Mounting Lights, etc. on Back Plates

I have been diving with an EPIRB for the past couple of months. I have been putting it just ahead of my light canister, on my waist, without any problems. However, when I started carrying an oxygen bottle on my right side, it made things very tight, and made it cumbersome to hook up a bottle there. I tried putting it behind the light instead of in front of it on the waist. However, it really didn't make things much better.

I have been considering moving the EPIRB canister to an attachment on my backplate as some people do with Argon bottles or lights. That way, it will be above the bailout bottle, and I should have plenty of room for connecting up the bailout.

I am in the process of mimicking an Argon bottle strap set up that I like (the one from Halcyon for the 6 cubic foot bottle). I have purchased my webbing and velcro, and I am going to stitch it together later today. I can't help but think that this thing will always be in the way, drooping down where I don't want it. Do any of you do something similar to this with your lights or other things? Any tips you can provide that I should include in my design?

Thanks.

Well, you probably already know what my company answer will be. But out of curiosity, why are you diving with an EPIRB?

Well, you probably already know what my company answer will be. But out of curiosity, why are you diving with an EPIRB?

Well, some systems weren't designed for rebreathers. Even though I occassionally carry a deco bottle on my right side (when I carry more than one), I know that things can get a little cumbersome over there when I do it. That is the reason that many dive set-ups favor a "bottles on left side only" approach.

The reason for the EPIRB is to be found if you get caught in a heavy current and have to surface away from the boat. Personally, I think that it is a good idea.

SDM- I don't own an EPIRB, but I would think that mounting either on the bottom of the backplate (where I mount my liftbag) or along the side like an Argon bottle would be a reasonable idea. Other than that, I really don't have a great plan for you. Sounds like a good topic of conversation in NC .

Of course, I'm in the "bottles on the left" camp, but you are right, some things do need to be changed for rebreather diving. However, if you're not going to be carrying exploration reels, the bottom of the backplate should work just fine. It's not like you're going to need to do a "fast deployment" of the EPRIB.

I mounted the bag that holds my 6cu ft spare air bottle on the right side of my back-inflatable rec BC using permanent anchor rings at the top and bottom of the bag. This holds the bottle on the right side of my back, between my shoulder blade and my BC bladder. In this location I can still get to the quick release strap easily with either hand..

When I went to Beneath The Sea I noticed that OMS had done the same thing on one of their high-end BC setups,so I was feeling pretty smarty about what I had done.

Your rig is much more complicated, so it is hard to say if something like this will work. What I can tell you is that the precise location of the mount point is important. I had to move the upper mount on mine twice to get it in the proper position so that the bottle didn't bind against my shoulder blade.

Edited by BubbleBoy, 16 June 2006 - 10:09 AM.

Yep, I am not worrying about being able to deploy the EPIRB in less than a minute. By the time I have to deploy it, I have a feeling I will be having plenty of time on my hands waiting for someone to come pick me up.

I have experimented with carrying deco/bailout bottles in different configurations. First, I put one on each side. I had no problems with that. Then, I put both on the left. That also seemed to work though it is not balanced despite what those that use this system try to say about it not affecting the diver.

Now, I am going with a modified sidemount configuration. Out of all of them, the modified sidemount configuration seems to be the most streamlined. I haven't tried scootering using it yet. However, it seems to be very slick moving through the water with this set up.

There is no problem with the light on the right side when carrying the rich bottle there. It is only when using the EPIRB that it gets to be tight.

So far, there isn't a problem with using too much gas from diluent for the suit. However, I might need to add a bottle for drysuit inflation on the deeper dives. If I do, it will go on the left. So, I don't want to use the left side of the backplate or waist strap for the EPIRB.

In addition to carrying a lift bag in my MC Storage Pack on my backplate, I carry an SMB butt-mounted. So, I really don't have room to carry the EPIRB butt-mounted. The backplate mount seems to be the next step.

The EPIRB can be a real life saver. I have a friend of mine that spent five hours drifting at sea in the dark until his team was spotted by a boat and picked up. If I should ever be adrift alone at night, miles from anything, I want to have everything I can going for me. That means the EPIRB, the signal flare I carry in a waterproof canister, the life raft I pack inside of my CCR case so that I can get out of the water while waiting for rescue, 16 ounces of water, two protein bars, a signal mirror, a laser light that can go for 15 hours and can be seen for up to 20 miles, a Dive Alert air horn, and my backup lights that can go for more than 3 days before dying.

I will fit whatever I can into my survival system. It was very comforting knowing that I had these things with me on the live aboard trip. Surprisingly, all of this can fit into a very compact space.

Well, if I ever make it out of the springs alive, I'll consider an EPIRB! In all seriousness, shouldn't you be able to keep ONE of the SMBs in your pocket, thus giving you the space for the Epirb? Another option would be carrying it attached to a D-Ring like a backup light. I assume you don't need two of these for OW diving.

What do you keep on your butt-d-ring? I've seen divers with 3-4 reels held there. SURELY you can fit an Epirb in that location.

Well, if I ever make it out of the springs alive, I'll consider an EPIRB! In all seriousness, shouldn't you be able to keep ONE of the SMBs in your pocket, thus giving you the space for the Epirb? Another option would be carrying it attached to a D-Ring like a backup light. I assume you don't need two of these for OW diving.

What do you keep on your butt-d-ring? I've seen divers with 3-4 reels held there. SURELY you can fit an Epirb in that location.

The EPIRB canister is shorter but just about the same size around as the old lead acid canisters. It won't fit most of those places.

No room on my shoulder d-rings as I like to keep the counterlungs unobstructed. No room in my pockets since I like to keep my right pocket with as little as possible in it in case I need to deploy my backup mask in a hurry. The left pocket is quite full with everything else.

I am off to the tailor with my stuff to see what I can craft. I'll let you know what I come up with.

I am off to the tailor with my stuff to see what I can craft. I'll let you know what I come up with.

PLEASE do, I'm saving up for one for upcoming trips to 3rd world dive spots.

I thought it would clip to the bottom of my plate, out of the way, and sheltered from wake turbulence by the tanks.

If that's not feasible, what about one of those tank bands I've seen little bottles strapped on with?

Capn Jack,

I'd seriously advise against mounting something to you that can't be cut loose. But you already know this...

I think he means the larger straps like for the 14 cubic foot Argon bottles. Those might work. However, I would worry about losing a $600 item this way. The straps for the larger Argon bottles contemplate tanks that are longer than the EPIRB and have a more permanent connection to the diver. So, if one of these came loose from an Argon setup, you would be able to find out about it right away. This might not be the case with the EPIRB.

I changed the length of the tail strap for my bailout bottles, and it seems that I should be able to continue using the EPIRB just forward or behind the canister light with this new set up. So, I am going to try this out before trying to design something else. I would really like to preserve the ability to ditch or remove and replace whatever I would need by myself, and keeping it on the waist would be the best alternative if that is possible.

Well, you aren't scootering... clip it to the scooter ring. Just think what the ladies will say!

Who says I'm not scootering? Once I get all my gear configured and my skills back to where they should be, I will start scootering again. So, I want to get everything set for the introduction of my scooter when I am ready to resume scootering.

Possibly breaking down the contents into smaller containers will give you more placement options plus if one container should be compromised at least half your stuff is still good.