How to Assemble Your Equipment (BP/W & Long Hose) | Master Series

[@brandonsdi]

hats off, great stuff yet again! I never seen such comprehensive guide on such basic topic. I really find the analysing part interesting and it's so true.. why NOT to check our cylinders

[@flowstatedivers]

Much appreciated!

[@wegothooked2610]

Wow! the quality of your videos are through the roof!!!

[@flowstatedivers]

Thanks! 😃

[@Miguelskytwins]

You guys are great. I bet the rate of success of anything you teach, is 100%.

[@flowstatedivers]

Thanks! Come and join us in Tenerife to find out ;)

[@Babmajom88]

Great video as always!! Absolutely loving the quality of your videos, and the fact that even such a "basic" topic can be explained with valuable insights and tips, just makes me love your content even more! Actually learning a lot of new things from each and every one of your videos!! Thank you for the great work you put into making these 🤩

[@brandonsdi]

they are the best

[@Babmajom88]

​@@brandonsdiI couldn't agree more!

[@flowstatedivers]

Thanks so much!

[@MirkosEye]

Guys the hack to strore the long hose under the short hose in preparation is a game changer 🤙🏼 your videos are the best

[@flowstatedivers]

glad you found some good takeaway :)

[@MirkosEye]

@@flowstatedivers in your videos are always good takeaways to found, even as a experienced diver. Top level videos 🔥

[@graemeoutdoors9277]

Yet another superb quality video! Thanks very much! Looking forward to the oxygen analyser video.

[@flowstatedivers]

thanks a lot, it's in the making so stay tuned

[@5206516]

Thanks always.

[@DeDyson]

Another top quality video, as always.

[@bogdancristian8097]

Excellent training video, congrats!

[@diego00]

Excelente! Me llevo el tip de sujetar la manguera larga con el bungee para el cuello 👌

[@damcamino-oc2nr]

I see where you going with this.. it's like watching a film

[@ILLA1G]

Excellent. Very excellent

[@flowstatedivers]

Many thanks!

[@Thiione]

Great video. I always blow out a jet of air from the cylinder before I mount my first stage, incase there is any dust or dirt in the valve. Do you not recommend this?

[@flowstatedivers]

We never do that, sounds a bit of an overkill but if you prefer to do it, there's no harm in it.

[@MetallicReg]

@@Thiione We did this too - mostly common around diving sites with very fine sand. Just a very quick flush.

[@baumannotto]

Could you explain the risk of opening the valve and then turn a quarter back, or do you plan, to make a video about it? Thank you for the great content!

[@flowstatedivers]

The risk is that a diver might have a cylinder that is only 1/4 turn open, and that would cause problems, as it would become hard or impossible to breathe from depending on the depth. A fully open cylinder is easy to verify: you can breathe from it and it won't open any more. Similarly easy to verify a closed cylinder: you cannot breathe from it, and it won't close any more. The risk is that someone may forget which way to open a cylinder, assuming their cylinder was closed but someone opened it for them already (or they opened it before but forgot) and turn it the other direction to "open" it, then turn it back 1/4 turn. In this case the diver will be able to breathe at the surface (when checking their equipment) but won't be able to breathe at depth, as the cylinder is only 1/4 turn open.

[@baumannotto]

​@@flowstatedivers perfectly explained...thank you!

[@chih-fanchen1124]

First push🎉

[@kvdl723]

Thanks for another excellent video! I notice you attach the first stage “upside down (logo down)”. I thought that this is so that the swivel turret can rotate more freely. I checked on my own first stage and it is the hoses that restrict turret movement regardless of being mounted upside down or upright. So there must be another reason you guys do it that way… but which one? 🤔

[@flowstatedivers]

Thank you for your comment! The reason is simple, the diver prefers it that way as in this case the "top" part of the first stage is shorter than the "bottom" part, so it is less disturbing for the back of their head/neck. It's absolutely up to personal preferences as it doesn't affect the function of the first stage, or the movement of the turret.

[@kvdl723]

@@flowstatedivers That makes total sense. Thanks for clarifying!

[@wiktoreysymontt1452]

Nice video, which Tecline 1st and 2nd stages are you using? Just planning to get Tecline for myself 😊

[@MetallicReg]

The oxygen check is really important in the long run. Beginners will be covered but later on you have to be sure what mixture you have in the tank. One single mistake in a relatively deep dive of 30m could cost you your life when you think you have air, but you mixed up the tank with sb else and now face an uncontrollable seizure from oxygen entoxication.

