| Diving is an exciting hobby. It can also be | | | | supplies of breathing gas. This means an extra |
| extremely dangerous if you are not properly | | | | safety factor over the single tank set up in case |
| trained in safe diving techniques. The risks are | | | | of a failure. |
| clear to see, you are swimming around under | | | | - A twin tank set up is better balanced than a |
| water a long way from your natural air supply. | | | | single cylinder with pony attached leading to |
| You are relying on equipment to keep you alive a | | | | better comfort and trim in the water. |
| long way from safety. You must be comfortable | | | | - You are able to dive with a bigger gas supply |
| or you will find it difficult to concentrate on | | | | than when using a single cylinder. |
| important safety aspects of the dive. | | | | I was persuaded to buy a standard twin 12 litre |
| In my experience uncomfortable gear is one of | | | | set. When I started using it I found that it was |
| the main causes of problems in diving. I cannot | | | | very comfortable in the water and I was pleased |
| remember the number of times I have seen a | | | | at the additional safety factor twin tanks gave |
| student shoot to the surface in a panic because | | | | me. However, I was very uncomfortable carrying |
| of a leaking face mask. There are also many | | | | 40 kilos of equipment on my back when I was |
| occasions I have seen newly qualified divers leave | | | | out of the water. Also, I realized that I was |
| the sport simply as a result of not enjoying their | | | | carrying more gas than I needed for most of the |
| training using the uncomfortable and usually ill | | | | dives we were doing. I had not considered my |
| fitting club gear provided. Even experienced divers | | | | own needs properly and had listened to others |
| sometimes become disillusioned as a result of an | | | | giving advice that although was well intended, did |
| expensive purchase that turns out to be painful to | | | | not suit me. |
| use. | | | | After some more research, the answer was |
| I have enjoyed diving as a hobby for many | | | | simple, I needed twin 7 litre tanks to which I could |
| years. Last year I decided to try some more | | | | add an additional side slung decompression cylinder |
| adventurous diving and needed to investigate the | | | | for the deepest and longest dives I might |
| different equipment that I would need for the | | | | consider doing. With this equipment I am happier, |
| deeper and longer dives I wanted to do. I | | | | feel more comfortable, and can concentrate on |
| researched the subject as well as chatting to my | | | | safe diving and having a great time exploring the |
| diver friends. It seemed that the next move | | | | new experience of diving a bit deeper and for a |
| would be to upgrade my single cylinder equipment | | | | bit longer than before. The issue of diving safely is |
| to a twin cylinder set up. This would provide a | | | | paramount, and you must think of your own |
| number of benefits for the different dives being | | | | needs in relation to the diving you intend doing, |
| planned. | | | | not what looks good to others. |
| - Twin tanks mean that you have two separate | | | | |