Take a look at the diver in the photo. In most respects, he is doing a good job.
- His buoyancy is under control.
- He is maintaining horizontal trim.
- His body is far enough away from the bottom that he is unlikely to run into any fragile coral.
So, what is he doing wrong? As you’ve no doubt guessed, his octopus and console are dangling so far below him that they are likely to damage that fragile coral structure at any moment. And that’s inexcusable.
We frequently see this sort of thing going on at Blue Grotto. We don’t say anything, but you can bet we are gritting our teeth.
The problems with dangling gear
Dangling octopuses and consoles can cause at least four problems, including:
- As you’ve seen, they can easily damage fragile aquatic life.
- Dragged along the bottom, they can stir up silt and ruin visibility.
- Dangling equipment is easily damaged by coming into contact with other items.
- Unsecured octopuses and consoles can also be hard to find when you need them.
When your buddy tells you he is out of air, he needs your extra second stage right now, not when you get around to locating it.
By the way, in this article, we address common recreational equipment configurations. In cave and technical diving, we do things very differently. But we will address that in a separate article.
Securing your extra second stage
Your alternate-air-source second stage should be secured in a reliable holder.
Avoid the shiny plastic ones that are designed to surround the mouthpiece. They can be hard to use and often fail to hold the second stage securely.
Here are some better alternatives:
- The simplest holders are often the most reliable. A loop of rubber or bungee surrounds the mouthpiece yet will yield to a firm tug.
- Many newer BCs come with a special pocket In which you insert your extra second stage’s hose. These seem to work well.
- A recent development are these magnetic holders. Your second-stage hose goes through the hole in the bottom. The top and bottom sections are held together by a magnet that releases when you pull on it.
Securing your console
There was a time when most instrument consoles lacked any attachment points for snaps, clips or other hardware. Today, it is rare for a console not to have these.
There are many options for clipping off consoles to your BC or harness. Some are good; some not so good.
- On the one hand, we have various lanyards, retractors and leashes. While these may make your console easier to find, it may still dangle as far below you as before.
- One thing we often see are these high-pressure hose clips. They are not particularly reliable, and your hose can easily slip through them and cause the console to dangle well below you.
- Equally important is where you clip off your console. It is best if you do this to a shoulder D-ring or to one somewhere on the BC itself. Do not clip your console to the D-ring at the end of one of your BC cinch straps. If you do, it will hang down too low.
- As is often the case, simplest is usually best. Stainless snaps are simple and reliable. If clipped to a shoulder D-ring, they may allow you to read your console without having to unclip it.
Don’t let it happen
Make ensuring that your extra second stage and console are reliably secured part of your standard pre-dive check. Your equipment will thank you, and so will the environment.