Tips and tricks

*Clare Gledhill* · July 8th, 2008, 08:27 AM

One of the things I like to pick up is little tips and tricks to make life easier whilst diving. Some seem so easy yet make a difference to what I forget to do, or what is available to me. I thought it might be helpful to have a thread.

Here's a couple of examples - not clever just simple:

I don't like masks on backs of head when not being worn - they get lost and when they get taken off they get sat on. As I wear a spare double ender for my light I clip my mask on to this on the surface if I remove it - if I'm on the surface my light is properly stowed and the double ender has no use at that stage so it is a neat mask holder. I clip the mask here before the dive too - that way it doesn't get sat on.

I saw Bob Cooper a long time ago had strung a bit of cave line along one side of his box. Pulled tight it was a great place to clip off all the little bits that we have in dive boxes - gauges, spools etc. and stop them being lost at the bottom.

The large loop in my pockets is useful for clipping things off. However, I have tied it in a figure of eight so that there is a small loop first then a large one. The small loop holds my wet notes in the right pocket and my cave pigtail in my left - so i immediately know which is which when I put my hand in.

What are yours?

Gareth Burrows · July 8th, 2008, 09:44 AM

don't eat yellow snow

jeroen73 · July 8th, 2008, 09:52 AM

[quote=Clare Gledhill;62579]
The large loop in my pockets is useful for clipping things off. However, I have tied it in a figure of eight so that there is a small loop first then a large one. The small loop holds my wet notes in the right pocket and my cave pigtail in my left - so i immediately know which is which when I put my hand in.

Hi Clare,

do you have a picture of this. I am interested to see

rgds,
jeroen

lizardland · July 8th, 2008, 10:01 AM

I keep various o-rings taped to the underside of my light can and a spanner & allen key down one side of the battery and a mask strap down the other. Rubber is incapable of breaking when in the presence of a toolkit. Pre-HID I used to keep a spare bulb in the can as well.

Oh and just because someone says they are a woman, it doesn't necessarily mean they are. Always check.

That'll be ten pounds please :D

wilbo · July 8th, 2008, 10:02 AM

[quote=jeroen73;62592]

Quote: (Originally Posted by Clare Gledhill)

The large loop in my pockets is useful for clipping things off. However, I have tied it in a figure of eight so that there is a small loop first then a large one. The small loop holds my wet notes in the right pocket and my cave pigtail in my left - so i immediately know which is which when I put my hand in.

Hi Clare,

do you have a picture of this. I am interested to see

rgds,
jeroen

just take the loop and put a slipknot into it.. hey presto two loops.

graham_hk · July 8th, 2008, 10:10 AM

When travelling to Florida: Nick an airline blanket - make an ideal kitting up mat (at home use a golf mat)

Drysuit wiggle: At the surface close your valve and inflate - do a wiggle and a stretch to get the seems in your crotch and armpits to give you maximum flexibility as you squeese it down

A little bit of soapy water is great for putting on seals and even better for replacing zipseals.

A small peice of knotted bungeed on the back of the handle of a gavin is a great place to store the trigger pin

More to follow when my brain engages today

Marijn · July 8th, 2008, 10:39 AM

Quote: (Originally Posted by jeroen73)

Hi Clare,

do you have a picture of this. I am interested to see

rgds,
jeroen

Are you at the Beldert tomorrow evening?
I'll show you how it looks like. (got the tip during F)

jeroen73 · July 8th, 2008, 10:44 AM

YEP of course cave 1 is coming

course will start 31st of August.

see you tomorrow

Quote: (Originally Posted by Marijn)

Are you at the Beldert tomorrow evening?
I'll show you how it looks like. (got the tip during F)

nskdrs · July 8th, 2008, 10:50 AM

Two $-pro jetfins full of water to be taken back on board / on land,
to be used for cleaning purposes on the gear/suit after the dive.

Does not work with Divesystem fins I usually dive now,
those have holes in the footpockets so it comes of the feet easier.

lizardland · July 8th, 2008, 11:02 AM

Quote: (Originally Posted by graham_hk)

A little bit of soapy water is great for putting on seals and even better for replacing zipseals.

That once won me an AP Valves mug from Scuba World. I'm not proud of that

July 8th, 2008, 08:27 AM	#1 (permalink)
Clare Gledhill (Online) GUE Instructor Site Admin Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: UK Posts: 1,562	One of the things I like to pick up is little tips and tricks to make life easier whilst diving. Some seem so easy yet make a difference to what I forget to do, or what is available to me. I thought it might be helpful to have a thread. Here's a couple of examples - not clever just simple: I don't like masks on backs of head when not being worn - they get lost and when they get taken off they get sat on. As I wear a spare double ender for my light I clip my mask on to this on the surface if I remove it - if I'm on the surface my light is properly stowed and the double ender has no use at that stage so it is a neat mask holder. I clip the mask here before the dive too - that way it doesn't get sat on. I saw Bob Cooper a long time ago had strung a bit of cave line along one side of his box. Pulled tight it was a great place to clip off all the little bits that we have in dive boxes - gauges, spools etc. and stop them being lost at the bottom. The large loop in my pockets is useful for clipping things off. However, I have tied it in a figure of eight so that there is a small loop first then a large one. The small loop holds my wet notes in the right pocket and my cave pigtail in my left - so i immediately know which is which when I put my hand in. What are yours? __________________ Clare . "Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions....Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you too can become great." Interested in DIR dive training? Always happy to chat/answer questions so get in touch via PM or visit www.dirdiver.co.uk

July 8th, 2008, 09:44 AM	#2 (permalink)
Gareth Burrows(Offline) Chimp 2 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Horsham, West Sussex Posts: 369	don't eat yellow snow __________________ Garf Amusing and Clever Signature under construction.

