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On Thu, 11 Mar 1999, Daniel Smith wrote: > With all of the great advice on the DIR system, I have a question. > Where and how would DIR attach an up line for a single 120. What > deployment method would be used? I know how to use an up line, so > that is not the question. Also any other suggestions other than > directly between the two tanks for attachment when using doubles? There was a thread about this on the list a few months ago. Check the archives at http://www.aquanaut.com - you'll see the discussion diverged a bit, into ascent techniques and diving styles in different regions. That was a great discussion. I gather from your question that you dive the NE US coast. So do I (NJ). It appears that the concept of a separate upline is unique to the region. I've used a system that is unchanged for double and single cylinder use, and I'm unhappy with it. Here it is anyway. I put three large rubber bands, made by cutting sections from a truck tire inner tube, on my right-hand (or single) cylinder. I use a small version of the "jersey" upline wound with 250 feet of 1/8 inch braided nylon line, and use two of the rubber bands (the third is a spare) to hold that spool to the outside of the cylinder, up against the wing. A similar arrangement on the other cylinder (or other side of the single) holds the lift bag. There are a few reasons I don't like this arrangement. One, I've had the spool move around toward the back of the cylinder, putting it out of reach. Two, I've "almost" dropped the spool while disengaging it, since it's not visible and everything has to be done by feel. Third, I've had the lift bag slip out on its own and disappear (and I've seen the same three things happen to other similarly rigged divers). Fourth, there's no place left to put an argon bottle in the DIR style. Halcyon makes the "Stealth Pack", which is a pocket the mounts on the inside of the backplate, which makes a much better place to store the lift bag. I will be taking this approach starting this season. (I have also been using an open bottom lift bag, its time to switch to a closed back with overpressure relief.) See the Halcyon web site at http://www.halcyon.net. Regarding the line itself, some on the list have suggested using a primary reel which would be clipped off on the left hip D-ring, or possibly on a D-ring on the crotch strap directly under the cylinders. At this time my primary reel is wound with "cave line" (#24 nylon) which I am not confident would handle the load. Another concern I have in relying on the primary reel for this purpose is that I could be using the line for navigation, and need to go up at maximum excursion from my tie-in, possibly not having enough line left on the reel to make the surface. This could especially be true if the reel is wound with heavier line. A really large primary reel doesn't seem like the best answer. If I'm going to carry two reels, the one I use as an emergency upline might as well be spool I currently use for that purpose. I could clip that on the rear crotch D-ring. Some sort of security line is needed since this is still a "blind" spot, and its possible to loose grip on the spool when retrieving it. I will probably try this approach first. In any event, I think the large "jersey" spool with sisal is a poor choice for an emergency line, owing to the bulk of the spool and the fragility of the sisal after multiple exposures to sea water. Placement of this large spool between the doubles also represents a serious entanglement hazard, in a blind spot to boot, and increases your vertical profile which impacts streamlining and transit through tight spots in a wreck. -- Art Greenberg artg@ec*.ne* -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
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