How do I get out of this bloody thing??
Davey_Willo	I'm very close to moving over to twins/backplate and one piece harness, I was wondering how many are using a similar setup and just how easy/difficult it is to don/doff such a setup.... especially when Rib diving (passing your kit up before scrambling back onto the boat etc. With a BC and quick release clips this is an absolute doddle, but in the near future I want to use a Hogarthian type setup and my only real concern is mentioned above. I'd be very interested in peoples comments... pros/cons etc Thanx and best regards Dave.
PaulC	Not wishing to be a johnny come lately to this topic... I was diving off a RIB with a couple of twinset boys last night and they had no more probs kitting up than us with single 15's. The skipper was heard to mutter dark imprecations when he saw their rigs but explained that it was his back talking...apparently they are tougher to get back on board than a single set up. Still it seems to be a fair trade off at least in our waters...the skipper's back for our safety... (only kidding there skippers)
Dominic Humphries	I'm on a backplate/harness, don't have any quick releases, can't feed waist strap into the shoulder straps, and have no difficulty at all getting out of the thing. Firstly, the shoulder straps should have plenty of slack in them anyway. Secondly, when you release the crotch strap, the wing will ride up and add even MORE slack to the shoulder straps. But if you DO decide to add a quick release, may I recommend the solution at the bottom of this page: http://www.oneandoneis2.demon.co.uk/DiveWeb/noclips.htm This gives you extra slack when you need it, without loosing the integrity of a one-piece harness. There are 10 kinds of people in the world. Those who understand binary and Those who don't
Heads Up	Andy is bang on about practice - I have a quick release clip on my left side harness and I just undo it to escape. I added this because I have an auto-dump on my left shoulder and straps are constantly snagging on it when I try to take my BCD off. Gets around the problem no bother. Heads Up
AndyC	Dave Don't worry I'm from England - just down here in Aus for a couple of years with work and then I'll be returning to those warm tropical waters of the English Channel. I have to admit it is a pleasant change being able to wear just a semi-dry in mid winter and still being warm. Yes I take my rig off just like a normal BC (no quick release clips though - anymore!). I have twins on it and to be honest the chances of me lifting the thing over the top of my head whilst on a boat (or on dry land for that matter) are non-existent. All the guys on the tech-boat I dive from use BP/Harnesses and get them on without too much hassle. Theres a bit of wriggling at kit up time but thats about it. As I said before practice getting into it on dry land. I find it helpful to try and dip a little lower than the rig, put my arms through and then rise up into it. To start with I would definately recommend that you put a disconnect clip on only your left shoulder and that will make getting it on/off a hell of a lot easier at the beginning. Then as you get more used to it you can just put some new webbing on (about 15 quid) and you'll have your proper DIR set-up. Some people will give you 101 reasons not to have the clip there (mainly because its a potential weakness point) but if it makes life easier for you at the beginning then why the hell not. I agree that as you move on to hanging loads of equipment and a couple of stages from the rig then it will be under considerable strain on land. But at the beginning with just a twinset it will be absolutely fine.
Davey_Willo	Thanks Andy I totally agree with your comments, I'm very impressed with the Hogarthian/DIR kit configuration but I don't intend to be anal about it, I see no real problem with a quick release on one strap initially, as you say it allows me to practise getting in and out without getting trapped in or out. Thanks for your input mate. Dave.
AndyC	Dave - pleasure mate. It's nice to find a website where you can put across an opinion or suggestion and then not die in the cross-fire as the flame throwers start up!!! I have stopped contributing on a couple of other sites or else just make out I'm a beginner so I don't get crucified. I have no problem with people having different views to me and expressing them as long as they don't do it with the holyer than thou approach that they are always right and you are thus stupid. I am always learning in the world of diving but am happy to share my opinions and experience with others in a forum such as this. Regards Andy
Davey_Willo	Don't worry Andy If I have anything to do with it flame wars will not exist on this forum, like you I've left or stopped contributing to quite a few forums because I've gotten sick of reading flames, personal insults and all of the other crap that seems to be allowed to exist on them. If its done right a forum can be an excellent virtual community with intelligent debates, information sharing and even the making of new friends.... I know, I dive with a bunch of great people I've met on another forum that I'm involved with. Please keep posting Andy, your experience and input are whats needed to help start this relatively new board on its way. Cheers mate Dave.
Frog	What a pleasure it is to come to a forum, confident I can post something and NOT get flamed or insulted for it. Yorkshire Divers are the same - wonderful. Don't get me wrong - I can hold my own with almost anyone - God knows I've had the practice, but when it comes to asking about something I don't know/understand, or posting an opinion or advice, I don't expect to be knocked back for it. Genius I am not (pity) - human (frog even?) I am!! Safe diving!
AndyC	Thats a neat little trick. I wouldn't have thought of doing it that way.
AndyC	I Guess it's like most things - it just takes practice. When I first got mine I was wriggling around like a wounded snake trying to get in and out of the thing, but now I find it a breeze. It's obviously not quite as easy as a BCD with quick release clips but with a bit of practice it's not too far behind. Remember once you have unclipped the waistband you can then make the shoulder straps a lot longer by simply pulling some of the waistband through. Another option would be to have a quick disconnect clip fitted on one shoulder - don't put them on both. This obviously means you won't have the true one piece harness but it would make getting out of it a lot easier. Then since webbing material is so cheap once you are comfortable with it you can just replace it with a true one piece harness.
Davey_Willo	Andy I was watching DIR lll yesterday and George Irvine was showing how to get the rig on and off, but all he was doing was pulling it over his head, easy stuff when using an Ali bottle, not trying to balance on a rolling Rib and without knocking your buddies unconscious in the process... It's bloody cold where I dive and a lot of thermal protection is necessary, drysuit/undersuit thick gloves etc making movement in general pretty awkward, therefore picking up a twinset and deftly slipping it over ones head whilst crammed onto said Rib just aint gonna happen, so are you saying that with practise you were able to get it on and off in the same manner that you might with a BC? So you dive in the beautiful waters of Australia then eh... which means I'm insanely jealous and hate you with a passion