Rib Diving

TAZA · October 2nd, 2006, 06:36 PM

Anyone got any tips on best way to dekit in water before you get back onto rib,done six dives now from rib with DIR kit and still splashing about in the water trying to dekit,Its easy on hard boat and shore diving.

Jecowling · October 2nd, 2006, 06:51 PM

If you turn backwards and get someone on the RIB to hold your tanks whilst you do this, it's easier, otherwise always keep one hand holding onto the rib. Take off your backup, unplug your drysuit feed. Take your long hose out, unwrap it so it's free from your body and then stick it back in if the sea's anything but a millpond. Put your left hand on your wing inflate and deflate until you have enough slack in the harness to pull your right arm out of the right shoulder strap (keeping your left hand on the inflate). Swing the whole rig around to your left side, inflating the wing as you go (or; if someone has hold of the tanks from the rib, swing the right side of your body leftwards and roll out of the harness, inflating as you go). Hand the rig up to the poor soul who has to haul it into the rib, or clip it off, get in the rib and haul it up yourself (just be aware you're exerting yourself after a dive).

Just probably one way of many - I hope it's clear.

Jen

fraser · October 2nd, 2006, 06:54 PM

Hi,

When I used to do more RIB diving I found the easiest way is to hand any weightbelt up, get someone on the boat to hold your cylinder valve whilst you deflate your wing and then drop out of the harness (remembering to disconnect your suit inflate, park your primary reg and take your bungied backup off

) and then hand the kit up as normal. It takes a little getting used to

I would suggest if you have access to a swimming pool then practice dekitting at the side and handing up your gear to a mate.

Cheers,

Fraser.

Joe Hesketh · October 2nd, 2006, 07:13 PM

To add to what's been said. This is what I do anyway.

On surfacing, clip off your primary - if you need a reg because of the swell, etc. use the backup. As the RIB approaches do as much as you can to prep to de-kit (saves faffing around trying to hold onto the RIB at the same time, but don’t take your eyes off the boat especially in rougher conditions

) i.e. take the loop from the primary over your head (no need to unclip), disconnect the drysuit, undo the waist strap and take this through the crotch strap (you may need to keep hold of this until the last minute though or the rig tends to float above you). Now as you come alongside the sponson, all you need to do is take the backup from around your neck (if calm you can do this beforehand as well) and slip off the harness as per Jen’s instructions.

Takes practice (as with most things worth doing) but is really quick once you get slick. In my experience, much more so than many "quick release" jackets - having fastex clips is not necessarily either easier or quicker - the number people (even seasoned divers) I’ve had to assist as they simply could not operate even large plastic clips with cold gloved hands

A-M · October 2nd, 2006, 07:22 PM

Are there also tips to get in your gear while being in the water?
After the dive, getting out of my gear I'm ok but sometimes we also have to get everything on while being in the water (deep, so wing inflated) and that's a real crime

Thx!

Joe Hesketh · October 2nd, 2006, 07:37 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by A-M)

Are there also tips to get in your gear while being in the water?
After the dive, getting out of my gear I'm ok but sometimes we also have to get everything on while being in the water (deep, so wing inflated) and that's a real crime

Thx!

Can't help you there. Last time I tried this was at the bottom of the cistern at Landenouse, wriggling, flapping and swiming round in circles like a dog chasing its tail. The only thing 'slick' about the whole thing was the layer of oil and scum on the surface pool

tim · October 2nd, 2006, 07:39 PM

Letting a bit of air out of the wing is a critical step which always scares me a little in case I let too much out and my rig goes for a dive without me. Hence I tend to forget it, and have a comical struggle against the harness with the wing pinning me into it! I think it's worth this post to re-iterate quite how important that step is.

For kitting up, the reverse of the 'over the head' dekitting can work nicely, with the water to hold the kit in place. Even with a fair bit of air in the wing I can reach back, grab the valve(s) and pull the rig forwards and myself backwards down out of the shoulder webbing. If it all works properly the rig almost stays in place floating in the water and you slip neatly out backwards through the shoulder webbing. The reverse takes a bit of practise but has worked for me in the past to get into kit which has a fair bit of air in the wing. Caveat, I get REALLY odd looks for doing this, so I may be actually missing some obviously daft drawback of my method, or just have a badly set up rig.

Tim

A-M · October 2nd, 2006, 07:49 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Joe Hesketh)

Can't help you there. Last time I tried this was at the bottom of the cistern at Landenouse, wriggling, flapping and swiming round in circles like a dog chasing its tail. The only thing 'slick' about the whole thing was the layer of oil and scum on the surface pool

Yep, Landenouse is a nice example for this 'skill'.....

A-M · October 2nd, 2006, 07:52 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by tim)

Letting a bit of air out of the wing is a critical step which always scares me a little in case I let too much out and my rig goes for a dive without me. Hence I tend to forget it, and have a comical struggle against the harness with the wing pinning me into it! I think it's worth this post to re-iterate quite how important that step is.

