ellisn(Offline)

Have read through some of the reports for Tech 1 and noticed the fact that if a team member has lost their mask the rest of the team help them to ascend blind. My question is why at this level (Or any level come to think of it) aren't all team members expected to carry a spare backup mask? Is a backup mask against minimum kit config?

Cheers

Neil (sorry I know I have asked a lot of questions today but my brain needs the exercise)

JohnKendall(Offline)

The drill in Tech1 is to assess Team work, and ability to help a blind buddy. I carry a spare mask on EVERY dive I do, even more so after Tech1 (as I really didn't enjoy the no mask ascent).

HTH
J

Clare Gledhill(Offline)

I carry a spare mask too - on mix dives - but was under the impression that doing so wasn't particularly DIR (seem to remember reading that somewhere). I also carry a back up time piece but anyone who has access to the Gavin list will know that George has been railing against that recently as well.

Any thoughts?

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JohnKendall(Offline)

I don't see how carrying a backup mask is against DIR. In some situations one per team would be enough (short, shallow dives) but for anything else one per person would make life much more comfortable all around if something went wrong.

J

ellisn(Offline)

I imagine George would be against having a backup blob as well, but how many of us carry one of those! I think there needs to be a balance between the minimal approach and safety. Yes if it wasn't for pockets and we had all this extra kit hanging from our harness there would be a strong argument against. Personaly I would rather dive without a spare blob than without a spare mask when hitting deco dives, but I usually carry both. But how far is this moving from DIR? I wonder what JJ would have to say about this (I can already imagine what George would say!)

Neil

Little Pete(Offline)

What is the argument against a spare time piece/bottom timer. You could say it is not necessary with the team resource but if it were stowed in a pocket, is there a problem with that?

ellisn(Offline)

I think spare timer is standard practice and Clare was saying she had a third in her pocket (Guessing). Wish my better half was as diligent with keeping time.

fraser(Offline)

There is nothing wrong with carrying a spare mask or a spare blob.

Who suggested there was, out of interest?

Pete, spare timer can be a watch on the left wrist or in a pocket depending on who you ask

Cheers,

Fraser.

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ellisn(Offline)

Another reason why a spare mask could be seen as more important than a spare blob is that in a team everyone has a blob so if you lose one there are two spare, but a mask isn't something you can really share effectively so more reason to have at least one spare in a team.

Neil

ellisn(Offline)

It's one of those 'read somewhere' cases, so could all be moot. But started from my question regarding the maskless ascent in tech 1 training.

Neil