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klind@fa*.af*.no*.go* wrote:

> I ran across this gem of advice published on the Scuba Times home page.  You
> can find the article yourself at
> http://www.scubatimes.com/scubatim/eqp496.html  I guess I'm using all the
> wrong gear.  Anyone want to trade me some aluminum 80s for my 104s?
> -Kent

The point that Butch was making is, that he needs to standardize and simplify
equipment 
(heard of the KISS principle - or call it Hogarthian if you prefer!). If you're
in the 
business of public safety diving and saving lives, you don't always have the
luxury of 
"time" or waiting until everyone is "prepared". You have to be prepared ALL the
time and 
get the job done no matter what the conditions are.

Instead of arriving at a site and then trying to adapting procedures to varying
equipment 
under time pressure with the risk of deadly mistakes - it certainly makes sense
to define 
ONE set of gear BEFOREHAND.

Considering that, Aluminum 80s are a defendable choice since they are IN FACT
readily 
available anywhere in the States. I hope you can agree that this is NOT true
for 104s?

I find it a troublesome attitude, when technical hobby divers think they need
to "laugh" 
at technical divers who dive for a "living".

Best Regards
Andy

BH>      We recommend that all divers use single aluminum 80-cubic-foot
cylinders
BH> unless they are diving extremely deep. If a diver is going to go deep under
BH> harsh conditions, we prefer a surface-supplied air source. There are some
BH> limited conditions where dual 80-cubic-foot cylinders are acceptable, but
as a
BH> rule this is not our preferred configuration. I prefer aluminum over steel
BH> simply because it is so widely available. I am more concerned with the
volume
BH> of gas than the container it is in. If all my divers use aluminum, then I
BH> don't have to worry about reworking their weightbelts and personal ballast
BH> systems as they switch between steel and aluminum.

-- 
Andy Schmidt [NJ]

http://OurWorld.CompuServe.com/Homepages/Andy_Schmidt/
AOL: ASchmidt1 * MSN: Andy_Schmidt

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