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So this is not meant to start any kind of religious debate or anything, I'm just curious on the rationale for why people pick. Mine is as follows:
The left pocket is the utility pocket because my stages/deco bottles are on the left, so getting into it is more time consuming. In an emergency, I need my emergency stuff readily accessible, so that goes in my right pocket because my right side is clear of any obstructions.
What about you?
I'm the opposite. Right pocket has my reels and primary lift bag when not in cave
Left pocket has wet note. Spare mask
I do see ur point with accessibility though.
Not much in my pockets that cannot wait an extra minute or two though. So I opt for convenience by having all spools in right pocket as they are needed throughout the dive. This is also for consistency with buddies who been trained similarly
Just put your stuff in a pocket and get on with life.
Man Purse on the butt ring. Accessible with either hand.
U mean a sachel? (Don't know the spelling)
Kind of a hard question to answer because I have things in either pocket that could or should be used in an emergency depending on the emergency.
FannypackQuote:
Originally Posted by patpicos
I like it.Quote:
Originally Posted by PfcAJ
I'm right-hand dominant. As a result, I'm more comfortable having in my right side pocket only my safety spool and most reliable, and most useful, backup light in my right-side pocket. Also, I wear my primary lighthead on my left hand.
WOW a question that might get many different more answers then what have been said.
Um if you have 2 stages then both pockets are just as covered. I think it should be more of witch is your dominate hand Left or Right? What works for me might not for you. I een for got what about 3 stages or 4. It might take time in OW to keep playing around and work on it.
When I start a dive with 2 stages, they're both on top of my sidemount tanks, which would not affect my choice of which pocket to favor in case of emergency or urgency. With 3 stages, the third stage is on my left, adding to the reasons of right-hand dominance and lighthead on the left hand for my choice of the right side pocket.Quote:
Originally Posted by SLIM
Stages on the left :)Quote:
Originally Posted by SLIM
Diving sidemount, I use a chest bag. The bag can be easily removed and also the location makes it easy to access anything I need.
What "emergency stuff" are you talking about?? I think this matters because what you and I call "emergency stuff" might be drastically different.Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael.guerrero
Yeah, Indiana Jones wore one!Quote:
Originally Posted by patpicos
With trained muscle memory it won't matter.
Stuff I think I'm going to use - left. Stuff not planning to use - right. Habit.
i typically put important stuff (safety spool, backup mask) in the right cus it's easier to get out.
everything else gets stuffed wherever there is room left over
I don't understand why that matters.Quote:
Originally Posted by victorzamora
Everything I could need in an emergency is within reach. Backup/Stage regulators, backup light (on mask), two safety spools (on butt D-ring).
Anything non urgent like a backup mask, more backup lights, wetnotes, is in some pocket that takes a minute or so to open, access and close.
Do you call your backup mask "emergency stuff"? I don't. I don't really keep ANY "emergency stuff" in pockets as I need immediate access to it. Stuff I don't NEED goes in pockets. One backup light (for signalling buddy) is always in short reach (clipped to harness) and my safety reel/spool are within short reach (clipped to butt). Nothing that I consider urgent gets tucked away. Non-essentials like backup mask, wetnotes, etc gets tucked away.Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael.guerrero
Holy crap, I just read Oliver's post and agree fully!
As to WHERE I keep my non-essential stuff: I keep the stuff I need more often in my right pocket because I find it easier to access. That is: extra backup lights, wet notes, and a lanyard-clip (for looping around and clipping off random stuff). My left pocket gets just my backup mask. If I'm diving with a screwdriver (or whatever) then I'd stuff it in my right pocket to protect my mask. I like keeping pockets no more full than what I've described due to diving sidemount.
Same as Oliver and Victor. I got rid of leg pockets when I went sidemount. Everything is mounted somewhere accessible. I don't carry a backup mask.
the further you get from the door, the more important that backup mask becomesQuote:
Originally Posted by victorzamora
flame away but I dive with the Dive Rite thigh pockets, allows you to turn the pocket when you need it and also pick it up if it is too low. I don't always dive with them though. Don't carry a backup mask. I can see just fine without one. You put one hand up to one eye and exhale a bit to create an air pocket. This allows you to see your computer, nothing else really requires vision, so I just don't carry it.
I use a wrist slate for easier dives, wetnotes go in the pocket, extra double ender, extra light/glotoob, extra spool, don't need two for that stuff, so put them all in one pocket on the left.
Scootering any distance without it is a neat trick.Quote:
Originally Posted by tbone1004
Generally speaking, I think at least 1 mask per team is a smart move. Even swimming, not having a mask either slows you down or makes you dependent on another diver. Neither of those things are ideal.
I typically carry one with me on bigger dives. On small dives I just don't always bother. Either way, I wouldn't call a spare mask an "emergency" item.Quote:
Originally Posted by PfcAJ
Emergency means different things to different folks.
Things you plan to use and things you don't plan to use is better terminology, imo.
I agree, but it depends on the dive. Most of my dives it would simply be uncomfortable. What are the chances of a catastrophic mask failure? (seriously asking, I'm not sure I've heard of one)Quote:
Originally Posted by PfcAJ
true, and I'll give you that, but I also rarely do dives that would justify carrying one, if I was scootering I'd bring one more as a "lost mask backup" instead of a broken mask backup. For real deep wrecks I also carry one, but not on normal dives. Hog Razorback is a nice little one for pocket storage btw. Super cheap too
Probably rather slim, but I have personally seen the lens pop out of a high end mask before and more than a handful of strap/buckle failures.Quote:
Originally Posted by Greenwood_60