[@flowstatedivers]

@MetallicReg indeed.. unfortunately, it's today's trend that people do a lot of 'trust me' dives, unaware of the dangers.

[@ahmedtammam496]

Great video, as always! I'm learning a lot from you guys. How important is keeping the BCD slightly inflated for storage? I usually properly wash it with fresh water once i get back home, but then i no longer have access to a cylinder.

[@flowstatedivers]

Thank you for your comment. It's not necessary to store your wing inflated, as it only helps it dry faster but adds no value storing that way. As for inflating the wing, why would you need a cylinder ? :)

[@ahmedtammam496]

I guess I need to go watch your videos on the basics again 😅 Thanks!​ @@flowstatedivers

[@flowstatedivers]

@@ahmedtammam496 you can just orally inflate a wing by blowing in the oral inflator on the corragated hose. You should have learned this day 1 on your open water course.

[@chrisogle1168]

Another great educational video. Question how long is your long hose mine is 6 feet just wondering what you use? Question 2 how about doubles setup? But anyway THANK you so very much for these videos they do help. Straight to the point that's what I like the most. You guys and gals are awesome keep up the the good work.

[@flowstatedivers]

Thanks for your comment. We either use 6" or 6"10 hoses but never shorter. We will have similar videos coming up for different configurations soon

[@surplusultrazen-lu5nt]

EXCELLENT

[@flowstatedivers]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@Cr30s]

Hello, great video very instructive and clear as usual. Thanks for the master series. If I may I have 2 questions : you mentioned the quarter turn as an issue, I've been taught to do it and can't think of a scenario where it is dangerous, can you explain why the 1/4 turn is not suitable anymore ? And second question : my dive shop and other instructors recommend to slowly open the tank while slightly purging the reg (either primary or secondary) to allow the pressure to build up in the stages and not to strain too much the o-rings. I can't see this manoeuvre in your video so would you recommend it or not ? Is it antiquated like the 1/4 turn. Thank you and sorry for the long questions.

[@flowstatedivers]

Hi, great questions. we have answered the first one few times in the comment sections already so I'm just copying in the same for you. Closing the valve a quarter turn back was originally practiced about 50 years ago, during the early days of diving. Back then, cylinder valves had a tendency to get stuck under pressure, making it difficult to close them after a dive. Although those days are long gone, this habit still persists in the dive community. The danger of this outdated practice is that someone could accidentally mix up the directions for opening and closing your cylinder valve. During a pre-dive check, they might mistakenly close the valve and then open it a quarter turn, which would allow enough gas flow at the surface but could cause the first stage to stop delivering gas suddenly at depth, leading to an out-of-gas scenario. Modern valves are highly reliable, and there’s no reason not to fully open them. Regarding your second question, we do open valves slowly, which is usually enough to ease the pressure on the system. We also change our O-rings quite frequently, so we aren't overly concerned with their maintenance. While I believe your technique could potentially extend the lifespan of the O-rings, we find it a bit unnecessary for our needs. :)

[@Cr30s]

@@flowstatedivers Hi, Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions it is very informative. Hoping to dive with you one day and perfect my skills. Have a good day.

[@adich]

Are you using zip ties to attach the weights to the back plate? And the one weight on the crotch strap is above the d-ring, correct? Love your content, thanks!

[@flowstatedivers]

Yes, we use zip ties for nearly everything because they're easy to replace in the field. The weight you notice at the base of the crotch strap is threaded onto the webbing.

[@adich]

@@flowstatedivers Thanks for the reply! Any plans for a full video on weighting and weight placement? I constantly fiddle with my leads and cant find the sweet spot yet.

