Mailing List Archive

Mailing List: cavers

Message Display

> Please explain the DIR method of long hose storage and deployment and why it 
> is safer than "stuffing". It seems (to a newbie)
> that the primary first stage would be hard to pass to your buddy if he (or 
> she) were leading in a tight spot.
> Thanks,

Steve,
	The long hose comes off the right manifold post because the right post is not 
prone to roll-offs. In an emergency you would be on the short hose (from the 
left post) and better able to deal with a roll-off. The long hose then goes 
close along the right side and under the battery canister on the right side. 
From there it goes across the chest to the left shoulder and loops behind the 
neck which places the second stage at the divers mouth coming from the right as 
usual. Nothing goes over the long hose. In an emergency it is deployed by 
grabbing the second stage (which you know was working as recently as your last 
breath) and extend your arm as you slightly dip your head. A quick flip of the 
hose will get it out from under the canister- this can be done before or after 
the OOA diver receives the second stage as required. You can switch to your 
back-up reg which is stowed in a bungie around your neck as you are deploying 
the long hose reg.
	This process keeps the long hose stowed up against your body 
for streamlining and to ensure that it is not getting scraped against any cave 
surface. A big advantage to this configuration is the ability to quickly restow 
the long hose without the help of a buddy. This allows you to deploy it even if 
you just suspect a problem or quickly restow if the OOA diver loses the ability 
to handle the reg himself and has to be transported to the surface.
	In a restricted environment an unstowed long hose can become an extreme 
liability.

C.
 

Chris Elmore
University of SC
(803) 777-1534 office
(803) 348-3055 mobile
Chris@sc*.ed*

Navigate by Author: [Previous] [Next] [Author Search Index]
Navigate by Subject: [Previous] [Next] [Subject Search Index]

[Send Reply] [Send Message with New Topic]

[Search Selection] [Mailing List Home] [Home]