July 8th, 2008, 10:01 AM	#4 (permalink)
lizardland (Online) LCS Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Evidently Chickentown Posts: 631	I keep various o-rings taped to the underside of my light can and a spanner & allen key down one side of the battery and a mask strap down the other. Rubber is incapable of breaking when in the presence of a toolkit. Pre-HID I used to keep a spare bulb in the can as well. Oh and just because someone says they are a woman, it doesn't necessarily mean they are. Always check. That'll be ten pounds please :D __________________ Can you imagine drifting along in the sea with your mouth open and a load of f***ing plankton going in? You'd like it, would you? www.westons-cider.co.uk The Lot isn't the only place to dive: http://www.lulu.com/content/613554

July 8th, 2008, 10:02 AM	#5 (permalink)
wilbo(Offline) Chimp 4 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Swindon, UK Posts: 907	[quote=jeroen73;62592] Quote: (Originally Posted by Clare Gledhill) The large loop in my pockets is useful for clipping things off. However, I have tied it in a figure of eight so that there is a small loop first then a large one. The small loop holds my wet notes in the right pocket and my cave pigtail in my left - so i immediately know which is which when I put my hand in. Hi Clare, do you have a picture of this. I am interested to see rgds, jeroen just take the loop and put a slipknot into it.. hey presto two loops. __________________ Cheers! Wilbo DIR explorers: DIR Yorkshire Divers: YorkshireDivers One of the Foxturd chimps

July 8th, 2008, 10:10 AM	#6 (permalink)
graham_hk(Offline) GUE instructor Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: here, there and everywhere Posts: 783	When travelling to Florida: Nick an airline blanket - make an ideal kitting up mat (at home use a golf mat) Drysuit wiggle: At the surface close your valve and inflate - do a wiggle and a stretch to get the seems in your crotch and armpits to give you maximum flexibility as you squeese it down A little bit of soapy water is great for putting on seals and even better for replacing zipseals. A small peice of knotted bungeed on the back of the handle of a gavin is a great place to store the trigger pin More to follow when my brain engages today __________________ DIN caps and plugs with free world wide postage: www.dustcap.halcyon-hk.com

July 8th, 2008, 09:52 AM	#3 (permalink)
jeroen73(Offline) New Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Culemborg, Holland Posts: 63	[quote=Clare Gledhill;62579] The large loop in my pockets is useful for clipping things off. However, I have tied it in a figure of eight so that there is a small loop first then a large one. The small loop holds my wet notes in the right pocket and my cave pigtail in my left - so i immediately know which is which when I put my hand in. Hi Clare, do you have a picture of this. I am interested to see rgds, jeroen

July 8th, 2008, 10:39 AM	#7 (permalink)
Marijn (Online) Smurf #1 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Papendrecht, The Netherlands Posts: 400	Quote: (Originally Posted by jeroen73) Hi Clare, do you have a picture of this. I am interested to see rgds, jeroen Are you at the Beldert tomorrow evening? I'll show you how it looks like. (got the tip during F) __________________ Its a fact that the humans can't go without water for more than 3 days

July 8th, 2008, 10:44 AM	#8 (permalink)
jeroen73(Offline) New Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Culemborg, Holland Posts: 63	YEP of course cave 1 is coming course will start 31st of August. see you tomorrow Quote: (Originally Posted by Marijn) Are you at the Beldert tomorrow evening? I'll show you how it looks like. (got the tip during F)

July 8th, 2008, 10:50 AM	#9 (permalink)
nskdrs(Offline) Towboy Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: berlin, europe Posts: 256	Two $-pro jetfins full of water to be taken back on board / on land, to be used for cleaning purposes on the gear/suit after the dive. Does not work with Divesystem fins I usually dive now, those have holes in the footpockets so it comes of the feet easier.

July 8th, 2008, 11:02 AM	#10 (permalink)
lizardland (Online) LCS Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Evidently Chickentown Posts: 631	Quote: (Originally Posted by graham_hk) A little bit of soapy water is great for putting on seals and even better for replacing zipseals. That once won me an AP Valves mug from Scuba World. I'm not proud of that __________________ Can you imagine drifting along in the sea with your mouth open and a load of f***ing plankton going in? You'd like it, would you? www.westons-cider.co.uk The Lot isn't the only place to dive: http://www.lulu.com/content/613554