For kitting up, the reverse of the 'over the head' dekitting can work nicely, with the water to hold the kit in place. Even with a fair bit of air in the wing I can reach back, grab the valve(s) and pull the rig forwards and myself backwards down out of the shoulder webbing. If it all works properly the rig almost stays in place floating in the water and you slip neatly out backwards through the shoulder webbing. The reverse takes a bit of practise but has worked for me in the past to get into kit which has a fair bit of air in the wing. Caveat, I get REALLY odd looks for doing this, so I may be actually missing some obviously daft drawback of my method, or just have a badly set up rig.

Tim

Hmmm, will try.
What worries me most is letting too much air out of my wing and second: my drysuitdeflator and compass seem to get stuck all the time.

tim · October 2nd, 2006, 08:04 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by A-M)

What worries me most is letting too much air out of my wing and second: my drysuitdeflator and compass seem to get stuck all the time.

You're having exactly the same problems I did :-)

With the compass, I tend now when I get to the point in the dive where I won't need it any more to take it off and clip it off in my pocket. Similarly, I'll tend to put it on after putting on the shoulder webbing; I CAN kit up and dekit with the compass on, but it's so much easier without.

With the drysuit dump I tend to find it catches when kitting up if I've let the shoulder webbing twist a bit. If I make an effort to keep it flat as it goes on I don't have the problem. This issue has got a bit worse with my new Protec suit as the dump is a long way round to the front of my arm (anyone else have this trouble, or is my suit just made wierd?) which makes dumping air a bit of a nuisance (annoying; the suit is otherwise superb) and seems to catch the shoulder webbing more easily. In terms of getting the webbing off, following AK's advice from fundies and taking the webbing off by hooking a thumb through the shoulder d-ring seems to mean the webbing doesn't foul the dump at all and the webbing comes off trivially.

I've yet to lose a rig through deflating it too much, though I do still wear a weight belt and don't put too much weight on the rig so perhaps that special feeling of seeing lots of kit going for a dive without me is yet to come.

Tim

October 2nd, 2006, 06:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
TAZA(Offline) New Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Warrington Cheshire Posts: 114	Rib Diving Anyone got any tips on best way to dekit in water before you get back onto rib,done six dives now from rib with DIR kit and still splashing about in the water trying to dekit,Its easy on hard boat and shore diving.

October 2nd, 2006, 06:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
fraser(Offline) "I'm only late on your timescale" Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Kent, UK Posts: 463	Hi, When I used to do more RIB diving I found the easiest way is to hand any weightbelt up, get someone on the boat to hold your cylinder valve whilst you deflate your wing and then drop out of the harness (remembering to disconnect your suit inflate, park your primary reg and take your bungied backup off ) and then hand the kit up as normal. It takes a little getting used to I would suggest if you have access to a swimming pool then practice dekitting at the side and handing up your gear to a mate. Cheers, Fraser. __________________ Damn it feels good to be a gangsta

October 2nd, 2006, 06:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
Jecowling(Offline) New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Sheffield, UK Posts: 120	If you turn backwards and get someone on the RIB to hold your tanks whilst you do this, it's easier, otherwise always keep one hand holding onto the rib. Take off your backup, unplug your drysuit feed. Take your long hose out, unwrap it so it's free from your body and then stick it back in if the sea's anything but a millpond. Put your left hand on your wing inflate and deflate until you have enough slack in the harness to pull your right arm out of the right shoulder strap (keeping your left hand on the inflate). Swing the whole rig around to your left side, inflating the wing as you go (or; if someone has hold of the tanks from the rib, swing the right side of your body leftwards and roll out of the harness, inflating as you go). Hand the rig up to the poor soul who has to haul it into the rib, or clip it off, get in the rib and haul it up yourself (just be aware you're exerting yourself after a dive). Just probably one way of many - I hope it's clear. Jen

October 2nd, 2006, 07:13 PM	#4 (permalink)
Joe Hesketh(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: London, UK Posts: 657	To add to what's been said. This is what I do anyway. On surfacing, clip off your primary - if you need a reg because of the swell, etc. use the backup. As the RIB approaches do as much as you can to prep to de-kit (saves faffing around trying to hold onto the RIB at the same time, but don’t take your eyes off the boat especially in rougher conditions ) i.e. take the loop from the primary over your head (no need to unclip), disconnect the drysuit, undo the waist strap and take this through the crotch strap (you may need to keep hold of this until the last minute though or the rig tends to float above you). Now as you come alongside the sponson, all you need to do is take the backup from around your neck (if calm you can do this beforehand as well) and slip off the harness as per Jen’s instructions. Takes practice (as with most things worth doing) but is really quick once you get slick. In my experience, much more so than many "quick release" jackets - having fastex clips is not necessarily either easier or quicker - the number people (even seasoned divers) I’ve had to assist as they simply could not operate even large plastic clips with cold gloved hands

October 2nd, 2006, 07:22 PM	#5 (permalink)
A-M(Offline) Cave addict Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Netherlands Posts: 370	Are there also tips to get in your gear while being in the water? After the dive, getting out of my gear I'm ok but sometimes we also have to get everything on while being in the water (deep, so wing inflated) and that's a real crime Thx!

