slinging = tech?

An instructor told me that I shouldn't sling a pony bottle because that would be a stage which would be technical diving. He said my pony bottle has to be attached to my main tank or else it's a stage and its a tech dive.
Especially if its two al80 stages. Is it possible to do a recreational dive with doubles and two al80 stages? I think you can, I just drifted for 3 hours 30ft deep and it was a nice rec dive within NDL, but he says that its tech gear so its a tech dive, but I learned in my PADI OW that tech means deeper than 130ft or past NDL.
What do you say?

This instructor is talking out of his back side , :rolleyes:

Who care is its tech or rec. Did you have fun doing it? So the instructor want you to have 4 backmounted tanks so its not tech?

Matt

any dive with 2 2nd stages is tekky! ;)



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if only I could have a signature :(

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Originally Posted by Zero

Who care is its tech or rec. Did you have fun doing it? So the instructor want you to have 4 backmounted tanks so its not tech?

Matt

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Well, he tried to tell me that to carry two stages I needed to take a "extended range" course. Which I believe, is where he takes you down to 180ft on air, not something *I* ever want to do. Not sure what that has to do with carrying stages either.

Yes, it was fun :)

He also thinks that using doubles, or even a backplate and wing, means tech.

Your instructor is wrong. He really thinks that wearing a BP/W is Tech diving? I would get an instructor who is more in tune with what is happening in diving today.

I think more to it get some practise up on the gear so you know where it sits on you and how it all works. I know you arent going deep but still make sure you know what reg your on and where its matching SPG is.

Matt

That's good advice Zero. I suppose that would be an endless debate, where you draw the line and start calling it tech diving. But it sounds like, maybe, your "instructor" was hoping you'd pay for another course?? :)

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Originally Posted by deeparmchair

any dive with 2 2nd stages is tekky! ;)



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if only I could have a signature :(

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Figure?

Gee.. I dive with 2 second stages every time I dive... and if you *did* mean diving with two 1st stages, I don't think you'd find a single tech diver that'd support that argument for tech diving...

:)

R

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Originally Posted by seasnake

That's good advice Zero. I suppose that would be an endless debate, where you draw the line and start calling it tech diving. But it sounds like, maybe, your "instructor" was hoping you'd pay for another course?? :)

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Oh maybe, or maybe he just assumed I needed that much gas because I was going to go real deep. He works at the shop where I get my fills, so its hard to avoid him.

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I think more to it get some practise up on the gear so you know where it sits on you and how it all works. I know you arent going deep but still make sure you know what reg your on and where its matching SPG is.

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I guess, eventually, but I find just having the 4 regs hanging off my shoulder, I can just breathe off 1 until there's no more air, then switch to another. It's worked pretty good so far. then when one doesnt give air anymore, pass it back over your shoulder so you don't switch to it when the next one runs out of air.

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Originally Posted by CrazyHead

Well, he tried to tell me that to carry two stages I needed to take a "extended range" course. Which I believe, is where he takes you down to 180ft on air, not something *I* ever want to do. Not sure what that has to do with carrying stages either.

Yes, it was fun :)

He also thinks that using doubles, or even a backplate and wing, means tech.

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He's a quack.
Did you do planned decompression or gas switches? No.

Having the gear does not make you any more of a tech diver than a person who'd buy a rabbit fur coat and immediately think they were a rabbit.

I agree with with the comment that it sounds like the instructor just wants you to take more classes...
But out of curiousity-- why would you buy the "tech" gear if you didn't plan to go that route? Bp/w is understandable for the simplicity of the setup, but why stages and doubles?

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Originally Posted by SoCalDiveGirl

But out of curiousity-- why would you buy the "tech" gear if you didn't plan to go that route? Bp/w is understandable for the simplicity of the setup, but why stages and doubles?

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I got the gear so I could do long shore dives. There are some sites 1000 or 2000 feet out from shore I like to visit, or sometimes there are sites that just aren't near the entry point.

hello CrazyHead,
is it a good idea to breath your tanks dry one at a time?
when is your turning point? when do you know when to begin ending the dive ?
what if you blow an O-ring on your last tank and the other 3 are empty?
i would leave at least 350 psi in my tanks just in case, mark my reguloators so i know what comes from where, so there will be no doubt i would not wish to take a useless reg in to my mouth when i have no air.
Do you dive with a Buddy? i would be highly advised.
are you streamlined? if you have hoses dragging behind you, one of them might just get caught in something, more chance of accident, you could keep the hoses of the Pony tanks strapped and folded against them so you know exactly where you put them, and have east access to them.
whether its tekkie or not is not an issue in my eyes. if i were that instructor i would get in to the pool with you and help you out with your configuration.
i would take a Strees & Rescue course, if you have not taken one as yet, if only to imroove my diving so i would be prepared to save myself when need be.
also, suitable diving insurance if you have not got it.
a tech course would also help, yes, but im not trying to sell you anything.
life is important mate, if we do things that could put us in harms way, at least try to minimalise the dangers
none of us would like to be part of the statistics.
good safe diving :)

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Originally Posted by Diverdaniel

what if you blow an O-ring on your last tank and the other 3 are empty?
i would leave at least 350 psi in my tanks just in case, mark my reguloators so i know what comes from where, so there will be no doubt i would not wish to take a useless reg in to my mouth when i have no air.

