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Date: Wed, 4 Sep 1996 09:54:09 -0700
From: iantdhq@ix*.ne*.co* (IANTD )
Subject: Re: Q.T. on the U.T. Rebreather - Fraud by any other name
To: John Todd <afn48281@af*.or*>
Cc: techdiver@terra.net
Cc: cavers@ge*.co*
John
There are NO 4 day courses by IANTD on rebreathers

On fully closed it is a 7 day course for a RB diver
On Semi it is a 5 day course

These course run 8 AM to pm each day ther is approximately 3 x3 = 9 
hours of pool time and 3 to 5 hours of open water diving to qualify to 
dive the units to 130 feet no deco. Then there is a second module to do 
deco diving of equal diration once the diver has logged the prequisite 
time on the unit.

You might learn something if you took one of these cpourses. Presently 
weare not conducting another one at HQ until mid oct and that one will 
be on the Halcyon passive semi closed in singapore.

The CC is more complex and takes a lot of time and skill and yes a lot 
of what if training in case of electronic failures which are the 
greatest risk probability in CC systems.

A good point is anyone wishing to evolve into RB's should list there 
reasons for doing so. They should list all the risk associated with 
these units then the benefit they feel they individually will gain, 
then corrective actions for failure points followed by a simple value 
rating as either yes/no or a 1-10 value system if at the end of this 
process they have a need for a RB then chose the one or as I have done 
the ones that best suit the needs of the diver. If there is not a real 
need or benefit they rreally do not have any business on a RB. It is 
far less forgiving and requires more discipline and self control to 
dive. In my case I do have a need and a benefit for a SC and a CC unit, 
and I have a high degree of experience on them combined with some close 
calls so I do respect them.

RB's to me or like DPV's and fast boats they are quite good for many 
people and extremeley dangerpous for others. they require training then 
hours and hours of personal training in shallow water before doing 
major dives on them. They can and have bit many divers in the ass. 
Tom
You wrote: 
>
>    rich,no one who takes one of those 4 day iantd/tdi/whatever agency
>courses on "rebreather diving" will be trained right to deal with 
manually
>controlling the functions of the rebreather that are normally 
controlled by
>the computer.you of all people should realize that.on top of that,if 
the
>computer cant be trusted then how can you expect to trust the 
electronic
>output generated by the computer?at least with the mechanical 
rebreathers
>(err, semi-closed) theres no fancy gadgetry or tomfoolery to mess 
with,and
>as a result its safer. - jt
>
>On Tue, 3 Sep 1996, Richard Pyle wrote:
>
>> 
>> >    anyone who ever ran windows 3.1 should be able to tell you that 
computers
>> > crash fairly often.as a result i dont want to trust my life to a 
computer
>> > system. - jt
>> 
>> If a rebreather is designed right, and if the user is trained right, 
then 
>> computers on a fully-closed rebreather are a convenience, not a 
>> life-support system. If you don't believe me, as Farb.
>> 
>> Rich
>> 
>> > 
>> > 
>> > On Mon, 2 Sep 1996 gmii@in*.co* wrote:
>> > 
>> > > 
>> > >    In reading this account of another electronic rebreather 
nightmare I am 
>> > > amazed at the sheer stupidity and arrogance of the "tech" 
"engineers"  who come 
>> > > up with this crap. Clearly anything in the breathing loop of any 
rebreather is 
>> > > by definition at the same number of atmospheres as the diver - 
obviously whoever 
>> > > designed this is one dumb fuck.
>> > > 
>> > >    For you dumb fucks out there, that means that the chips are 
compressed, the 
>> > > batteries are compressed, and the besides the obvious chance to 
short circuit as 
>> > > they are squeezed, some components, like dry cell nicads, can 
not tollerate 
>> > > compression. It is no wonder , however, that the same crowd that 
went for square 
>> > > lights fell for this bogocity.
>> > > 
>> > >     Most computer chips are hermeticly sealed, which means that 
they may retain 
>> > > compression in their voids and explode when the pressure is 
lowered. I do not 
>> > > know much about rebreathers or computers, but I think NOVRAM 
chips have their 
>> > > own batteries, so that means the chip and the battery are being 
compromised. 
>> > > 
>> > >     Trying to encase this crap in gell would not alleveiate any 
of these 
>> > > problems, and would add the problem of water wicking down the 
wires and causing 
>> > > the endless electonic mystery. 
>> > > 
>> > >   Just like most dive equipment, these devices are clearly 
created by people who 
>> > > do not actually dive for people who need a magic carpet, and the 
only commercial 
>> > > use for a piece of shit like what is described here is for 
instructors to teach 
>> > > wannabees and strokes yet one more merrit badge specialty.
>> > > 
>> > >     But, what else is new? - G
>> > > 
>> > > 
>> > >   
>> > > 
>> > > 
>> > > 
>> > 
>> > --
>> > Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to 
`techdiver@terra.net'.
>> > Send subscription/archive requests to 
`techdiver-request@terra.net'.
>> > 
>> 
>> Richard Pyle
>> deepreef@bi*.bi*.ha*.or*
>> *******************************************************************
>> "WHATEVER happens to you when you willingly go underwater is
>> COMPLETELY and ENTIRELY your own responsibility! If you cannot
>> accept this responsibility, stay out of the water!"
>> *******************************************************************
>> 
>> 
>
>

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