How To Set Up Your Scuba Gear (Scuba Gear Assembly Refresher)

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Many scuba divers get certified and unfortunately do not get into the water again for awhile. Whether that initial certification was for a trip, or perhaps because a significant other wanted you to get certified, if it's been awhile, you may need a little bit of a refresher. In this video, I go over how to set up and assemble your scuba gear so you don't have to panic when you're handed a BCD, regulator, and told to set up your gear to get into the water.
This video is NOT sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links which means if you buy something we'll receive a small commission.
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⏰ Timecodes ⏰
0:00 How To Set Up Your Scuba Gear
0:36 Overview - Jacket Style BCD & Backplate and Wing with Yoke and DIN Regulators
1:02 Step 1
1:53 Step 2
3:14 Step 3
5:32 How to Tighten BCD Tank Straps (Thread Cam Bands)
7:19 Step 4
9:39 Step 5
10:26 Step 6
12:00 Step 7
14:33 Step 8
17:07 Step 9
18:18 Step 10
20:16 What to do AFTER the dive?
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At Circle H Scuba, we share education and experiences you'll love to plan your next adventure. As a PADI Professional Scuba Instructor, I want to make you a better-informed scuba diver!
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Disclaimer: Circle H Scuba and Thomas Hughes believe you can not teach someone how to dive, nor certify them for diving, through the internet. Ensure you seek proper training through an instructor who is active and certified through a recognized agency and always dive within the limits of your certification.
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In accordance with COPPA laws, please note that content on the channel CircleHScuba is not specifically made for, or targeted at, children.

[@CircleHScuba]

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[@jojodiver8706]

Had a potentially bad accident years ago in Key West. I got paired up with a guy from South Africa and I didn't pay much attention to him setting up his gear. We rolled off and followed the rope down to the Vandenberg. As soon as we righted ourselves, I see his head jerk back. His tank slipped out of his BCD. He'd forgotten to wet his tank straps before he assembled it. I saw his eyes get real wide and he suddenly tried to bolt for the surface. I barely got a hold of one of his fins and jerked him back down, gave him my octo, then reinserted his tank for him. Close call. And ever since then, I watch my assigned buddies like a hawk. especially pre dive.

[@CircleHScuba]

Dang, it fell so bad he had his reg pull out too? I’ve seen tanks slip but usually they catch on the extra collar up top or don’t fall out completely. Good on you to grab him, but sheesh!

[@jojodiver8706]

@@CircleHScuba i thought that too, but apparently he didn't even put the horse collar over the valve. Yeah, I learned a lot that day about stranger dive buddies. Felt bad for the guy but OTOH, he hoovered his tank pretty damned quick. I still had 1200 when he showed me his guage at 800 and we were at 95fsw. Felt kinda ripped off.

[@jojodiver8706]

@@CircleHScuba I should clarify though that his reg didn't get pulled from his mouth, but it was pulling his head back. I gave him my octo to take the strain off his neck while I sorted his tank issue out.

[@CircleHScuba]

@jojodiver8706 that makes sense too, dang though.

[@martinberwanger4928]

Well done! One of my favorite videos! I will watch it every day before diving.

[@CircleHScuba]

Oh wow that’s a huge compliment, thank you!

[@guilhasmp]

Thank you very much for your video. I wasn't aware that the quarter turn was outdated. Just one comment: the pressure gauge danger isn't a myth. I have a seen a pressure gauge fly off a hose at a speed that would take someone's eye out or worse. Everyone should be careful when opening the tank.

[@CircleHScuba]

I didn’t think it was, but I always face it toward my BC or a safe direction anyway haha. Thanks for the comment!

[@nicolacaselton3044]

Really clear demonstration - thanks .

[@CircleHScuba]

You’re welcome! Thanks for checking it out!

[@looksgoodonpaper]

Thanks as always Thomas! Getting back into the water this Summer and thankful for the resource. Can’t believe I just got SDI certified last summer and was taught to quarter turn back… 🤦‍♂️ thank you, I’ve let all my dive buddies know!

[@CircleHScuba]

Glad you’re getting back in! Enjoy!

