Lessons Learned Gear Configuration

[RN]

My inflator comes over my left shoulder. It is a pretty short hose and routes across to the right d ring where it is clipped off. I can operate it with my chin if needed and easily orally inflate too. I do not need to unclip to dump vertically. It is super clean and seems to allow for dumping from any angle without any snag points. Again, I'm definitely not a person who believes there is only one way to do things. I some clips that some people would hate - choosing to use them because they don't jam with silt and I can operate them in freezing water.
So I guess my lesson is "look at everything in your kit - does it serve you? What are pros and cons?" Look at all your own diving environments and conditions and find an answer that works well for you.
Jill

I completely agree. Your gear has to work for you. And you need to be fully aware of why you have it configured the way you do and if it's worth the risks. There are risks involved with having the dump on the shoulder. I've had limestone percolate off the ceiling and jam my dump open a couple of times. Both times were easily dealt with by just using my dry suit for buoyancy control. But my current configuration still works for me, especially since those 2 times make up less than 1% of all the times it could have happened to me and it was easily dealt with.

Thanks for posting your incident on your site, Jill! If nothing else, hopefully, it will get people to think about their gear and the types of dives they are doing.

[mikemega]

My inflator comes over my left shoulder. It is a pretty short hose and routes across to the right d ring where it is clipped off. I can operate it with my chin if needed and easily orally inflate too. I do not need to unclip to dump vertically. It is super clean and seems to allow for dumping from any angle without any snag points. Again, I'm definitely not a person who believes there is only one way to do things. I some clips that some people would hate - choosing to use them because they don't jam with silt and I can operate them in freezing water.
So I guess my lesson is "look at everything in your kit - does it serve you? What are pros and cons?" Look at all your own diving environments and conditions and find an answer that works well for you.
Jill

On my Nomad, I have have also reversed the inflator hose and dump valve, attaching the inflator to my LH chest D ring. Very convenient, took a little time getting used to, but now my dump, inflator hose (longer then supplied /with dump cord), and dry suit inflator are within a hand width. BUT, if I got into a tight situation and could not get my hand to my chest, I might find myself in a similar DS situation. I don't do much tight stuff, but if I did, I would configure some plan B flexibility in at the expense of convenience.

[Kevin Carlisle]

I don't really understand how its a configuration issue. I was taught to dump the air before getting in a restriction since there is no reason to have air in a wing while scrubbing on top and bottom. As I am still building skills in small stuff I know its not a skill you learn overnight. I think it was her buddies lack of experience in tight passages that was the determining factor and not configuration. Very thankful you made it out Jill and are willing to tell your story.

[sam]

So, it was your initials in Cow?

That was the first thing I thought too lol

[Gene Powell]

I tried the upside down method, but I didn't like having to dump from my shoulder.
As far as inexperience being the problem, I was taught to make my gas supply outlast my dive, but I spend quite a bit of my time thinking about how to deal with an "out of gas" situation. I think the biggest mistake a person can make is relying on everything going perfectly. A more forgiving configuration can make things easier when dealing with other problems.

[jmw]

I know this is an old thread, but if I where in that situation I would just suck the air out of the inflator. Any reason this would not work?

[kwinter]

I know this is an old thread, but if I where in that situation I would just suck the air out of the inflator. Any reason this would not work?

Been there, done that. Worked fine.

[FW]

The biggest problem would come if you needed both hands to navigate, repair broken line, etc. Which was what Jill was faced with.