Emergency pocket

[DarinMartell]

Ok, the weather better turn soon, I'm almost broke so I can't buy many more toys and I am running out of DIY projects to keep me busy!

In one of the threads that resulted from NavyOnStar's thread about safety and signal devices we where talking about how all this stuff takes up room. Well, I have been playing around and it might not work like I think but I'm going to try it. "It" is a pocket mounted on my tank strap for all that stuff that I should carry but will have no use for at depth: Mirror, Dye stick, "thermo" blanket (reflective), mini otterbox for money clip and keys, bottle of water, and anyrhing else I can cram into it.

Here is how I did it:

1. Took an old sleeve from a canvas lawn chair & cut it 15" from the bottom.
2. Used gromets to attach a piece of the webbing handle to thread the tank strap through near the bottom.
3. Put 7 grommets around the top and threaded a piece of line through them. I used the old "line retainer" from the sleeve to create the draw string effect.
4. mounted it on the tank strap "top" side down.
5. Took a lanyard with a clip off bottom I got free at "Our World Underwater" & looped it through the grommets and tank strap then through itself so the clip was hanging down near the open end of the bag (through both the grommets and the tank strap so if a grommet fails I don't lose everything).
6. Took a dollar store mesh laundry bag, tied a 5' line between it and the clip off portion of the lanyard (so I can remove the bag if needed).

Use: Stuff all of your gear inside the laundry bag and close the draw string. stuff the laundry bag in the pocket and close the drawstring. If needed when at the surface reach behind you and pull open the drawstring of the pocket. Pull the laundry bag around to the front and retrieve the gear you need.

I am sure there are alot of things wrong with it but I look forward to playing with it in the pool. It would be nice to free up my front pockets on my BC.

[DarinMartell]

Here is a better pic of the pocket

[Navy OnStar]

Nice work! I hadn't thought about using the tank strap to store some of that stuff on.

OnStar

[WaScubaDude]

Brilliant!
Hate the thigh pocket straps on my rig. Great solution for things you will only need for the "long wet stay". I may be able to use my Zeagle mesh SMB bag and just clip off the SMB and reel. Just need to pick up a mesh bag to go inside.

[CompuDude]

Can you get to it in the water with it mounted like that?

[ReefHound]

Maybe the idea is this stuff is only used in rare situations like getting stranded and you could just slip out of the BC for a minute and retrieve it.

[buddhasummer]

lets us know how it works in the water, Ive been thinking of mounting a pocket on a cam band also...cheers

[chris in the socal]

Think this is cool. I really want to know how it turn out.

[DarinMartell]

Originally Posted by CompuDude

Can you get to it in the water with it mounted like that?

Should be able to, it is made to hang so the mouth is almost even with the bottom of my BC. It is a simple drawstring opening so the plan is to reach back pull open the draw string by squeezing the "spring button". Then pull the mesh bag around to the front and open to get your gear. It is only for things needed at the surface.

By the way I thought of another thing to pack. How about a cheap pair of timted goggles? That way if you are stuck bobbing in the water for awhile you won't get "snow blindness". What do you think?