[@flowstatedivers]

@@adich We already have a video that covers exactly that. kzbin.info/www/bejne/haWroJRug72ejaM

[@flowstatedivers]

@@adich regarding weight placement, check this out kzbin.info/www/bejne/rmakoHqogNaKeck

[@flowstatedivers]

@@adich corret lower back tension also plays a crucial role in trim check kzbin.info/www/bejne/aXjVZoSjh8h9bZI

[@prontossimo]

Hi, please i want your profesional advice about purchasing regulator that you use in your videos, so is tecline regulators like R5 TEC2 reliable and worth spending money than an Apeks xtx50 ? Thank you for your time

[@flowstatedivers]

Hi, this really depends on where you intend to use this and which Apeks first stage you want to purchase. The XTX50 is the second stage only, so it's hard to give an informed opinion unless I know which first stage you plan to buy. The Tecline R5 first stage has limitations in its design, and while it's okay to use on a stage cylinder or twinsets, you're better off choosing a first stage with a rotating turret, like the Apeks DST series. Tecline is generally a great choice, and it is very reliable. We love it as much as we like our Apeks regulators. Reach out on whatsapp if you have more specific questions and we will happily help you out

[@prontossimo]

@@flowstatedivers thank you a lot for your response, with xtx50 I will use a dst first stage, and currently I'm doing a 50 55 meters dives, so at this depth what's the best options, R5 tec2 or dst xtx50, no pressure of course I just want your point of view. Thank you a lot you're the best youtube Chanel out there 👍👍

[@harambeexpress]

Look at the SPG when breathing the regs. It should not noticibly drop. If you don't look you can get a breath or two just out of the pressurised hose... Although you should catch this issue in the pre-dive sequence. It's best to catch this issue early as screwing around should be be kept to an absolute minimum during the pre-dive sequence especially in rough surface conditions or current.

[@flowstatedivers]

@harambeexpress do you know know where that practice is originating from and what it's designed to prevent?

[@harambeexpress]

@@flowstatedivers I'm guessing you have a different answer... I'd imagine it probably originated from agencies that didn't do an adequate/effective pre-dive sequence and so people were jumping off boats thinking their valve was open because you can get a few breaths from a pressurised hose - and then proceeded to drown. Obviously that's not doing it right.... I think the check has utility during assembly especially when it is done close to entering the water. Obviously you want to close valves for transport... But sometimes I check gear again after transport too. The point I'm trying to make is that it's a small optimisation to make sure your pre-dive sequence goes smoothly and quickly by already having your valve(s) ready - shortening the "reachable - turnable - on" part. Obviously, you should follow that up with a well executed regulator check.

[@BrassJames]

I've never seen weights threaded onto the crotch strap like that. Is this how you generally recommend weights be placed on a bpw?

[@flowstatedivers]

Hi, thanks for your comment. This is just one way to go about it. Have a look at our correct weighting video as well as achieving perfect trim - all these concepts are discussed there in greater detail.

[@coopersmith369]

What regulator are you using?

[@flowstatedivers]

The one on this video is the Tecline r2 tek2

[@bigplansranch]

How long is your long hose?

[@flowstatedivers]

standard 210cm

[@bigplansranch]

@@flowstatedivers thanks!

[@emilyscloset2648]

+1

[@albertoskytwins3527]

What's the reason to open the valve fully? I'm not saying it's wrong or anything but I was taught to do a quarter of a turn and most divers I know also do it that way, at this point I do it out of habit to be honest, why is it a bad idea?

[@flowstatedivers]

Closing the valve a quarter turn back was originally practiced about 50 years ago, during the early days of diving. Back then, cylinder valves had a tendency to get stuck under pressure, making it difficult to close them after a dive. Although those days are long gone, this habit still persists in the dive community. The danger of this outdated practice is that someone could accidentally mix up the directions for opening and closing a cylinder valve. During a pre-dive check, they might mistakenly close the valve and then open it a quarter turn, which would allow enough gas flow at the surface but could cause the first stage to stop delivering gas suddenly at depth, leading to an out-of-gas scenario. Modern valves are highly reliable, and there’s no reason not to fully open them.

[@albertoskytwins3527]

@@flowstatedivers thank you so much for the answer, needless to say I'll start opening the valve fully from now on.

[@hansguenther590]

shoulder d-rings are too low.....

[@flowstatedivers]

How do you assess that if you don't mind me asking?

[@hansguenther590]

@@flowstatedivers Because it'll restrict freedom of movement.

[@flowstatedivers]

@@hansguenther590 we honestly have no idea of what you are talking about...

[@inlandbhsk8r]

Maybe for YOU. it’s a BP/W set up. They’re custom for each of their users. With their expertise I highly doubt they didn’t for and adjust their gear improperly.