diving with doubles

[divingindaytona]

Reading through this forum it appears that almost everyone is diving with doubles.  My queston is why?  Where do you dive that double tanks are warrented.

We are in MN aren't we?  Is it the cavers and the trimixers that are using these, or is it divers that stay within the 130ft range?

[LKunze]

I think it is far from everyone that is diving doubles here in MN.  Is it warranted for a single recreational profile dive to dive doubles?  Obviously the answer would be no. 

I can't speak for everyone diving doubles but for me personally I sold all of my single tanks to fund two sets double LP85's with the intention of possibly getting into deco diving.  I've since all but decided not to pursue this and so now the doubles rig is all I have since I sold the singles. For multiple rec dives though doubles do offer some advantages as you do not have to swap out tanks after each dive. They also offer redundancy with the isolator and second regulator without the need to sling a 30 or 40 which many divers do.  I think that is a good way to go too and I may have gone that direction had I known I wasn't going to pursue technical diving. 

I do like not having to switch out tanks after each dive and the 85's aren't huge heavy tanks like 108's or 130's which would be way overkill and too hard on the back for the shore dives I am doing within recreational limits.  I really don't find the 85's to seem much heavier than a single 108 or 130 with a sling bottle.  The doubles seem to be more stable and trim out nice and I like the fact that you don't have to adjust cam straps every time.  This ensures the tanks are set at the same height for each setup.

The doubles are somewhat of a PITA for shore dives that require longer walks to the dive site or have more challenging rocky entries like the Hesper.  I still haven't had the courage to try and haul the doubles over that breakwall down to the water.

My guess though is that most of the people that do dive doubles around here are doing some deco diving and for that doubles are the best option.  Some divers are diving smaller doubles like 45's or 50's for the recreational dives just so they don't have to swap out hoses on regs to configure to single tank setups which makes sense.

[Shooter]

Diving in superior on deeper wrecks, with planned deco or not. Very comforting to have all that gas. I mainly dive my single with steel 120s. Also nice not to have to add any weight.

[DiveCaptDean]

I use doubles of three reasons....

1)  comfort of trim..
2)  extra gas
3)  Redundancy..redundancy..redundancy....

Many divers around here are diving shipwrecks....it takes a little extra time to view a wreck well...and in many cases..extra training and extra gas as many of the good wrecks are deeper than 100ft...water is also cold here and this makes freeflows happen and is generally harder on equipment..thus..necessitating redundancy..redundancy..redundancy....

I know that one can achieve redundancy..redundancy..redundancy... with an "H" valve..( barring a disk failure)  but..jump in your dry suit with enough undergarment to deal with a 1 + hr dive in 34 deg water and see if you can easily reach your primary shut off..ok then try your secondary shutoff....if you can do this..comfortably....i am good friends with the assistant stage manager for Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas...i am certain they are looking for people like you..and i could get you a tryout..  I cannot comfortably do this..so i like having those two bottles on my back just in case something happens.

Oh yeah!!!!!  twins make me look cooler too....and i need al the help i can get in that department.....

Deano

[arcFlash]

1: Redundancy 2: Capacity

I wanted to be able to stay with buddies that used doubles. I don't have a primany buddy so I wanted to show up with enough gas to hang out with almost anyone. I don't like being the 3rd guy in a buddy team and the only one in an 80, it's a drag.

I went cheap and just banded two AL80's with manifold. I added a 6 pound lead spine (between tanks) to make them just as negative as I wanted. 154cf seams to be plenty for me.

[mcdiver]

I just recently sold my last of 3 sets of doubles that I had, I guess I am just getting old, I just hated the walk to the truck after a nice long deep dive. Other then that, I loved them.