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Id go a step further and not breath any tank down at once. If you swap regs every 10 bar you will always have around the same amount of gas in all your tanks and your turn around point is easy to work out.
As for the streamlining them have you ever tried sidemounts? Dive Rite do a kit for the Transpac 2 system that works great. Holds everything nice and close but aslo out of the way. There are a few others that make sidemounted BCs if you look around. Armadillo is another maker.

Matt

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Originally Posted by Diverdaniel

hello CrazyHead,
is it a good idea to breath your tanks dry one at a time?
when is your turning point? when do you know when to begin ending the dive ?
what if you blow an O-ring on your last tank and the other 3 are empty?
i would leave at least 350 psi in my tanks just in case, mark my reguloators so i know what comes from where, so there will be no doubt i would not wish to take a useless reg in to my mouth when i have no air.
Do you dive with a Buddy? i would be highly advised.
are you streamlined? if you have hoses dragging behind you, one of them might just get caught in something, more chance of accident, you could keep the hoses of the Pony tanks strapped and folded against them so you know exactly where you put them, and have east access to them.
whether its tekkie or not is not an issue in my eyes. if i were that instructor i would get in to the pool with you and help you out with your configuration.
i would take a Strees & Rescue course, if you have not taken one as yet, if only to imroove my diving so i would be prepared to save myself when need be.
also, suitable diving insurance if you have not got it.
a tech course would also help, yes, but im not trying to sell you anything.
life is important mate, if we do things that could put us in harms way, at least try to minimalise the dangers
none of us would like to be part of the statistics.
good safe diving :)

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Thanks I've printed out this thread and will take it with me on my next dive with stages.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Diverdaniel
what if you blow an O-ring on your last tank and the other 3 are empty?
i would leave at least 350 psi in my tanks just in case, mark my reguloators so i know what comes from where, so there will be no doubt i would not wish to take a useless reg in to my mouth when i have no air.

Id go a step further and not breath any tank down at once. If you swap regs every 10 bar you will always have around the same amount of gas in all your tanks and your turn around point is easy to work out.
As for the streamlining them have you ever tried sidemounts? Dive Rite do a kit for the Transpac 2 system that works great. Holds everything nice and close but aslo out of the way. There are a few others that make sidemounted BCs if you look around. Armadillo is another maker.

Matt

Dear Matt,
to manage ones gasses that way would be ideal.
only it would be task loading in such a way that would really indanger the diver, in my eyes at least. the rule of thrids would work nicely i think?

about sidemounts?
all i have to say is WOW
Man what a change.
nothing forward, and All round back, you have total freedon to move your arms.
i have made myself an armadillo style BP
works wonders when you need to work manually U/W
:)
i'll post pics sometime maybe

As a Solo diver and also as a Public Safety diver I have both tank mounted pony and a slung pony. Depends on the conditions! For Rec with a buddy I prefer a slung pony so I can detach it and hand it to a diver out of air and then back off and supervise their ascent. Some people have an agenda and others just want to sound important! :cool:

Hi

I cannot see the reasson why carrying a Pony/stage/sling silinder should be classified as tech..
(Maybe the instructor was so awe struck by what he saw.... he reckoned it must be "Tech" from the planet Aquamarinata):rolleyes:

I am a tech diver, and I regularily apply the safety techniques and skills I have learned, especially in the area of redundant gas supplies, and deco/safety stop planning when ever I go diving.
That does not mean that every dive on which I use my learned techniques and skills is a tech dive.
As matter of fact, our group are using "deep Stops" when ever we dive to + 30m (+/- 100Ft).
Does that make those dive "tech dives "?? Me think not.
As matter of fact, all dives are deco dives.....Some just have mandatory decompression stop obligations.
Your controlled rate of ascent (10m/33ft/min) IS part of your deco. (dont tell that to the instructor, he might fall over backward, or run down the road screaming)

Carrying additional gas supplies (redundancy) is an excellent habbit, IF you can safely handle the extra equipment. Whether it is in the form of independent doubles, manifolded doubles, singles with stage silinders or what ever configuration you would like.
Rather have too much, than not have enough... when you need it.

Practice good gas planning, and keep using your sling/stage silinder. (maybe get somewhere else to fill you silinders..;).

Regards

Johan

The amount of cylinders you carry is up to you. If you aren't going into deco and beyond your training, and as was previously stated you can handle the extra equipment, take a submersable with you if you want. If you should decide to start doing decompression dives though, you should absolutely get training.

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Originally Posted by gobfish1

This instructor is talking out of his back side , :rolleyes:

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I'll second that, sounds like a case of ignorance