Kit Questions

Many mooons ago I did the IANTD tech nitrox course, and dived with
independently valved 10L steels and an Apexs nx2000 wing (I think).

However, i sold off most of my kit to fund a jaunt around the world. I am
now thinkning about doing a refesher for the tech nitrox, and re-kitting,
so apart from an Inspiration ( out of my price range ), what do people
recommend.

1) Wings = Diverite, OMS, Buddy etc.
2) Backplates - steel or alu.
3) Regs, esp left handed.
4) Valves - manifolded or not.

I appeciate that this is a subject of long any drawn out debate, but I
want to avoid that if possible. I don't really give a monkeys about DIR,
so what bits of kit do you like, and why?

Any advise recieved with thanks.

--
Gareth Ansell
UNIX Team
Computing Services
Coventry University

On Tue, 06 Jul 2004 15:57:56 +0100, Gareth Ansell
<g.ansell@no-spam-please.coventry.ac.uk> wrote:

>Many mooons ago I did the IANTD tech nitrox course, and dived with
>independently valved 10L steels and an Apexs nx2000 wing (I think).
>
>However, i sold off most of my kit to fund a jaunt around the world. I am
>now thinkning about doing a refesher for the tech nitrox, and re-kitting,
>so apart from an Inspiration ( out of my price range ), what do people
>recommend.
>
>1) Wings = Diverite, OMS, Buddy etc.
>2) Backplates - steel or alu.
>3) Regs, esp left handed.
>4) Valves - manifolded or not.
>
>I appeciate that this is a subject of long any drawn out debate, but I
>want to avoid that if possible. I don't really give a monkeys about DIR,
>so what bits of kit do you like, and why?
>
>Any advise recieved with thanks.

We've done this at some depth very recently.
Go to the group archive here:
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=e...uk.rec.s cuba

and try "which wing" as a search string (click "search only in
uk.rec.scuba" first).

Gareth Ansell wrote:
> I am
> now thinkning about doing a refesher for the tech nitrox, and re-kitting,
>
> 1) Wings = Diverite, OMS, Buddy etc.

Yes. Probably in that order

> 2) Backplates - steel or alu.

Yes. Probably in that order

> 3) Regs, esp left handed.

No. You may not care about DIR but the Hog rig they adopted
is ace and if you at tech nitrox level (accelerated deco) the
long hose which you donate and the necklaced secondary for
you is a first rate trick. That brings both regs from the
same side. Apeks or Scubapro and a few others.

> 4) Valves - manifolded or not.

Manifolded with an isolator then you can have them as
you want moment by moment. It is a lot less work to use twins
this way. It also makes getting a fill easier and ensures
they are both the same mix. Also fault management requires
less thought.

My opinions only so YMMV

nigelH

Gareth Ansell wrote:

My views on kit will probably be counter to some of the "group wisdom" -
but you asked what we use and this is what has seen me though a good few
hundred "adventurous" UK dives. YMMV.

> 1) Wings = Diverite, OMS, Buddy etc.

I'd go for a single bladder whatever, with as little extra faff as
possible. My own wings are both OMS, and although they are bungied I
like them just fine. Others will tell you that they are an entanglement
risk. They probably are, but just now I'm not doing significant wreck
penetrations to be concerned - I like the way that they pull the wing in
out the way, and they seem to have fairly bomber construction. Go for
the largest you need now (ie twins), not the largest you ever will (ie
twins, stages, blah blah blah).

> 2) Backplates - steel or alu.

I have both. My original, homemade alu one is starting to corrode around
the bolt holes, but it is pleasantly light. My Combro plate is steel,
heavy, and will eventually replace the aluminium one. When I dive with
it I notice little difference, except that my belt is lighter.
Personally, I prefer a slightly lighter back pack and a slightly heavier
belt, as I find that it is easier to manage out of water, and the trim
works out that I can reach the isolator and not require ankle weights.
Horses for courses.

I used to use a homemade hog harness, but I found an OMS one going cheap
and bought it. It's slightly more comfortable, and easier to get on and
off. You could make one yourself very cheaply - take a look at the UKRS
harness rigging page on the website.

> 3) Regs, esp left handed.

I have a bungied long hose on the right post, which I am quite capable
of stowing in the hog/DIR round the body method but prefer not to as I
can't quite get it comfortable... I think I probably need about a 6"
longer hose, which will be purchased when funds allow. I have a reg
coming around the left hand side of my head on a necklace, oriented for
me to breath off. I tell my buddies to take the long hose reg if they
need it.

> 4) Valves - manifolded or not.

I dive with an MDE manifold. I started off with seperates, but the
manifold is easier to manage. It goes without saying that I can reach
the isolator myself, quickly, and practise shutdowns often.

> I appeciate that this is a subject of long any drawn out debate, but I
> want to avoid that if possible. I don't really give a monkeys about DIR,
> so what bits of kit do you like, and why?

I recently got a spool for my second blob. It's absolutly fantastic, and
the whole assembled package fits neatly in my drysuit pocket. It is
remakably fast to deploy and start the ascent compared with some folks
I've seen who pull various bits of out various pockets and unclip this
to that then onto this and so on...

Having said that if I'm reeling in off a 40m seabed, I'd rather have a
handle, a big reel and a self inflating blob to make things even easier
when dealing with narcosis. Buddy SMBi I think might be the code.

I don't like those suicide clips, hence everything is boltsnapped. I
prefer my guages when I can see them just by looking down, so I clip
them onto my harness chest strap. Because I want to be able to get rid
of them in a hurry, they are attached with boltsnaps via innertube loops.

Ben

--
Ben Panter, Edinburgh
My name (no spaces)@bigfoot which is a com.

