DearDiveBuddy.com

A surface marker buoy (SMB)Why oh why most dive shops and dive centres still mount the alternate air source (octopus) on the right side? The right side is, however, in my opinion, the wrong side. Sharing air with somebody in front of you results in a “S” in the hose. Your buddy swimming along with you? The hose first goes first to the opposite side to “return” to the regulator. Mounting your alternate on the left side is much more convenient to share air. Lots more hose length available. Of course, someone can choose also a side diaphragm model so right or left, up or down, it doesn’t matter. Just put it in your mouth and breath.

I strongly oppose against an often seen practice, folding the hose of the alternate and putting it through the available D-rings of the jacket. When needed pulling out the hose takes too much time. The bright coloured plastic ball as sold in most dive shops in which you collocate the mouthpiece is highly visible, economic and hygienic. Attach it on the opposite side on the BCD of which your hose is coming from. It keeps the normally longer hose more adherent to the body, reducing drag and entanglement hazard.

Before you mount your alternate on the left side, check your first stage. Many balanced type swiveling first stages can be mounted pointing downward instead of, what is considered normal, upward. This way it’s less likely you hit it tipping your head back and again having less entanglement hazard. In this case, you have to check the new position of all hoses.

Diving in cold water means use of a dry suit or a thicker wet suit. So, more weight. Divide the weights between a weight belt and a weight integrated jacket. This way both, belt and BCD, are better manageable. You avoid putting weight on the back, painfully pushed on your back by your tank. If you dump your belt in case of an emergency, you gain positive buoyancy but in a less excessive way, slowing down your ascent rate a bit.

A few other points:

• If you don’t have a hose clip for your pressure gauge, or you prefer having the hose on your body, put it through the shoulder strap of your BCD under your arm. It comes out on the front where you can find it.
  
• Consider putting your hood over your mask strap. You don’t loose the mask in entries from higher jetties or boats.
  
• Don’t pull your fin straps too tight. They snap easier than you think, and it’s not necessary if you use the right size foot pocket.
  
• On a drift dive from a boat always put an inflatable sausage (SMB: surface marker buoy) in the pocket of your BCD. They are cheap, don’t take much space and can avoid you a lot of trouble.
  
• Try a bit of baby shampoo as a defogging solution for your mask, but don't forget to rinse it well.
  
• Never dry your suit in the sun. Especially in a hot climate. It’s devastating for the neoprene.

Check it out!