Help this poor old wreckie

[jeandiver]

Many of us who cave dive steel tanks in wetsuits use double bladder wings.

The theoretical disadvantage of dual bladder wings is that the secondary bladder might have a slow undetected inflator leak - I just don't hitch up my secondary inflator. If I should have a primary wing failure, I can either orally inflate the secondary, or cross connect it to the primary side. I have never had to use it, but in a wetsuit and LP95's, I like knowing that I have redundant buoyancy.

Mike

Make that X3 (SMILE)
Ya , for us "wetties" it is a good thing. Like Mike , I have never had to use the secondary , but it's nice to have backup "floatie" thingies.

Beano

[diveconjeff]

I dive both wet and dry. I generally dive the dual bladder that has a spare lp hose sleeved with the inflator hose but not connected to the inflator. From what I gather, most folks that dive a dual bladder do something along this line as well. I also put a quick link at the bottom corner of my back plate with a small rubber o-ring to attach my backup inflator to. Sort of keeps it easy to find and out of the way.

I have had to use the back up bladder due to a manufacturer's defect that "popped" up in the primary bladder.

My food for thought? I wonder how may folks feel good about having the redundant bladder and have never tried it... If you have it you should be prepared to use it. If you never have, consider doing an exit some time using the redundant bladder. You might be surprised at how many "little things" are now a little different. For example if your light is on your right hand are you going to leave it there or would/could you move it to your left?

[jeandiver]

I dive both wet and dry. I generally dive the dual bladder that has a spare lp hose sleeved with the inflator hose but not connected to the inflator. From what I gather, most folks that dive a dual bladder do something along this line as well. I also put a quick link at the bottom corner of my back plate with a small rubber o-ring to attach my backup inflator to. Sort of keeps it easy to find and out of the way.

I have had to use the back up bladder due to a manufacturer's defect that "popped" up in the primary bladder.

My food for thought? I wonder how may folks feel good about having the redundant bladder and have never tried it... If you have it you should be prepared to use it. If you never have, consider doing an exit some time using the redundant bladder. You might be surprised at how many "little things" are now a little different. For example if your light is on your right hand are you going to leave it there or would/could you move it to your left?

Hey , maybe I will do that this Saturday (smile)
I think it's way past due. (eek)

Thank!
Beano

[sskasser]

Hey , maybe I will do that this Saturday (smile)
I think it's way past due. (eek)

Thank!
Beano

Ditto that! Good idea!

I test the 2nd bladder at home periodically, but not in the water. Shame on me!

[MORGAN]

Ditto that! Good idea!

You bet! When I went to a dual bladder wing, I had my secondary bladder LPI secured to the lower right corner of my backplate with some thin, easily breakable rubber tubing. It was tucked nicely out of the way between the light canister and the wing.

After probably 150 dives like this, it finally occurred to me (evidently I'm a slow learner) that maybe I ought to test how easily I could deploy it underwater. I was able to do it, but it was more of a hassle than I had anticipated. So I moved it onto my right shoulder strap, and I don't notice it there any more than where it was before.

Mike

[Sludge]

I was able to do it, but it was more of a hassle than I had anticipated.

As an open water diver I carried a SMB and reel for maybe a hundred dives before I ever practiced deploying it. Whoa. Easier said than done.

[packman]

As an open water diver I carried a SMB and reel for maybe a hundred dives before I ever practiced deploying it. Whoa. Easier said than done.

You would be surprised at how many people do that.

Or maybe not.