What principle of dive equipment configuration aims to minimize drag?

The principle of dive equipment configuration that aims to minimize drag is attributed to the concept of "clean." A clean configuration involves arranging dive equipment in a streamlined manner, ensuring that there are no protruding elements or unnecessary accessories that could create resistance as a diver moves through the water. This approach enhances hydrodynamics, allowing the diver to conserve energy and maintain a more efficient swimming posture.

By prioritizing a clean setup, divers can reduce the likelihood of entanglement with underwater obstacles, improve buoyancy control, and enhance overall safety during a dive. This principle is particularly crucial in cavern diving, where visibility may be limited, and the need for smooth, unobstructed movement is essential.

While a compact configuration is also important for ease of transportation and efficiency, it does not directly address the issue of drag. Standardizing equipment can improve familiarity and interoperability among divers, but again, it does not specifically focus on minimizing drag. A complex setup would generally increase drag due to additional attachments and accessories that be less streamlined. Therefore, the clean principle is the one directly linked to minimizing drag while diving.