How to switch with 2 deco bottles?

[SUB ZERO]

I have a question for those who do 2 bottle deco, say 50% and 100%. When you reach the second, shallower switch, what do you do with the deco reg that is already in your mouth? Do you

a) prefer to clip it to the right D ring where the primary is clipped and allow it to remain there until you surface.

b) prefer to switch to back gas to give yourself an air break, stow the 50% reg and then make the switch to pure O2?

c) prefer to switch to pure O2 from 50% and then stow it while breathing O2?

I will be drilling second bottle management so I would like to know your recommendations.

[grantctobin]

Switching directly from one deco gas to the next is asinine. Back gas, stow, switch.

[Jim Wyatt]

Switching directly from one deco gas to the next is asinine.

asinine..? Please explain.

[tbone1004]

direct deco gas switching is super messy. High risk of hoses getting twisted and it's just generally a PITA. When you leave your 30ft stop and head to 20, then you switch to backgas, stow the 50% bottle, then deploy the 100% bottle. I usually nose clip the dead bottles or put them on a leash.

I like this approach.
https://youtu.be/ATfl-ou2_Yc

[TraviTheDiver]

direct deco gas switching is super messy. High risk of hoses getting twisted and it's just generally a PITA. When you leave your 30ft stop and head to 20, then you switch to backgas, stow the 50% bottle, then deploy the 100% bottle. I usually nose clip the dead bottles or put them on a leash.

I like this approach.
https://youtu.be/ATfl-ou2_Yc

Out of curiosity - why leash the 3rd bottle to the hip d-ring and not butt d-ring?

[RGU]

Interesting! In 27 years of trimix diving I have always switched directly from 50% to O2. I will have to try going to back gas between 30 and20. It seems to make sense.

[rddvet]

Interesting! In 27 years of trimix diving I have always switched directly from 50% to O2. I will have to try going to back gas between 30 and20. It seems to make sense.

Its definitely a much cleaner way to go. Even when diving stages and one deco bottle I used to keep the stage hose wrapped around my neck. I stopped and now do it as described above and am much happier. Unfortunately I wasnt taught that way either and I also as never taught the most ideal switch procedures. I had to learn through mentors and experience.


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[mndiver67]

Direct switch from 50% to 100% then stow the hose and reg on the 50%. Guess I don't get how its such a mess to do that way. I don't live in cave country so when I'm doing this its coming up a line from a wreck often times with current.

[TraviTheDiver]

Direct switch from 50% to 100% then stow the hose and reg on the 50%. Guess I don't get how its such a mess to do that way. I don't live in cave country so when I'm doing this its coming up a line from a wreck often times with current.

Direct switch = 3 2nd stages hanging around (50 + 100 + BG)

Switch to BG = 2 2nd stages hanging around (50 + BG) then (BG + 100)

It's just about eliminating risk. Breathing the wrong gas is still a considerable root cause of too many diving related accidents. This, along with proper bottle marking and buddy verification, helps minimize the risk.

[fishinmaniac]

Switch from 50 to 100, stow the 50 regulator afterwards. No need to make mountains out of molehills.


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