[@kevinm7934]

Just what I needed. Great recap, emphasis and cadence :)

[@CircleHScuba]

Thanks! Glad it was helpful!

[@srenlarsen4531]

ty for this video , i'm currently on the open water training and this helps me prepare and feel more comfident.

[@CircleHScuba]

You’re welcome!!! Good luck, you’ll do fine I’m sure. Let me know how it all goes!

[@Tyler-kc6qc]

Thank you. Simple and in-depth. 🎉

[@CircleHScuba]

Thanks for watching and for the comment! Hope you enjoyed!

[@souswes]

Reminds me of the good ol days of being a DM….watching students put the regulator on while the tank is secured to a bench….waiting for that to finish and telling them “great job! But how are you going to go diving with a bench?” Repetition is a good thing though

[@CircleHScuba]

Hahaha, the forgotten bungee under the first stage 🤦‍♂️🤣

[@SummersideDiver]

Even experienced divers forget the bungee from time to time. Sometimes even after just watching their experienced buddy do it. Don’t ask how I know.

[@elenascarlatou5589]

Great video ❤many thanks ❤

[@CircleHScuba]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ponchosainz]

Thank u so much for all the info, great video, regards!

[@CircleHScuba]

Absolutely, I’m glad you’re finding them helpful!

[@user-gm2qc3np5o]

When I was a trainee, the instructor gets ready very fast and quickly. Seeing from my eyesight,it'sseems like a "morphing to Power Rangers"!

[@CircleHScuba]

Haha, you get faster with time!

[@laminar0886]

Nice review! I think some divers consider a refresher course a bother, a chore, or something to try to avoid. I think it’s always a good idea to stay as sharp as you can. Also, we dive DIN as well. Any suggestions on the best way to get a good seal and fit when attaching to tanks? Especially with well used rental tanks. We’ve found that after removing DIN inserts, the tanks can sometimes be difficult to get a good seal with the DIN Regs. Thanks!

[@CircleHScuba]

I completely agree, it’s important if it’s been awhile! I haven’t had much issue with getting a good seal on my DIN when they take the insets out (pro valves). As long as my o ring on my reg is set well, it shouldn’t be a problem. Line up the threads, screw it in until its finger tight, then test. If you’re having that problem, ask the boat’s DM or the dive shop to see what’s happening because that shouldn’t be a bother! 👍

[@TheWanderingBlonde]

I didn't know about the half turn being outdated. I was certified many years ago when I turned 13, and my first dive buddy was my father (who was an old NAUI instructor) and he beat two things into me when opening the cylinder. Point your SPG away and do a half turn back.

[@CircleHScuba]

Yeah the half turn back was back in the day. Now, regs are designed for the full tank pressure when they’re bench tested and adjusted for their ease of breathing. Also a full on tank can only turn one way, so in panic it’s easy to know which way to turn it, for example in technical diving work stage bottles ensuring it’s on, a valve shutoff need from a failed regulator, etc.

[@isaac7701]

You should actually point the back of the spg down or in a safe direction not the front, because there is a rubber burst plug on the back of modern spgs that is a designed failure point. Similar to the quarter turn back thing it's just an antiquated story when gauges were worse.

[@CircleHScuba]

Ah interesting, I wonder if that’s dependent on the SPG design then though? I’ll double check the ones I have but I don’t recall seeing anything behind the gauges under the boots

[@isaac7701]

@@CircleHScuba im not sure how universal it is, but any boot with a hole in the back is there to allow the spg to burst at the designed point

[@bkdexter79]

I was a DM for a Dive shop on Guam back in the 90's and accrued nearly 2000 dives. I haven't dove in over 20 years, and came back to Guam to live and work. I needed to get the refresher course out of the way so I would be a safe buddy for someone else. The 1/4 turn back thing....well...it's to relieve the strain on the brass screw in the tank valve so it lasts longer. People will crank them open HARD and that wears them out. Now I just slightly back off the pressure on the valve and that is better than jamming it down tight. I go with what works. That works.

