DPV/Light Combination

[OutlawCaver]

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.

Thoughts appreicated.

Vince

[amphipod06]

We scooter with our lights on the left hand, my timer/depth gauge is on the right arm, trigger/throttle handle is the right.
Works great so far, no issues, and being right handed makes it easy as well.

Dive safe,

Celia

[Kelly Jessop]

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.

Thoughts appreicated.

Vince

Hey Vince I've seen this technique used quite well,especially when Tekna's are used with a lot of torque,but commonly many people use light in left hand,with DPV control in the right. A friend of mine that used to use the technique you described had a wobble in the pitch control,his light looked like someone with Parkinson's disease tremors.

[OutlawCaver]

I am curious how a person can see where they are going if they are reaching back with their light in their hand to retreive their SPG or how they don't blind themselves when they inflate their drysuit or BC.

[IowaCaveDiver]

I drive with right and illuminate with the left... I wear my computers on my left arm and have a small mask light on the left side of my head... I can see my guages just by glancing down with the mask light and when I do turn my light to flash my tank guages (sidemount) my little mask light gives me just enough light to see ahead... works for me.

-Matt

[amphipod06]

I am curious how a person can see where they are going if they are reaching back with their light in their hand to retreive their SPG or how they don't blind themselves when they inflate their drysuit or BC.

It's not too hard to swap momentarily, in order to check the spg. As far as the inflator, it only takes a second, and you'd be a fool not to slow down if you can't see where you're headed.
It's all technique and it works for most. I thought you were asking how others do things, not offering critique.
We have tried the right hand lighting with our particular scooter, not optimal.

Dive safe,

Celia

[OutlawCaver]

No critique. I apologize if it came off that way. Just thoughts that came to mind using left to light and right to drive. No doubt we have all tried different combinations. Still an evolution for me and I am not afraid to ask.

Thanks for the input.

Vince

Vince, are you not aware that if you don't hold your light in your left hand you will DIE? But don't feel bad, I was only told this last week.

I can't use a Goodman handle (I've tried one - didn't care for it), but I use something like what Moonfuzzy has in one of the random pictures at the top of the Forum. Mine is a suicide clip on the light head, and I stick my index finger in it. That puts the very last few inches of cord in my palm, but when I need to do something with my left hand, I can, and the light head dangles, so that it works kind of like a Goodman handle.

But you're right about being in the dark when you inflate or something. But that only takes a second or two (it's nice having a high-flow balanced inflator), and if I'm not in a big section of cave I let off the throttle momentarily.

When I'm scootering, I'm usually breathing off a stage. (An 80 lasts me longer than my scooter's max run time.) My stage configuration is such that I can look at the spg while moving.

But I'm always interested in how others do things.

[FW]

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.

Thoughts appreicated.

Vince

That is the way I do it. Kelly is right, in that it takes some practice so you don't bobble the scooter when moving the light, but it can be done.

[curtschu]

WAAAY back when we used to have Teknas and BIG reflectors on Halogen lights try holding a 6inch reflector scootering. We tucked the light under a bungee like a head light, then you had both hands free. But like I said those were the Bad Old Days and we are lucky to be alive.

Curt