>>
>>  How do/did you place your bungee, and how did you decide how tight to
make
>> them? Do you rebungee before every dive, or each season, or just as
needed?
>
>I followed the directions that came with them (I have the OMS type). First
you
>prestretch the bungees. Then fully inflate the wing. Next thread the bungee
>through the holes and tie a knot. Repeat until the wing is in full bondage!
>
>On week long boat trips I visually inspect the bungees at the beginning of
every
>day of diving (I inspect the inflator hoses, the corrugated hose, the elbow
at the
>wing, and test the inflator/wing to full inflation). If its a one day trip
I check
>the night before. I replace as needed. A broken bungee will affect your
trim, it
>will not put you in jeopardy of premature activation of the overpreasure
valve. I
>look again after any dive where I had a tight squeeze in a wreck and may
have cut
>something, which is not too often.
>
>Tom

Tom,
A few things came to mind as I read your checklist. In the Divers Supply,
Triple Death Tragedy, the surface water was around 74- 76 degrees, but the
water at 250 was closer to 50 to 55 degrees. I have heard that cold will
effect the elastic nature of these bungee cords, as well as the depth.  What
effect, if any, do you feel this could have had on a set of bungees that
were just "a little" too tight at the surface.

Also, since you feel it is prudent to check on your bungees before each new
dive day, I'll assume you would insist that those who do not, are creating a
risk for themselves--if not after one or two missed checks, after some
number of dives down the road--maybe a dozen, may be more. At some point,
the bungees may no longer be "safe" without being readjusted.
While it is very commendable that you check your gear this thoroughly, it
seems as though many other tech divers in the Florida area are far from this
level of prudence in their own gear checks.  It would appear as though many
will not check the bungees, at any time in a given dive year, and that a
tech student may be given an OMS bondage wing that has not been checked for
many dives, and this student may have no idea that it needs to be checked.
If this is the case, this awareness and requirement to check must become a
standard for agency enforcement, if OMS bondage style wings are expected  to
represent a gear configuration  that does not end up as fashionable dress
for the morgue :-)
Regards,
Dan Volker

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