[@CircleHScuba]

Modern regulators and air integration sensors are not made with the quarter turn back in mind. I hear you, but technology changes. Just don’t crank your tank open hard, which was the problem all along. Do what you’d like, but it’s definitely not needed and not recommended anymore.

[@cowboymcq6711]

What’s up bro⁉️ Great videos to start with Anyways I’ve narrowed my search down to Hollis for my first bcd Just seeing what you think between the hd200 and the light travel bcd ? I only dive in warm water if that helps

[@CircleHScuba]

I’ve heard good things about both. What kind of diving do you plan to do? Warm water but traveling only? Recreational only or technical diving too? Shallow reefs or deeper dives?

[@cowboymcq6711]

Warm water only. And I’m going for my AOW the end of this month so I’m sure I’ll be diving deeper very soon The reviews on the HD 200 are absolutely amazing from everybody. I’ve talked to and read.

[@CircleHScuba]

@cowboymcq6711 yeah I think they both would be great. The HD200 has more reviews from what I’ve seen too. Warm water is fine, but that doesn’t tell me the type haha. That’s why I listed examples. The examples I gave can be done in warm water too :) Regardless they’re both similar and I think you’d be happy with either. See if your local shop has one or both available though so you can try them on

[@josephdracula7487]

👍😎🇵🇭😘Very well done video!

[@CircleHScuba]

Thanks Joseph! Hope you’ve been well!

[@l68ferras39]

Hello @circle h scuba ! I do wear my octopus on my left side so that it doesn’t loop a « S » if you have to donate. What would be the justification for having the alternate air source on your right side ? Tks !

[@CircleHScuba]

Honestly I’ve never seen someone have a regulator anywhere but their right side when worn. So justification would be to be consistent with where people expect it to be found and routed. Good question though!

[@l68ferras39]

Tks for the answer ! I’m French, and I see a lot of left shoulder octopus. I never had a real out of air situation except drills, but had my fair share of low air situation : buddy / student is around 60 bar, I’m at 90, I use my left shoulder octopus (with a 110 cm hose) to share air and my buddy finning gently on my left, and get him back to his regulator during safety stop, so that we can exit the dive with the required minimum 50 bar tank pressure.

[@l68ferras39]

+ I usually clip my octopus on my left D ring, to make it visible and accessible in my triangle of life.

[@Divewith.G.M_Official_Channel]

Hey circleHScuba I am actually now a certified diver just today will not yet because the shop owner still has to do the paperwork but actually I am technically a diver now but now it's time to get my equipment now that I passed my open water diving so yay😊🎉 but can I tell you something whenever doing my for open-water dives I actually kind of hate the jacket style BCD that we were using one is because it's not really secure and then the tank goes up with the b c d and then when I move my head I hit it on the yolk and also the plastic part of the handle/bracket it was pushing on my hip and it hurt quite a bit on the left side of my hip and it felt uncomfortable and I feel like like a backplate with either a back inflated BCD or like a wing or donut with like an extra crotch strap and padding would definitely be beneficial for me and I definitely did not feel comfortable with the jacket style BCD.

[@CircleHScuba]

Woohooo!!!!! Congrats man!!!! I’m so excited for you!

[@Divewith.G.M_Official_Channel]

​@@CircleHScubathank you😊👍

[@CircleHScuba]

@Divewith.G.M I have a video coming out very soon about what to do after getting certified that’ll be perfect for you 🤓

[@Divewith.G.M_Official_Channel]

​@@CircleHScubaoh and also one more thing about the jacket BCD is that the straps bra so kind of like pressing against my chest and making it a little hard to breathe 😮‍💨 but I did try out a b c d that one of my instructors used it was one of those like special discount ones you know what I mean 4 like pro divers and instructors but they do have other ones that are not on a discount but whenever I tried it on my hips felt fine the straps were not tight on me restricting my breathing and it also had a crotch strap so my tank doesn't go up and my BCD plus I can also adjust it to my body and I can change it if my body changes so I think I found a winner for my BCD🎉

[@Divewith.G.M_Official_Channel]

@@CircleHScuba by the way I don't know I don't think I said bra I don't even wear one but I am using auto-text to speech so that's probably why you know what I mean 😂