GEAR CONFIGURATION AND ALTERNATIVE AIR SOURCE

Jacket style BCD, backplate, wing, double cylinders, single or redundant first stage, hogartian configuration, sidemount, closed circuit…

Major agencies normally do not require a specific gear configuration for teaching purpose, they only mention a list of the minimum standard necessary equipment and, SSI at least, specifically requires that the instructor, during the course, shall use the same configuration of the student.

In this scenario, there is not any prohibition, for the instructor, to choose any of the above mentioned configurations also for recreational entry level courses, under the condition, of course, that ALL skills can be performed properly by the student.

Given this many different configuration options, it is essential that the instructor, from the very first lesson, acts as a role model and an example, showing the correct gear set up and hoses positioning. Monkey see monkey do, they say: the first impression received by the students will impact on how they will set up their own gear in the future, when diving independently.

In this direction, in my own opinion primary relevance must be given to the management of the alternative air source (the yellow hose 😁), also in the light of the almost infinite possibilities offered by the many BCD brands and models available on the market. It is essential to remember that the alternative air source must be fastened in an accessible position and must be reached and released quickly and easily.

Too many time I saw divers just folding the yellow hose and shoving it through a random D ring of the jacket! Moreover, in any dive shop we walk in, we can see a vaste range of clips and hooks of any shape, that are “designed" to fasten the alternative air source to the jacket by the hose, or even worse, directly by the mouthpiece… 🤔. In addition, how often do we incur more or less handmade solutions such as O-ring, plastic ties, bungees, neoprene cuts?

Finally, taking into consideration the way we fasten the alternative air source to the jacket we should ask ourselves following questions:

 

1. Will I be able to locate and access the alternative air source in the shortest time possible, if needed?
2. How much strenght will I need to free the secondary regulator from its clip?
3. Am I sure that I am not going to damage (or worse to lose!) the mouthpiece if I pull too strong?
4. In case of necessity, is my buddy in the condition of locating, reaching and independently accessing to the alternative air source even without my cooperation?

In the light of my personal experience, the best solution is the simplest. When using recreational jacket type BCD, just fold the hose and put it in the octopus pocket right below your right armpit!

 

And you? How do you fasten the alternative air source to jour BCD?