October 2nd, 2006, 07:37 PM	#6 (permalink)
Joe Hesketh(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: London, UK Posts: 657	Quote: (Originally Posted by A-M) Are there also tips to get in your gear while being in the water? After the dive, getting out of my gear I'm ok but sometimes we also have to get everything on while being in the water (deep, so wing inflated) and that's a real crime Thx! Can't help you there. Last time I tried this was at the bottom of the cistern at Landenouse, wriggling, flapping and swiming round in circles like a dog chasing its tail. The only thing 'slick' about the whole thing was the layer of oil and scum on the surface pool

October 2nd, 2006, 07:39 PM	#7 (permalink)
tim(Offline) Big Grin Syndrome Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Oxford Posts: 455	Letting a bit of air out of the wing is a critical step which always scares me a little in case I let too much out and my rig goes for a dive without me. Hence I tend to forget it, and have a comical struggle against the harness with the wing pinning me into it! I think it's worth this post to re-iterate quite how important that step is. For kitting up, the reverse of the 'over the head' dekitting can work nicely, with the water to hold the kit in place. Even with a fair bit of air in the wing I can reach back, grab the valve(s) and pull the rig forwards and myself backwards down out of the shoulder webbing. If it all works properly the rig almost stays in place floating in the water and you slip neatly out backwards through the shoulder webbing. The reverse takes a bit of practise but has worked for me in the past to get into kit which has a fair bit of air in the wing. Caveat, I get REALLY odd looks for doing this, so I may be actually missing some obviously daft drawback of my method, or just have a badly set up rig. Tim

October 2nd, 2006, 07:49 PM	#8 (permalink)
A-M(Offline) Cave addict Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Netherlands Posts: 370	Quote: (Originally Posted by Joe Hesketh) Can't help you there. Last time I tried this was at the bottom of the cistern at Landenouse, wriggling, flapping and swiming round in circles like a dog chasing its tail. The only thing 'slick' about the whole thing was the layer of oil and scum on the surface pool Yep, Landenouse is a nice example for this 'skill'.....

October 2nd, 2006, 07:52 PM	#9 (permalink)
A-M(Offline) Cave addict Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Netherlands Posts: 370	Quote: (Originally Posted by tim) Letting a bit of air out of the wing is a critical step which always scares me a little in case I let too much out and my rig goes for a dive without me. Hence I tend to forget it, and have a comical struggle against the harness with the wing pinning me into it! I think it's worth this post to re-iterate quite how important that step is. For kitting up, the reverse of the 'over the head' dekitting can work nicely, with the water to hold the kit in place. Even with a fair bit of air in the wing I can reach back, grab the valve(s) and pull the rig forwards and myself backwards down out of the shoulder webbing. If it all works properly the rig almost stays in place floating in the water and you slip neatly out backwards through the shoulder webbing. The reverse takes a bit of practise but has worked for me in the past to get into kit which has a fair bit of air in the wing. Caveat, I get REALLY odd looks for doing this, so I may be actually missing some obviously daft drawback of my method, or just have a badly set up rig. Tim Hmmm, will try. What worries me most is letting too much air out of my wing and second: my drysuitdeflator and compass seem to get stuck all the time.

October 2nd, 2006, 08:04 PM	#10 (permalink)
tim(Offline) Big Grin Syndrome Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Oxford Posts: 455	Quote: (Originally Posted by A-M) What worries me most is letting too much air out of my wing and second: my drysuitdeflator and compass seem to get stuck all the time. You're having exactly the same problems I did :-) With the compass, I tend now when I get to the point in the dive where I won't need it any more to take it off and clip it off in my pocket. Similarly, I'll tend to put it on after putting on the shoulder webbing; I CAN kit up and dekit with the compass on, but it's so much easier without. With the drysuit dump I tend to find it catches when kitting up if I've let the shoulder webbing twist a bit. If I make an effort to keep it flat as it goes on I don't have the problem. This issue has got a bit worse with my new Protec suit as the dump is a long way round to the front of my arm (anyone else have this trouble, or is my suit just made wierd?) which makes dumping air a bit of a nuisance (annoying; the suit is otherwise superb) and seems to catch the shoulder webbing more easily. In terms of getting the webbing off, following AK's advice from fundies and taking the webbing off by hooking a thumb through the shoulder d-ring seems to mean the webbing doesn't foul the dump at all and the webbing comes off trivially. I've yet to lose a rig through deflating it too much, though I do still wear a weight belt and don't put too much weight on the rig so perhaps that special feeling of seeing lots of kit going for a dive without me is yet to come. Tim