What personally stood out the most to me from your Kit set-up was that you had a bit of bungie cord to keep the BCD Inflator in place. I am going to go and copy that now. Smart!
Hi Mark. Something that would be really great to have a video on....regulator maintenance. How to properly clean, store, how to keep them in top condition!
Awesome! Can’t wait for that. I’ve just bought a new set of regs (MTX-RC) and want to make sure I maintain/store them as I should....after we can get diving again 🤿
The first thing you want to do is unscrew the breathing adjustment as much as possible so there's as little pressure on the seat as possible. That way they will last better between services. But yeah I'll show you the key areas to wash and clean to keep your fancy regulators as fancy as possible for longer
I’m so glad I skipped diving twins and went right to breathers that shit looks so damn heavy my breather only weighs 70lbs with 20lbs lead mount to it for my dry suit lol in wetsuit I only need 10lbs lead
Hi Mark, Have you considered having the tail from your weight belt and harness pointing in opposite directions in order to know by feel which one you're got?
If you have your light on your right hand and you pass off your long hose with your right hand then the person gets blinded by the light as you try to get air to them.
I noticed you have a solo pressure gauge, and a solo compass (wrist mount), but for depth, would you just rely on the perdix? Also, do you use a backup computer, or AI for the perdix? (Currently I am debating if I want a second computer with AI vs a manual pressure gauge, or get both?)
Thanks for the vid! In terms of spg clipped off on left left hip d ring, would you move/adjust this if you were carrying a sling tank on your left hand side also? I find myself a bit cluttered. I don't have AI hence can't just rely on my computer and prefer not to have my pony (40cu) on the right for greater freedom on my "doing" side. Cheers!
Nah, you still have access to your hip D-Ring with a Stage Tank, it can get a bit crowded on your left hip but you can always tell which boltsnap is which. Check out ISE, they have some great in-water demos so you can see setups in some nice blue water: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ATfl-ou2_Yc.html
Hey Mark, your videos are great. I'm in the process of changing to a long hose set up and so many argue about miflex or rubber specifically on the long hose. I hear complaints of being "floaty". How do you feel about it?
Hey Mark, first off thanks very much for the continued videos and glad to find you here on your new channel. Very informative and I think you do a great job helping divers clean up their configurations. I also dive an 4E Argonaut but was just curious what you’ve done for your dry glove system with it. I’m looking to make a change from the factory system since it is too bulky on my thin wrists to clip easily 😅
I'm not a fan of boltsnaps on hoses, I find they can damage them. I use a length of line from an old spool so it can be cut away if ever needed. Here's how I tie the knot: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-d_biFy4U4d0.html
Hi! The two elastic webbing straps? They're Shearwater bungee straps, they come with the Perdix, but you can buy them separately. Just search for Shearwater straps and they should pop up
The “too many D rings” thing struck a chord - when I learned a few years back thought you needed loads - it then changed to be thigh pockets and take only what’s needed as I dived more - and looked back and laughed at what my first efforts looked like trim wise!!
Looking great buddy that you lost that weight you didn't need, you should also trim down that beard. I'm sure the wife loves it as well. Great reviews on your gear buddy. Dive Safe 👌🏼
Lots of ways to lose that long hose and have it dragging behind you if not clipped off. Seems the necklace hose is a bit long and interferes with your D-Ring but then you likely didn't have a tank on for demonstration so just a pointer for others when setting up.
Hi Mark,thank you for making all these greatvideos, they are so helpful that I watch them again and again whenever I’m thinking of changing my setups. Best regards for you.
