DM gear exchange skill

[CompuDude]

Careful RH, you're giving away the "secrets"!

[scubadiver888]

Originally Posted by ReefHound

I've done the gear exchange many times since my original one as a DMC. As a DM I've often paired with a DMC for his exchange, although letting him control the flow. After all, it's his test.

Seems to me some of the most important steps have been glossed over. My advice is the first thing to do is establish a buddy breathing rhythm. Don't immediately start unbuckling and unclipping stuff, just sit there and get relaxed. When you start feeling bored, you're ready to begin.

Remember your rescue class when you had to tow a non-responsive diver while giving rescue breaths and removing their gear? The rescue breaths were paramount, you did one thing at a time between breaths, maybe nothing if you needed to think or recover your rhythm. Same thing with the gear swap. One little thing at a time, don't try to do too much too fast. Keep the rhythm of the buddy breathing. If you feel like you're getting flustered or out of step - stop, think, act.

Thanks ReefHound. This will be VERY helpful. I remember huffing and puffing during Rescue Diver training on my first rescue in the pool. Instructor beat into me the idea of getting a rhythm. Made a HUGE difference.

The nice thing during all my training is that the Course Director, although gruff, is really knowledgeable and helpful. He only gets mean when we don't listen to him and even then I think he does it because he wants us to remember it.

Hopefully he'll remain just as helpful but in case he doesn't this stuff is hugely appreciated.

[scubadiver888]

Originally Posted by CompuDude

Careful RH, you're giving away the "secrets"!

I already figured out one of the 'secrets'. When the IDC Staff Trainer or Course Director says something (a) pay attention, (b) think about what they are saying and (c) ask questions.

Also, I hear the Course Director say at least once each day, "It is not a race. Take your time."

[namabiru]

Originally Posted by ReefHound

I've done the gear exchange many times since my original one as a DMC. As a DM I've often paired with a DMC for his exchange, although letting him control the flow. After all, it's his test.

Seems to me some of the most important steps have been glossed over. My advice is the first thing to do is establish a buddy breathing rhythm. Don't immediately start unbuckling and unclipping stuff, just sit there and get relaxed. When you start feeling bored, you're ready to begin.

Remember your rescue class when you had to tow a non-responsive diver while giving rescue breaths and removing their gear? The rescue breaths were paramount, you did one thing at a time between breaths, maybe nothing if you needed to think or recover your rhythm. Same thing with the gear swap. One little thing at a time, don't try to do too much too fast. Keep the rhythm of the buddy breathing. If you feel like you're getting flustered or out of step - stop, think, act.

I'll agree with ReefHound here. Take plenty of time to let your body get used to the reduced breathing, rest when you're breathing, work when you're not, help each other and you'll get there. Oh, and do go at *your* pace. Don't get stressed out because your buddy is sitting there holding a fin waiting for you to take yours off to swap. If your buddy starts getting cranky because you're taking too long in their eyes, that's their problem not yours. Also, no law says you have to kneel on the bottom. Standing *may* or *may not* help you out for some components.

[Fireplug]

I just did my gear exchange this past weekend. The tips on here were a help. My problem was relying on my instructor to bring his equipment trailer, just like he has done for every other pool session since I've known him. SURPRISE, the day we do our gear exchange, he doesn't bring his trailer!!! His weight belts and hard weights are all in his trailer, 35 miles away. I have never owned a weight belt, both of my BC's are integrated. First attempt I put 2 4 lb. weights down my 3 mil shortie. Went to bottom, got established with our breathing, swapped masks first, then fins, doffed my BCD and the trouble started. I didn't realize it but I had lost my weights out of my shortie. Got my buddy into my BC then tried and tried to get upside down while floating up to get his BC back on me. Wasn't happening. After doing some Olympic quality gymnastics, we went topside and endured laughter from my instructor. Checked with the pool manager and got an elastic belt from a swim aid. Cinched it around my gut, dropped my weights down the shortie and got suitted back up. Dropped to the bottom, followed the same procedure as before, got situated then swam across the pool and back. After surfacing our instructor told us that the new standard allows the divers to stay on their own air and simply exchange gear. Maybe I'm dense but what is the challenge in that? I would rather be challenged in training so as to have the confidence to think I can handle a real life emergency. During my switch I got the regulator back 2 or 3 times upside down and got some "wet" breaths. Relying on my training to use my tongue as a splash guard and stay calm, I was able to improvise, adapt and overcome. The whole point of the exercise, methinks. Thank you Scubatoys for your forum.

[dannybot]

Originally Posted by ReefHound

I've done the gear exchange many times since my original one as a DMC. As a DM I've often paired with a DMC for his exchange, although letting him control the flow. After all, it's his test.

Seems to me some of the most important steps have been glossed over. My advice is the first thing to do is establish a buddy breathing rhythm. Don't immediately start unbuckling and unclipping stuff, just sit there and get relaxed. When you start feeling bored, you're ready to begin.

Remember your rescue class when you had to tow a non-responsive diver while giving rescue breaths and removing their gear? The rescue breaths were paramount, you did one thing at a time between breaths, maybe nothing if you needed to think or recover your rhythm. Same thing with the gear swap. One little thing at a time, don't try to do too much too fast. Keep the rhythm of the buddy breathing. If you feel like you're getting flustered or out of step - stop, think, act.

I also agree. After getting comfortable, the next thing I would say is communication.

When I did mine last week, I just ripped off my mask and was virtually blind. From that point, until, my buddy gave me his mask.

Get comfortable, and communicate, before you get started!

[mitsuguy]

Originally Posted by Fireplug

After surfacing our instructor told us that the new standard allows the divers to stay on their own air and simply exchange gear.

um, no...

look it up in the instructor manual...

[cam]

(haven't read all seven pages of the thread BUT...)

I ended up upside-down during a practice run at the gear exchange for my DM class...it was hilarious! You should have seen us. There were three of us, we all decided to give it a try, each person switches the gear one person to the left. We looked like spaz circus full of bubbles. I wasn't wearing a weight belt so when I was BCD "naked" my wetsuit made me float feet-over-head for a few seconds while I was laughing through my (now buddy's) reg.

Anyway, it was totally fun and very practical. I can see the importance of the stress test and I can see why it's necessary...almost like a "rite-of-passage".

I'm totally opting for a weight belt next time so I can stay head-up.

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by cam

(haven't read all seven pages of the thread BUT...)

I ended up upside-down during a practice run at the gear exchange for my DM class...it was hilarious! You should have seen us. There were three of us, we all decided to give it a try, each person switches the gear one person to the left. We looked like spaz circus full of bubbles. I wasn't wearing a weight belt so when I was BCD "naked" my wetsuit made me float feet-over-head for a few seconds while I was laughing through my (now buddy's) reg.

Anyway, it was totally fun and very practical. I can see the importance of the stress test and I can see why it's necessary...almost like a "rite-of-passage".

I'm totally opting for a weight belt next time so I can stay head-up.

There are techniques for swapping gear even when wearing WI BSs instead of a weight belt... well worth learning those. It's definitely easier with a weight belt, nonetheless.

[cam]

Originally Posted by CompuDude

There are techniques for swapping gear even when wearing WI BSs instead of a weight belt... well worth learning those. It's definitely easier with a weight belt, nonetheless.

Roger that.