"Gareth Ansell" <g.ansell@no-spam-please.coventry.ac.uk> wrote in message
newsan.2004.07.06.14.57.55.762513@no-spam-please.coventry.ac.uk...
> Many mooons ago I did the IANTD tech nitrox course, and dived with
> independently valved 10L steels and an Apexs nx2000 wing (I think).
>
> However, i sold off most of my kit to fund a jaunt around the world. I am
> now thinkning about doing a refesher for the tech nitrox, and re-kitting,
> so apart from an Inspiration ( out of my price range ), what do people
> recommend.
>
> 1) Wings = Diverite, OMS, Buddy etc.

Hehe. Well we caned the arse of this only a week ago. The UKRS seal of
approval goes to the DiveRite Classic which is a very good non-bungee'd wing
that will do the job very nicely indeed. I personally favour the Halcyon
Explorer 55lb due to its reinforced inner bladder, shorter inflator hose and
shoulder strain relief...

> 2) Backplates - steel or alu.

Steel for drysuit diving or ali for wetsuit/warmwater diving. Then add a
continous webbing harness with a minimal number of D-rings...

> 3) Regs, esp left handed.

Well personally I love Apeks ATX regs but this really is a matter of
personal choice. Just make sure you go for 300-bar DIN-regs that are
environmentally sealed/designed for cold water, eh?

> 4) Valves - manifolded or not.

Manifolded, without a doubt. Either Scubapro, Agir or Halcyon will do the
job nicely as they're all a) balanced b) of a 'barrel' design (ie. captive
O'rings) and c) feature double o-rings (some Scubapro's aren't double o-ring
so make sure you specify this if you do go for the Scubapro option!). Stick
some tactile rubber knobs on them and you'll be away...

> I appeciate that this is a subject of long any drawn out debate, but I
> want to avoid that if possible. I don't really give a monkeys about DIR,
> so what bits of kit do you like, and why?

Good to see you're going into this open-minded. Choosing the right kit is
only a very small part of being DIR so why not 'cherry pick' the bits you
like rather than dismissing it out of hand? You never know - you *might*
actually find some of it makes sense! Having DIR kit does not make you a DIR
diver so you've got nothing to worry about...

"Gareth Ansell" wrote

1) Wings = Diverite, OMS, Buddy etc.

Halcyon or Oxycheq. There may be others worth considering, but these are
known to be reliable and durable.

> 2) Backplates - steel or alu.

Most likely steel. Aluminum if you're going to travel with it. Check to
see if Nigel is still having them made up.

> 3) Regs, esp left handed.

Something suitable for cold water. The alternate should be the same quality
as the primary. If you necklace it, you may want it to be smaller. Since I
don't dive cold water, I'll leave specifics to those that do.

> 4) Valves - manifolded or not.

Manifolded. If nothing else, you have more options. Close the valve and
you have independents. With various valves in various positions, you have
the option to use either regulator with either tank or with both. The
increased failure points and all the discussion about knowing which way,
which valve turns does not concern me in the slightest.

Lee

"Gareth Ansell" <g.ansell@no-spam-please.coventry.ac.uk> wrote in message
newsan.2004.07.06.14.57.55.762513@no-spam-please.coventry.ac.uk...
> so apart from an Inspiration ( out of my price range )

Are you sure? I went through re-kitting after a break 2 years ago. Soon
after it was trimix. Then the lure of the yellow side became too strong.
It *will* get you in the end.

> Go to the group archive here:
> http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=e...uk.rec.s cuba
>
> and try "which wing" as a search string (click "search only in
> uk.rec.scuba" first).

Thanks,

This thread actually answers more questions than I have had...lots of
useful info presented.

Also thanks to all the responses to this thread, I have more of an idea of
what to look for now, just need to see some if it in action now, I think.

Oh yes, and persuade the wife and the bank manager that I need some more
diving kit

--
Gareth Ansell
UNIX Team
Computing Services
Coventry University

Hi Gareth
Have a look at www.testdive.co.uk for a review of the diverite transpac
you will find other kit reviewed there as well.
hope you enjoy it.
regards
Jeff

"Gareth Ansell" <g.ansell@no-spam-please.coventry.ac.uk> wrote in message
newsan.2004.07.06.14.57.55.762513@no-spam-please.coventry.ac.uk...
> Many mooons ago I did the IANTD tech nitrox course, and dived with
> independently valved 10L steels and an Apexs nx2000 wing (I think).
>
> However, i sold off most of my kit to fund a jaunt around the world. I am
> now thinkning about doing a refesher for the tech nitrox, and re-kitting,
> so apart from an Inspiration ( out of my price range ), what do people
> recommend.
>
> 1) Wings = Diverite, OMS, Buddy etc.
> 2) Backplates - steel or alu.
> 3) Regs, esp left handed.
> 4) Valves - manifolded or not.
>
> I appeciate that this is a subject of long any drawn out debate, but I
> want to avoid that if possible. I don't really give a monkeys about DIR,
> so what bits of kit do you like, and why?
>
> Any advise recieved with thanks.
>
> --
> Gareth Ansell
> UNIX Team
> Computing Services
> Coventry University

Jeff Dixon <the.dixons@ntlworld.com> wrote:

> Hi Gareth
> Have a look at www.testdive.co.uk for a review of the diverite transpac
> you will find other kit reviewed there as well.
> hope you enjoy it.
> regards
> Jeff

The site is broken or you have your DynDNS information wrong

With 5 diffrent browsers there is a blank page even with a redirect to
http://www.g6yiq.homeip.net/

--
>replace spamblock with my family name to e-mail me