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To Tom Mount and any of the quick release junkies:
Chris is correct with the post below, and one point should be emphasized
with respect to quick releases:
The shoulder straps should be loose enough to remove gear quickly. The TDI
instructor that taught me struggles for 3 or 4 minutes to get into his
harness. The only way he can take it off is by using quick releases. I did
too, until I uncrossed the shoulder straps, loosened them considerably,
removed the chest strap, and added the crotch strap. The crotch strap is
what keeps the rig stabilized with the loose straps. It's also much more
comfortable.
I think I hurt that TDI instructor's feelings when he saw how I bastardized
my harness <g>
Give it a try, and you might be surprised.
steve
----- Original Message -----
From: Chris Elmore <ElmoreC@gw*.sc*.ed*>
To: <David.Fletcher@ca*.co*.uk*>
Cc: <techdiver@aquanaut.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 29, 2000 10:59 AM
Subject: RE: Continuous webbing x Quick Releases
David,
The DIR continous webbing is easy to get out of and works in all
situations. I used to have trouble getting out of mine but realized that I
had my harness too tight. After loosening it I was able to get into it and
remove it quickly without assistance, It also didn't restrict breathing as
the too tight harness did. The buckle process you describe below sounds like
a workable compromise in some situations but it is just that- a compromise.
I can imagine several scenarios (cave restrictions, scootering, handling
emergencies, etc) where I would not want the buckle to come loose even if it
didn't go anwhere. The problem really starts compounding when you try to
restow the loop (just like the CF that occurs when you need to restow a
stuffed long hose).
I am amazed how the internet has become an almost instantaneous global
peer review. This is a good thing. Like a scientific journal, a new standard
("paradigm" if you can stand hearing that word just once more) can be
presented and debated. Unfortunately, many people (I'm not saying "you")
believe that DIR was thought up one night over a couple of beers. This
couldn't be farther from the truth. Much of DIR had it's origins in accident
analysis then evolved to fine tuning the main ideas as a result of incident
analysis. For example: When some support divers had difficulty understanding
George's hand signals at depth the EAD was raised from 130' to 100'. The
accelerated deco that we do was a long process of discussing previous dive
results with the top physiology gurus and examining ways to incorporate
theory with results. This was a slow process of an educated pushing of the
envelope which was validated by George, JJ, Brent, et al, before being
passed to the rest of the team. What we do has raised the interest of many
researchers, in part, because the informed consent and prohibition against
doing what is perceived as dangerous procedures on volunteers would prohibit
doing the experimentation we have already done. To answer another member of
this list, yes, we *are* re-writing the book. By the time a technique is
posted to the list by the WKPP it has generally been tried and proven within
the team and also adopted by some international affiliates. So far, I have
seen no valid criticism of any DIR procedure. It is in use globally in every
conceivable kind of diving. If for some reason it doesn't work in a
particular case then insure that you are configured correctly (i.e., the
harness isn't too tight to begin with). None of these procedures are
patented or copyrighted (OK, maybe some of the GUE stuff is copyrighted).
The WKPP is not in "the business" of selling equipment or instruction. The
information is all free for the taking and most of it is much less expensive
than what the monkeys in Gooberville want to sell.
C.
P.S. My contact information is in my signature line- always has been, always
will be. I don't respond to email that doesn't have a valid signature.
Thanks for listening.
Chris Elmore
College of Liberal Arts
Univ. of SC
(803) 777-1534 office
(803) 348-3055 mobile
Please use this address for all email: chris@sc*.ed*
>>> "Fletcher, David " <David.Fletcher@ca*.co*.uk*> 02/29 6:16 AM >>>
Then a crusty old engineer chimed in with a compromise: you dont need to
break the webbing to make it easier to ditch, you just need to make one arm
strap a bit longer. Therefore, catch a short loop of webbing in a quick
release down the bottom of the strap on the left hand side , leaving it
tucked away to avoid snag hazards. As long as the loop is not too long (6 or
8 inches is ample), even if it does release by itself its no big problem,
and if you were dealing with something else you could afford to ignore it
until the emergency had passed.
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