DPV/Light Combination

[traveler]

I would like some opinions on preferred DPV and light handing. I prefer to drive and hold my light in the same hand. For me, that is my right hand and it allows me to check my SPG, control buoyancy and drysuit inflation with my left. Granted most light signals are challenging but I do like the free hand on the fly. I can only see where my DPV is pointed but hey that may be a good thing.

My lights have a Goodman handle with a thumb ring, and my scooters are Gavins with the Mako type trigger/handle. My "home position" is to drive with the right hand and light with the left. I move away from this position to perform certain tasks as described below, but always return to it and spend most of my time this way. Separate hands allows the greatest control for both the light and the scooter, while in contrast controlling both with the same hand reduces finesse and without care can setup a vibration in the light that can be very distracting to my buddy.

I shift the light to my right hand when I'm anticipating a need for buoyancy adjustment. This allows me to keep my light facing forward (and still allows a modest degree of signalling), while staying on the trigger. It's important not to bobble the light in making the transition from left to right, or it could be misinterpreted by my buddy as a signal or some indication of dischord. The thumb ring is useful to that end -- my hand is broad enough to fill the complete width of the Goodman handle (leaving no room for the thumb until the handle is pushed forward to the fingertips), but for someone with a narrower hand the ring can be superfluous. Anyway, when I'm back on a level track, I shift the light back to the home position.

Most of my time scootering I'm breathing a stage, so to check its SPG I just move the light (with my left hand) to charge the phosphor on the SPG, then move the light back forward again where my buddy is looking for it and so I can see where I'm going. Most of my stage regs are setup so I can then just tuck my chin and glance down at it, perhaps nudging the stage a bit with my elbow. I have a few that are just at a lousy angle, though, and to read those I shift the light to my right hand as described above and then use my left hand to do whatever I need to do to see the SPG, then shift the light back to the left when I'm done.

To check my back gas SPG, I charge the phosphor, shift the light to the right hand, look at the SPG, put it away, and then return to home position.

To charge the phosphor on my compass (left forearm), I shift the light to the right hand, and pull back on the scooter a bit while stretching my left arm forward. When i'm done, back to the home position.

In addition to switching hands to perform these discrete tasks, I'll also shift hands now and then to just stretch. My arm muscles, elbows, and shoulders get a little sore when they stay in one position too long, due to old football injuries, hauling stuff around on the surface, and just the gradual path to becoming an old fart that we're all somewhere along. Anyway, stretching from time to time helps.

I also mix it up a bit on which finger I use to control the trigger. All but the pinky seem to be effective and comfortable. One thing that helps is to NOT use the index finger on the trigger during the moments when I've got the light on my right thumb -- this prevents the Goodman handle from laying directly against the scooter handle, which to a significant degree will mute the vibration transfer mentioned above. It also increases the ability to signal somewhat.

[johnnyrichards]

DPV in left hand- light in right hand- temporarily switch when necessary or to relax and stretch my left arm.

Johnny

[FW]

DPV in left hand- light in right hand- temporarily switch when necessary or to relax and stretch my left arm.

Johnny

Can you reach the inflator hose without switching hands?

[Webmaster]

And here I thought that's what the big light on the front of the scooter is for.

So if you have a light in one hand how do you activate your turn signals on your scooter? Or the underwater horn or cigarette lighter?

[Jordan]

Iowacavediver (and any other sidemounting scooterers...): Have you been able to switch regs without stopping the scooter yet?

Cheers

[DeWayne]

Iowacavediver (and any other sidemounting scooterers...): Have you been able to switch regs without stopping the scooter yet?

Cheers

It's not too difficult Jordan. I usually just switch hands (grab the throttle with my left hand which has my light) but having a small mask light (mini Q40 LED) provides enough illumination for me to shift my primary away from the tunnel momentarily without being totally in the dark. I have been playing hell getting that cigarette lighter to work though

[Jordan]

Yo DeWayne,

I don't think we're talking about the same thing here....sorry I hijacked the thread and went on to talk about switching regs whilst scootering. What do lights have anything to do with that?

I beg to differ, I don't think it's that easy (yet I can somehow manage it). I'm always worried about dropping one of my 2nd stages into my prop.

I was really just wondering if iowacavediver (whom I taught how to sidemount) can perform this skill yet.

Cheers

[aainslie]

Yo DeWayne,

I don't think we're talking about the same thing here....sorry I hijacked the thread and went on to talk about switching regs whilst scootering. What do lights have anything to do with that?

I beg to differ, I don't think it's that easy (yet I can somehow manage it). I'm always worried about dropping one of my 2nd stages into my prop.

I was really just wondering if iowacavediver (whom I taught how to sidemount) can perform this skill yet.

Cheers

hey Jordan,

I have a SS, and of course one of your GREAT sidemount rigs. I route my hoses (as taught) one around the back of my neck and a real short one around the front that gets clipped offwhen not in use.

If I use the throttle lock screw as a "cruise control" I just move the scooter to my left hand, and it's reasonably easy to change regs. But I need a big open section of cave to do it as it's easy for your attention to wander. And of course I'm still a newbie at this.

DeWayne, I also use a Q40 on my mask - those things rock!

[DeWayne]

Well Jordan, with one hand on the trigger and the other holding your primary that means that you either have to divert your light to swap regs while scootering or else change hands on the trigger. I keep both my regs clipped off to a bungie around my neck, so it is merely a matter of spitting one out and placing the other in to perform a reg swap. It really is not all that difficult once get a routine established and practice it a bit. BTW, the Nomad really rocks! Like Andrew I try to minimize my hose length by bungieing the excess to each cylinder. I went to an Apeks XTX for my left reg, so no need to route hoses behind my neck. The only thing I dislike about that is the funky mouthpiece that comes on Apeks regs. With a fresh set of batts, the mini Q40 LED provides me enough light to see where I am going while at a moderate speed in familiar tunnels, so using my left hand with my primary attached to complete the reg swap does not cause me great difficulty. You should know by now that when you ask a question in an open thread you are likely to get responses from several even if you specify who the question was addressed to

[swadiver]

vince, what made you rethink this ?