Mailing List Archive Mailing List Archive
Hi Paul, It's interesting to me that several people have asked me this same question. There is no deep dark secret to working with the O.M.S. bags (these are the only ones with which I have any experience) except in not letting some "expert" zealots tell you that theirs is the only way to do it. I make no claims that mine is the "correct" way but you asked, so here it is. I only dive in warm water and simply take my primary (long hose) out of my mouth and stick it in the bottom of the bag, press the purge for a few seconds and then put the primary back in my mouth. In a little more detail, I unfurl the bag (it seems to float up nicely), clip it to the reel (looped twice in the clip), UNLOCK THE REEL, and hold both the handle of the reel and the end of the bag in my left hand, arranged so I can release the bag and still hold onto the reel. Then I make sure I am at neutral buoyancy, take a breath, stick my right hand with my primary regulator 5 or 6 inches into the end of the bag, put gas into the bag from the primary, release the bag, put my primary back in my mouth and then use my right hand to help control the spinning reel. I tried switching to my secondary around my neck before filling the bag, but then I needed to drop the primary immediately so I could touch and control the spinning reel. And often the primary would then free flow. It is just about as fast to put it back in my mouth, and I don't seem to have a free flow problem. Recall that for me after the bag starts up, my left hand is holding the handle of the reel and my right hand is lightly touching the spinning reel to act as a brake to prevent the reel from overspinning and snarling. ..... In my experience, if divers do not use both hands on the reel, a problem in putting up the bag is commonly the result. Also for me, I find it easier if I position my hold on the bag such that the regulator in my right hand is between my left hand holding the bag flap and my body. When I do it with the regulator on the outside of my left hand, the gas sometimes seems to go up the side of the bag rather than into the bag. But this may well be simply my off kilter personality. In addition, this method does require around a cuft. of back gas for a 50 lb. bag, so you need to keep this in mind. However I am usually already off my back gas by the time I put up a lift bag. Good luck with your bag. Practice does make better, but sometimes I feel not quick enough. I want instant satisfaction, now. Take care and safe diving, Scott In a message dated 8/13/00 9:29:13 AM, Bakalite@ba*.co* writes: << <ScottBonis@ao*.co*> wrote: > >I do agree with you that << Closed bags are a good idea in many applications >..... >> But I think that I would say "almost all applications." Scott, I have the Halcyon bag. It's a closed bag design. I have to say that filling it is more hassle than filling an open bag. Do you use a separate hose, your drysuit inflator or your BC inflator? Could you detail how you go about filling the bag? THanks. -- Paul Braunbehrens mailto:Bakalite@ba*.co* >> -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
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]