First use of BP/W- More Noob Questions

[stnole]

Ok I got my new rig set up (30lb MachV, OMS Al Plate, Hog Harness, Zeagle weight pockets). Thanks ST!!! I spent a couple of hours in the pool and it is great! Better trim & bouyancy control than I have ever had.

I am not trying to be completely DIR compliant right now, but I am drinking the koolaid a sip at a time and I value the opinions of DIR practitioners. Anyway, I have a USD Conshelf 21 reg set and the octo is on a bungee necklace. The bungee is set with a loop that the octo can be pulled free if I need to donate it, but it is there where I can get to it easily. I still have the standard hose lengths (still thinkin on that).

Now a couple of questions for the DIR/Tech faithful. When I try and look down toward my waist, I have to move the octo out of the way. My chin hits the octo and I can't look down. I made the necklace so that it would hold the octo in my mouth if needed, so I didn't want to make the necklace larger. Is there somthing I should change to prevent this or just deal with it?

Also seeing things around my waist & shoulder straps is difficult. I have a Diverite pocket on my waist belt and have a real hard time seeing it. Do you mostly do things by feel?

Any help is appreciated. I appreciate this board and SB. The experience and insight of the members here has really accelerated my re-entry into diving. Without it, I would have missed out on a great revolution in my gear and diving.

[cgvmer]

Good luck on your purchase, I went to BP/W but don't like kool=aid LOL.

[tedwhiteva]

You discovered it - do it by feel primarily. That why its important to have everything in the same place every dive

[aggie99]

Originally Posted by stnole

I am not trying to be completely DIR compliant right now, but I am drinking the koolaid a sip at a time and I value the opinions of DIR practitioners. Anyway, I have a USD Conshelf 21 reg set and the octo is on a bungee necklace. The bungee is set with a loop that the octo can be pulled free if I need to donate it, but it is there where I can get to it easily. I still have the standard hose lengths (still thinkin on that).

Now a couple of questions for the DIR/Tech faithful. When I try and look down toward my waist, I have to move the octo out of the way. My chin hits the octo and I can't look down. I made the necklace so that it would hold the octo in my mouth if needed, so I didn't want to make the necklace larger. Is there somthing I should change to prevent this or just deal with it?

If you want to go the tech/DIR route then the octo around your neck is not to be donated, your primary is, that is the reason for the necklace. Your primary is on a long hose (generally 7 foot) for air sharing purposes. In an emergency you donate your primary and since the octo is right by your mouth you can just bend your head down and you use the backup. The octo hose should only be long enough so you can have the octo in your mouth and turn your head without the regulator being pulled out.

For this reason the regulator around your neck is tight enough to be able to reach it easily but loose enough so as to not impede your motion. I can look down with no problem with my octo around my neck.

You could still set up your primary and octo like a standard reg while still using the BP/W for convenience.

Originally Posted by stnole

Also seeing things around my waist & shoulder straps is difficult. I have a Diverite pocket on my waist belt and have a real hard time seeing it. Do you mostly do things by feel?

Not sure if this is due to the necklace setup but your range of motion in a BP/W shouldn't be less, it really should be more. You should have the same or greater range of motion to see as in a standard BC. I personally find most things by feel, some items like the SMB that I keep in a BP pocket is only accessible by feel. Like everything, the more used to your rig the less you will need to look where items are, you will just go to them. Hope that helps and congrats on the new setup, you will love it!

[snagel]

[quote=aggie99;119455]

Originally Posted by stnole

If you want to go the tech/DIR route then the octo around your neck is not to be donated, your primary is, that is the reason for the necklace. Your primary is on a long hose (generally 7 foot) for air sharing purposes.

Forgive me, I know very little about the tech/Dir stuff. What is the reasoning for donating your primary? I mean, everything that you are taught not only in diving is taking care of yourself first then tend to others. It seems odd to me that you would donate your primary in an emergency, putting yourself in a potential situations and not an alternate.

Just trying to understand.

S. Nagel

[cummings66]

The reason is twofold. First of all you know the primary is working and there is a chance that the OOA diver will grab it from you anyhow.

The backup is working as well because you test it each dive and you know it's not being drug through the sand and because it's right below you head you can reach it right now and use it. It takes but seconds and you've got air again.

When you donate air to an OOA diver you need to know that they're going to get air or a panic situation will result, so by giving them that supply you reduce the potential chance for problems.

[drifter136]

These two videos might help you:

This one is an OOA drill, but the angle of view isn't the greatest IMO.
Dive Tek Images

If you look carefully at the diver on the right in the following video, after he gives the OOA diver is long primary hose, you can see him reach down for his necklaced secondary for his own use. The long hose also allows them to easily ascend while looking face-to-face.
Dive Tek Images

Here is the link for all the videos from this site. This was where I found out I was doing a frog kick all wrong. Also, the music in the scooter videos is pretty relaxing and the seals are cute as hell in the one scooter video.
Dive Tek Images

Hope these links help you out. I know they helped me when I first saw them.

[rongoodman]

In addition to providing a working regulator, the other reason for donating what you're breathing is to make sure that the regulator you're donating is providing the correct gas--not a issue for NDL dives, but very much so if rich mixes or pure O2 are being used for decompression.

[stnole]

Thanks everyone for the info. I am still working out my reg & hoses. I just wanted to see if anyone else's chin hit their octo when they tried to look down. I know my 21s are pretty large regs, I wonder if going to a smaller (USD Micra?) octo might improve it?

I will continue to think about the hose length issue. One sip at a time....

[Gombessa]

That's the one rule for knowing if your octo bungie is too short - it should not hit your chin when you look down. Also, remember that things are a bit different when you are in the water and horizontal - is it hitting your chin when you're actually in the water?

From what I've heard, a lot of people aren't able to "grab the backup with their mouth." I can kind of do it on land, but honestly have never tried in the water before. I'm pretty happy just knowing exactly where to reach for it.