Beginner...questions on wing rigging and bungees

[kinetic]

Looking forward to doing my cavern to cave course later in the year.

My rig is currently configured, that is for my deco extended dives, with an OMS double bladder bungeed wing. This is my favoured and most comfortable set up for the dives i do, which do include some wreck penetrations (minimal).

Is it really a complete no no to dive bungeed wings? I find them easier to negotiate tight spots with. Even if they are an entaglement hazrard, tests that I have done with the rubber bungees is that they either tear/rip or (very occssionally) unravel when snagged. So are bungees really a problem?

I have never had a problem with bungees, but i am sure there are other views and they are welcome as I would love to know more.

Thanks.

k

Is it really a complete no no to dive bungeed wings?

Only to a certain group. :o

I've seen a few instances of divers putting bungees on wings that weren't designed for them, and I think this is a mistake. But if the wings were designed for bungees, I've never seen a problem.

I've dived about eight different wings, and the ones I have settled on for backmount diving are Scubapro ProTec wings, with bungees. I wouldn't consider removing the bungees.

I don't care for a double-bladder wing, but if you dive a wetsuit, I can see a call for one.

It's all about what YOU like and feel comfortable with.

Russell

[JDostal]

It's all about what YOU like and feel comfortable with.



Exactly.


Speak with your instructor as well. He/she will be able to help you out w/ any decisions.

[sdalcher]

I bought a set about 6 years ago and loved the bungied wings. They just pushed the air right out with the greatest of ease when deflating the wing. Then I did a stage dive that didn't work out so well. The wings kept popping the over pressure relief valve. I would be negative, fill the BC some and then within a minute I would be negative again. I was diving wet at the time, it was a real PITA. I wound up dumping the stage and everything was cool. On return to the surface, I cut all the bungies off. I rarely use this wing now as it is just a pain with routing the second corrugated hose someplace where it is easy to access, yet out of the way. When I do dive this wing, I do not hook up the second LP inflator. I route it with the corrugated hose, but it is not connected. It is pretty easy to accidently inflate the second bladder inadvertantly and then it can be a royal pain to dump the gas out of the second bladder. My $.02

[DeWayne]

Same as the other responses here, if it works for you that is all that should matter. I use a bungied double bladder wing, not because I need the extra lift but because the shape of the wing (long and slender) made it trim out much easier for me. The lift is overkill for my cylinder size, but it works for me where others did not. Go with what works and ignore those who try to tell you that you must look like one of the cool kids just to fit in.

[Serota]

I also dive with an OMS, dual bladder bungeed wing. It seems that the wing is very sensitive to any sort of compaction: I dived on Sat. with no issues with the wing. I backplate mount my light on the left side and on Sat. night noticed that it had come loose at the top. No big deal, I just reattached it. Next day, I immediately had issues of being continually tipped over to the right. I was unable to control this rolling by anything that I could do with the bladders &/or physically. Anyway, it turns out that I had reattached the light tighter to the wing, which was apparantly preventing proper filling. We tested this by having me dive with another wing, which helped but wasn't perfect, then took the light off and all was well. Not sure this is relevant to your issue, but thought I would pass it along.