Safe Diving | Me All Kitted Up In My Scuba Gear

[@leopoldbloom4835]

Everybody can see the utter coolness of divers when they’re in the water, but only fellow divers will appreciate it miles away on dry land. 😉

[@zoltanserfozo7454]

you looks like dave in dave the diver

[@brookho8877]

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.

[@mohamednosseir3112]

What's the backplate and wing used for twin?

[@Yggdrasil42]

"Normally it's a bit more rigid than it is right now..." - Mark

[@Yggdrasil42]

You knew someone was gonna make that joke.

[@SafeDiving]

Much harder when it's turned on...

[@MrNeobuxer]

You're using your cutting tool as a retainer, smart. Didn't think of that.

[@SafeDiving]

Yeah, I don't tend to use external batteries and a knife is more useful than a retainer bar

[@franklytart]

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!

[@SafeDiving]

Great Idea! I'll add it to the list...

[@franklytart]

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 🤿

[@SafeDiving]

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

[@franklytart]

Haha they are fancy regs! Too fancy really, but I love them ❤️ Thanks, really looking forward to the video

[@avieorbb]

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!

[@SafeDiving]

Yeah, just keeps it in place so it doesn't flop over your shoulder but still leaves room to get to the D-Ring.

[@gray_wolverine63]

About time I get to see you kit up.

[@florencerohart3903]

Very insightful, thank you !

[@ArgosWarrior]

Like eating a mars bar with the wrapper on

[@Yggdrasil42]

Well done Mark. Very clear explanation.

[@JeremyUSA]

That was great, thanks! I saw that you had a smaller travel size BP/W on. What is the one you usually use for doubles? Thanks again.

[@harrypink715]

Any chance on a video themed around shutdowns and valve drills?

[@sethposner4349]

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?

[@SafeDiving]

As long as it's tucked under something on your belt it should be fine. Any excess slack will get a bit floaty

[@jamesmyers777]

What's the BCD?

[@Bengoesscubadiving]

xdeep boltsnaps for the win.

[@manosbak]

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

[@BlueHorizonDiving]

Love Fourth Element drysuits.

[@SafeDiving]

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.

[@BlueHorizonDiving]

@@SafeDiving weird they did not put pockets on it.

[@clarkeysam]

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?

[@wallybrown9509]

Thx Mark. Nice set up bro.

[@theoriginalbigboy252]

Hi! In order to use an OTS Guardian ffm, would it be required to have a clean shave, or could I rock a glorious beard like you?

[@stuartayling247]

How do you attach your bolt snap to your SPG? Is it just simply with a cable tie?

[@SafeDiving]

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: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpDFmnmvabpnmpI

[@stuartayling247]

Safe Diving Thank you 👍

[@stuartayling247]

Do you connect your backup torch to the bolts snap in the same way?

[@willsmooth45]

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

[@stuartayling247]

Do you attach your backup torch to a bolt snap in the same way as you did for your spg?

[@SafeDiving]

Pretty much, it depends how much room you have in the eyelet but I'll use line from a spool and the double knot to tie a boltsnap in place.

[@davestadnik8739]

How long is your primary hose 7feet? I just set up new regs and 5’ feels to short!

[@bostonmckibben1840]

Could you do this type of video for your sidemount system. Would love to watch that.

[@Wallstreet762]

What kind of Apeks regulators are you using? I have Hollis 200LX/DCX

[@vnoockthebrain]

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!

[@SafeDiving]

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...

[@danielyork3406]

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?)

[@odnin]

What's the length of your inflator corrugated hose?

[@Freekiter17]

Hi 👋 Interesting how long life zip and suit??

[@KB-gd6fc]

I LOVE those bolt snaps! where can I get those?

[@SafeDiving]

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

[@KB-gd6fc]

@@SafeDiving found some! Ordered 2 smalls and 2 double enders. Xdeep is sure proud of those things! Lol

[@ZSharky0815]

Empty your pockets! EMPTY YoUR POCKETS!! 😂😂 thanks for this video. Very clean setup, inspirational.

[@michaeltownsend4926]

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!

[@SafeDiving]

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: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4XJnWClqpeSj8U

[@jayking1073]

I’m new to diving , why are things “clipped off on” to a D-ring rather than clipped on to d rings?

[@STR8SHOOTER1000]

Great set up, What is the length of your primary and octo hoses?

[@SafeDiving]

My Primary is 210cm and Alternate is just a 60cm hose.

[@juanmanuelgarabitorodrigue2996]

Hello,I am writing to you from Spain, could you tell me where I can buy the straps that hold your dive computer for my dry suit? Thank you

[@SafeDiving]

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

[@leopoldbloom4835]

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?

[@SafeDiving]

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...

[@leopoldbloom4835]

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! 😉

[@vparansky]

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?

[@mikey_jax]

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!!

[@johnl1144]

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 😅

[@jkowall]

Nice Tec setup! You didn't tell us about your BPW config. Do you run single bladder? How much lift? Which BP?

[@SafeDiving]

I do, but it's my 'Travel Rig', so it's an Ali plate with a tiny Apeks WTX D18 Wing.

[@jkowall]

@@SafeDiving I love that wing, I've been using mine most often recently since it's so small and enough lift for most rec dives even with my steel 117.

[@piotrwilczynski5647]

Where would you clip a camera tray? If you dive with any... Great channel 👏

[@SafeDiving]

Right shoulder D-Ring is the best place for accessories you're not using.

[@999racing]

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 😉

[@LarsDennert]

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.

[@derekthoirn3355]

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?

[@LarsDennert]

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.

[@leeminter811]

Where do you carry your most important piece of kit (DSMB)? Ok you need to breathe, see etc, but...

[@SafeDiving]

They're in my thigh pockets, I talk about what's in my thigh pockets in a separate video so this video didn't get too long.

[@godincolor]

Every time he says "sort of", drink

[@Mrich775]

No working double ender? I'm emailing JJ right now! 😂

[@harambeexpress]

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.

[@tomvanzanten479]

You talked about checking your spg, but don't you simply look at your dive computer?

[@redstonebear7_342]

not all computers have integrated pressure guages.

[@gray_wolverine63]

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 👌🏼

[@thibautglorieux4903]

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

[@elefja1]

16" is usually standard. I have a 16" with the ScubaPro Air2 and it reaches my mouth comfortably. His looks like 14".

[@savage5764]

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.

[@benedict2992]

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

[@mikelgheredero]

Don't you carry a smb/dsmb or a reel? Btw it's a an incredible setup I'm looking forward to try the longhose setup, it seems much better

[@SafeDiving]

Yeah, all in a separate video, didn't want to make this one too long. Here's what I keep in my pockets: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYeXf4aphJ6ImKs

[@mikelgheredero]

@@SafeDiving nice, I'm going to watch it, thank you!

[@userb3nje909]

The GUE's are circling

[@BlueHorizonDiving]

So true 😂

[@TheeDaddyDino]

What is that amazing rack you have hanging up all your gear?

[@brendanford2946]

How in god's name do you keep water out of your mask with that moustache???

[@emmanueljasonjayden5246]

mark: so heres my dive knife me: WHAT DO YOU EVEN USE THAT FOR TO KILL INNOCENT FISHES