What Should I Put In My Save A Dive Kit?

[@391wombat]

#askmark. Mark when traveling and diving from charters is it reasonable to assume the charter operator will have everything on board to “save a dive” so that you don’t have to bring a SAD kit on the plane? With wrenches, screw drivers, DIN adapters etc it can easily add up to 1 to 2 kilos of weight in your luggage.

[@ScubaDiverMagazine]

They tend to have a toolbox on board so you can borrow tools. If you contact them ahead of time you can find out if you need to bring an A-clamp adaptor. Spare parts can be rare though so, it's worth bringing spare mask and fin straps if they might break and get your gear checked over before the trip so you know it's working properly.

[@katherine3677]

Thank you!

[@bellananicmorgan]

One of the random things I keep in my save a dive that I don't see a lot of people have is a pair of small nail clippers. Just one of the little tiny pairs that I got in the supermarket checkout line. Especially after multiple dives, your nails can get quite soft and tear, and then you've got an awful snaggly bit of nail, so being able to trim that is suuuuuper handy. Also, they work like a treat for snipping off the extra bits of cable ties if you need to replace your mouthpiece.

[@kilbofragins2820]

Tyre levers for people looking for the bike tool mentioned in the SAD question. I also put a couple of seal breakers for wrist seals, and also spare dry gloves

[@amadeuss3341]

I have a traditional setup since I'm diving in tropics , but with a 40-inch octo hose, i use a rubber strap on the tank to loop the excess hose, but if you pull on it , it comes up free and pretty long to keep a distance.

[@souswes]

#askmark let’s say you’re using a mares puck or similar and upgrade to a shearwater. You want to run both computers for redundancy. The obvious issue is that they run different deco algorithms. Should you just run gauge mode and use tables for a backup or is it okay to run both computers? They say to rely on the more conservative computer, but what if that’s the one that malfunctions? Thanks in advance!

[@ScubaDiverMagazine]

A lot of divers will run the 2nd computer in Gauge mode and use tables to finish the dive which is usually your best option. You can run both in dive mode and turn the alarms off but, the more conservative computer might lock you out if you miss a stop. For shallow, single tank dives you should be fine but deeper and longer dives it's best to have the 2nd in Gauge mode.

[@LeeLeatherbarrow]

I run both, and if the more conservative one fails, then you've lost nothing in terms of safety, as the less conservative one still has some NDL available to you too. Either that or you just end the dive at that point, if you're not comfortable with following the less conservative computer. However that begs the question why you were wearing it if you didn't trust it. Admittedly, the more conservative one may have had you surface prior to that, due to NDL, but both would have had an NDL limit with the less conservative one having more NDL available - This is all true too if you were running some deco obligations too. But both are as safe as each other as fart as DC's go - but remember though, a DC (or a table) has no comprehension of your size, shape, age, fitness, exposure protection, workload or any of the other factors I've missed out that affect decompressions. It is running on theoretical information, and it doesn't get "bent", so only you can judge your acceptance of risk based on these things, along with what the computer is telling you.

[@DanielRicardo42]

Regarding the long hose question - the person who asked it said he was afraid that an OOG diver would "swip up and rip the second stage from my BCD reg holder". It's worth mentioning that if you go for a long hose setup - the alternate second stage should be on a necklace under your chin, and not on any kind of traditional reg holder. This is so you can switch to it as fast as possible, even without using your hands. When it is there, it is actually blocked by the second stage that's in your mouth, so there isn't really a chance that an OOG diver will grab it.

[@sammoyers905]

I have been running long hose secondary for 40+ years. Poseidon Octo's always came with 60" hoses, which I rolled up into my right BC pocket. Then, after having a little run-in with a very animated, panicked diver, I went with the cave diving length of 84", to maximize separation. I then took stage bottle band and ran the secondary hose through those tank bands, then route the hose under my right arm as normal. I have had to use this setup a couple of times for out of air situations, and it has worked very well.

[@WillemTahon]

Hi Mark. Thanks for the very informative #AskMark videos! I have a question on mounting a 13 cf pony bottle using a shark bracket on a 120 steel single tank on BPW. I'd like to mount the pony upside down so I can easily reach the valve (to be able to close in case of freeflow). My question is whether the pony will interfere with the wing when inflating it. Should I mount it slightly more towards the back of the main tank? But not so far back that I can no longer reach the pony valve. 45 degree angle? Thanks and happy new year!

[@ScubaDiverMagazine]

Depending on the BCD bladder design it may limit the BCDs maximum capacity a little bit and make you a little off balance with a small amount of gas inside. It shouldn't make a huge difference if you're weighted correctly but, it's best to give your BCD as much space as possible. If it does trap one side so it can't inflate properly, with more weight on one side and more gas on the other it may tilt you in the water so, it's best to give your bladder as much space as possible. Rig it all up and inflate your BCD as if you're wearing it and then you can rotate the clamp as close to the BCD as possible.

[@josephdracula7487]

😎🤿👍thanks again Mark

[@arm83221]

For the save a dive kit, do you bring anything to adjust the ip or cracking pressure?

[@alecorrea7767]

#askmark Is it ok to use regular dish soap on dive gear?

[@ScubaDiverMagazine]

Yeah, dish soap is fairly gentle but still kills a lot of germs. There are better choices for some of your gear, like wetsuit shampoo, which are specifically designed to clean and treat which can extend the life of some parts. But, you can use dish soap to clean your gear.

[@alecorrea7767]

@@ScubaDiverMagazine Great! Thanks!

[@js4120]

I'm not ccr but could you run an octo through the backplate if it really a big deal?

[@JonneyReay1968]

Thanks for all the great videos 😁 Very informative. 👍🏻 The tool you mention is called a 'Tyre Lever' that one you have is made by Park Tool 😁