😮Shuts down manifold when donating gas. I never thought to do this but I guess it is a solid way of saying “You only get half my gas”. OMG😂

Thank you Mark for the video. One of the historic downsides to manifolded twins is that should someone pick up the entire set via the manifold like a handle - that it could unseat one or more of the valve ends. Nowadays manifolds are much more robust - and I love my set of twin 7l 300s that I am happy to manoeuvre via the manifold.

I'll take sidemount over twin back and have you done a video about inverted twins have a few that dive that way where I dive and the shit thay get for it always makes for a fun day with them

I love diving twins, I think if I was to not have them with a manifold I would rather side mount than back mount. Some test Centers charge to remove the manifold and separate the tanks when they need inspection, so it works out a little cheaper if they’re individual (but that’s every 2.5 years) I digress, I would change to side mount if I separated my twins for that different skill set and experience… I also use 300 bar cylinders, so being able to clip them on and off would be a great factor for me. As always, great video Mark. 😊

#askmark I previously asked you about this for sidemount. I think that a flexible manifold between sidemount tracks would be the best fit. You'd need tanks with two din taps and a valve to depressurise the hose. I've seen stuff that can do this but it's not standard by any means.

I found you! This is a great day. I was sad when simple scuba stopped up loading.

@ScubaDiverMagazine

Ай бұрын

Welcome! Yeah I'm still at it

Indie twins: the worst of manifolded doubles and sidemount combined. The huge advantage of manifolded doubles is access to ALL remaining gas in both tanks if your regulator freezes up or hose bursts (the most likely failures). A failure that drains both cylinders is extremely improbable. Sidemount guarantees you lose no more than half your gas but has easier access to valves. BM indies loses half your gas with the most likely failures (as does SM) but it is harder to manipulate/see valves & regs (same as manifolded doubles).

@LoveCaveDiving

Ай бұрын

I side mount. The only issue I have had and more than once is free flow. (Not full blown) I just keep diving using that bottle. (not in caves except exiting) I turn off the bottle or use it turning it on and off as I use it. As you mentioned, "easier access to valves".

I did my cave course with twins. It was a nightmare as the whole course I was out of trim. I love side mount. Both regulators are under my chin. Easy access to the valves.

@aliasincognito0

Ай бұрын

I've only dove SM in caves so I can't really compare. But my observation is that SM is generally not needed unless you're going through a really tight passage. It's too much fuss for very little value. Slinging deco bottles is also awkward. That being said, SM does feel more freeing in that I can actually fin sideways and upside down since the weight is on my sides.

@LoveCaveDiving

Ай бұрын

@@aliasincognito0 True, in a lot of caves doubles are fine. I'm not the strongest guy so lugging doubles for me is difficult. I do a lot of shore dives and caves so a lot of lugging. I don't seem to have a problem with stage bottles. I like the easy access to the valves and hoses. It is true there is more setup but after a while it takes less time. I feel safer with the access to all my gear while diving.

Another great video . Thanks.

Sidemount ftw!

Know some cave divers that dive manifold connected twin sets with no isolator. Talking to Wayne at Amigo dive center, his comment was that he knows of people that have died from the presence of an isolator but not from the lack of one. I get his point, I have had a valve o-ring squeeze out before but that has been out of the water with a full tank in a hot car. Maybe some of you have heard of it happening in water, but I cannot think of a case. Valve Failures? Is that practically an issue these days?

@LoveCaveDiving

Ай бұрын

No isolator in a cave ??? I wonder if it is because few dive with no isolator in caves so no deaths. Start losing gas you lose all of it. Just saying. Do you know how the failures were due to the isolator?

#askmark Hi mark Enjoying your videos That last one got me thinking Haven’t dived in 20 years and just getting back into it. I’m starting to notice that I’m not 20 anymore. Do you know any good stretches or exercises that would help with mobility particularly focusing on scuba? Such as shut down drills, fin removal and the dreaded dropping something when you’re kitted up ( damn it just dropped my mask and hood! Screw it I’ll go without. It’s not that cold or salty, headaches and blindness aren’t that bad scenario) etc Cheers 👍

#ASKMARK Hi Mark. another informative video and thought provoking when using twins and then switching to side-mount tanks. I have not witnessed, but heard of divers using inverted twins with a non-isolator valve manifold & longer 2nd stage hoses. I dive with vertical 300-bar twins with a non-isolator valve manifold. I’m considering side mounted but switching tanks to maintain buoyancy is an added task -v- no switching with twins. What are the pro’s & con’s of using inverted twins? I’d prefer to consider an experienced pre-dive answer than have a ‘bottom-time’ issue. Please continue your informative videos and podcasts. Regards, geemac

@ScubaDiverMagazine

Ай бұрын

The main benefit of inverting is access to your valves. If you have shoulder mobility issues that make it hard to reach behind your shoulders, having the valves in the small of your back is much easier to reach. The problems are that when you want to stand the cylinders up to don and doff your kit, it either rests on your valves, your regulators or you need to invest in a cage to protect them. This increases the length and the bottom of your cylinder is closer to the back of your head which shifts the buoyancy. You also need new hose lengths to reach everything so, you need to reconfig your regs also.

@geemac44

Ай бұрын

@@ScubaDiverMagazine Thanks for replying regarding inverted twin tanks. Whilst easier access to valves and longer hoses are understandable, the don & doff issue is a deal breaker if your dive buddies or dive crew can’t assist pre and post dives. I’ll stick with my twin settings until I can figure a way to breathe evenly from side-mounted tanks, like twins. I have pictured a regs set up something like a rebreather with a hose on either side and a single occy as per normal. All ideas are most welcome. If there’s a will there must be a way🤷‍♂️ safe and enjoyable bottom time to all divers🤿👌

Thanks Mark. Could you have different mixes in each cylinder if they were independent?

@ScubaDiverMagazine

Ай бұрын

Yes you could have different mixes, I'd want to mark up the 2nd stages so that I know exactly which I was breathing from and you would come across the balance issue If the other cylinder is sidemounted you can adjust it's positioning but, back mount it's stuck in place

@pbillings808

Ай бұрын

Since errors with gas switching is one of the main causes of fatality, this is highly discouraged. Same with sidemount.

Sharks and Yum Yum Yellow. What are your thoughts? #askmark

@ScubaDiverMagazine

Ай бұрын

Funnily enough I have a background in animal behaviour. I've seen anecdotal evidence of sharks being more drawn towards yellow and white colours, possibly due to the contrast with the water. The same for shiny jewellery, if they see a glint of light it can attract their attention. Bear in mind this is when they're hunting, and they'll prefer brighter colours over darker colours. As long as you don't look like or act like a prey animal you should be fine. Just think about what you're wearing on certain dives...

@preethasebastian8921

Ай бұрын

@@ScubaDiverMagazine Thank you! Love your channel

I haven't dived indies myself, but my original instructor occasionally did, and there is an additional advantage they have over a manifolded set. Taking 3 cylinders allows you to swap out the lowest pressure one for a new full one will give you more gas for the second dive. It does mean a little planning (breathe down one more on the first dive), but it can be handy. I asked about the BCD being a single fail point, and it really isn't a worry, so long as you are able to control the deflation of your BCD properly. If you have a failure, you're heading up anyway, so inflating the BCD shouldn't be necessary!

Don't call Fluttershy oversized.