floater(Offline)

Tonight I watched part of the DIR 2004 again and couple of things caught my attention.

1. During the reg discussion, GI3 mentioned a few times how he and JJ would setup a turret reg and comment on them I guess, but then they didn't get around to it before the section ended. Does anyone know what GI3's or JJ's take is on regs with turrets? (A lot of DIR divers seem to distrust them).

2. "Drysuit isn't backup buoyancy and double wings aren't backup buoyancy. They're a mess." - GI3 when explaining a balanced rig. He also said that you need to be able to swim back up to the surface even if both of your first stages fail, or if you for example jumped off the boat with valves closed by accident and BC empty.)

That caught my attention because I'm pretty sure I've seen DIR divers on these boards say that the drysuit is in fact backup buoyancy, so what's the deal?

3. On the crotch strap he said it needs to be loose enough that (a) a buddy could get a hand around it in tow situations and (b) so that you could pull the tanks up and turn the valves on/off if necessary.

I just thought that was interesting because I usually never see it suggested for valve drills (in DIR circles). Personally I've kept my crotch strap on fairly tight.

Ahmed Adly, Marlin Inn DC(Offline)

I don't know what the official line is. I used to dislike the turret as it used to feel kind of flimsy. But when you think how little pressure is involved with the section, you come to understand it is pretty basic and reliable. Also, I NEVER saw one fail and if you service them, well you should be fine.
I guess that other people have had the same journey of not trusting and changing their minds.

This is a very hot subject at the moment with 3 camps. They are currently involved in artillery warfare

Mine is loose enough to hold onto. I have towed people around only for fun recently. GI3's reasons behind cave diving stuff is tried and proven and should be taken as such, until you find oppertunity to use the techniques.

__________________
It has just dawned on me.... We are all just recycled stardust
Ahmed Adly,
www.deepvoyage.com

Bob Cooper(Offline)

A balanced rig is just that.... a balanced rig.

There is no need for "redundant buoyancy".

prharris(Offline)

I can only tell you what I was toll in 2000 (and contrary to belief DIR does change )

JJ was fine with turret regs (I assume that we are talking about backgas).
The long hose was on the turrent's side port so that when donating, there was an extra few inches as the turrent spun, unlike a non-turret.

IIRC, from those the DVDs, earlier tapes and techdiver, GI3 did not use turret regs himself, but Poseidon 1sts that he 'had modified', new pistons I think.
This was 6 years ago now, so I may either be mis-remembering (talking blx) or things may well have moved on.

I've not checked, but the cisatlantic site that Clare has in her sig used to have hose layouts for turret regs, but they are not symmetrical and therefoer may inpinge on the 'look cool' rule.

hth
Paul

Clare Gledhill(Offline)

My sig for convenience - only small charge to access it

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Interested in DIR dive training? Always happy to chat/answer questions so get in touch via PM or visit www.dirdiver.co.uk

prharris(Offline)

Ah this looks like a bum steer, sorry. I shall have a look around for those reg configs.

r
P

Ahmed Adly, Marlin Inn DC(Offline)

Although I am Australian, I have not been in any of Her Majesties terratories for almost 20 years. Therefore I have missed out on some of the finer education afforded to citizens of the commonwealth.
Please verse me on the phrase "Bum Steer". Sounds enigmatic and full of potential for modified post speech interpretation.

Yours truly

__________________
It has just dawned on me.... We are all just recycled stardust
Ahmed Adly,
www.deepvoyage.com

prharris(Offline)

It's a 'merkin expression.
It means that I gave him some wrong advice, usually unintentionally.

r
P