Nice video. I am using a jacket style bcd now. For the last 10 years i was using wings. In the same order you presented your configuration , mine goes as follows: 1) Back up second stage hanging on neck 2) spg clipped on left d ring at waist level. 3) Torch clipped on d ring below inflator secured with bungee. 4) Left pocket contains reel+smb+shaker. 5) Right pocket contains knife+ net bag for garbage+ analog depth meter + compass. I have integrated weight pockets so no weight belt unless if i use the aloum tank instead of my steel tank so i put a 2kg weight belt on. Dive computer on right arm, camera clipped on right d ring at waist level. No back up mask
Hi, Mark is the Fourth Element the same as the Ursuit Kevlar BDS? How long did you have it and did it give you issues with water ingress? I loved my Ursuit Kevlar BDS but water started to ingress, after one year of use. At first, I was thinking it is my seals or valves so I had the drysuit serviced. Water ingress slowly became more like a river. How is your Fourth Element holding up?
You should clip on the Boltsnaps to your shoulder the opposite way tho, so that the trigger faces away from your body. That way it can't open accidentally by rubbing on your body. Little rule I learned from the inner space explorers channel that you recommended 😉
I disagree with having the small inflator hose for the simple fact that if something were to happen to you where you couldn't respond if someone came up and pulled on youre inlator hose it would most likely break off the hose and cause a major free flow. I know that not everyone has a dump valve built into their inflator hose but to those who are used to having those it may cause an issue in the future. Besides that looks good for trying to make everything minamilist with all the gear.
Mark, any specific reason why the buckle of your belt go pass through the crotch strap? I've been looking through various forums and there seems to be different opinions on the matter. Some would like to keep it to the left part of your body (not going through the crotch strap) while others (and on most promotional photos of a backplate setup) it is through the strap
Yeah, I love my Argonaut. I haven't seen the new Hydra first hand yet but I'd like to see how that feels. I'm surprised that they didn't put pockets on it to make it more of a competitor to the D10.
Hey Mark, I consider buying Exposure torch, but they don't have this nice handles on the website at all. Could I buy it elsewhere? Thanks a lot for the answer!
My one just came with the torch. Double check what's included in the box as it may be included. The new Apeks torches are made by EM so it may be worth looking at them also, the Luna comes with the fabric handle and the ADV will come with the metal handle if they ever release it...
Hi Mark, I love all your video's. As a novice diver I was wondering were do you keep your back-up depth gauge. I notice you have the compass and pressure gauge but no depth gauge. Are you just relying on your computer for the depth, if so, what happens if the computer goes out? Or is it I missing something?
The back up depth gauge in tech is a spool/smb with knots at 10ft intervals. You missed the Shearwater on his right arm. For deep dives, two computers but it is extremally rare to have one fail on a dive, unless you love Suunto. Even then, you can often just look up an see how deep you are.
On my recreational setup I have an extra long octo-hose, but I never got the point in using the long hose for myself and switching to the short one when donating air. Why not use the short one as main and offer the long one to your buddy without switching yourself?
A fine question, your primary is the best to donate because you've just been breathing from it and you know that the regulator that you're donating is: 1) working properly. 2) safe for that depth. 3) there are no foreign bodies inside. If somebody's been without air for a while because they're regulator's failed the last thing they need is a malfunctioning 2nd stage, or if you're diving with multiple stages the wrong gas mix. It's a pessimistic way of thinking but procedures are for worst case scenarios...
Thanks for the detailed answer. I see the point, but frankly I’ll stick to my setup though. It’s quite unlikely anyway that your buddy is out of air PLUS your octo doesn‘t work properly. But taking that as given, we had to turn to buddy breathing. Actually, I consider it safer for both of us, when it is me who initiates this rather than trying to get back the only working regulator nearby from a diver who is freaked out from his out of air situation. You see, I can be even more pessimistic than your worst case scenario! 😉
The XDEEP Boltsnaps? They can't make them fast enough top keep up with demand. Check out your nearest XDEEP dealer here on their dealer locator: www.xdeep.eu/lista-dystrybutorow-dl.html
Yeah, all in a separate video, didn't want to make this one too long. Here's what I keep in my pockets: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-KV4NSsO9UbI.html
Nice gear! thanks for sharing with us! :) Could you please tell me how long is your inflator hose? I have the following options to choose from: 14", 16" and 19". Thanks
