant. On all the "tech" courses I've done, the instructors have only asked me to do a shutdown once (on each course) because it is so easy.

Yes you have to have custom hoses, but the only real one is the 1.25m inflator hose. Drysuit hose is normal length, 2m long primary, and a 1.1m secondary reg. (For me at least).

AP valves do resuable fittings which make it a doddle. Have a look in the archives too.

Janos

Janos,

If doing a gas sharing exit from an overhead environment, how is that done from a diver positioning perspective?

TIA
Mal