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>
>Hi Folks
>	Thanks to all that have answered my original query, I have picked up
>a couple of very good (maby life saving) tips.
>	Nobody has yet taken a crack at the second half of my question.. If
>these technics, as described by several people, are being used. Why are we
>still hearing about deaths caused by this problem.
>	I personally don't belive that rebreathers are the answer, abdicating
>responibility for gas managment to a computer does not seem any safer to me.
>	I do like the idea of a FullFace Mask and am currently trying to
>design a manafold block which includes non-return valves etc so loss of one
>system will not allow a total gas dump. But again managment of the gas
>switches is still a problem.

Terry,

I believe in your first post on this thread that you might have been 
refering to the recent death near Sydney, where Paul died after 
accidentally breathing nitrox (I don't know what fiO2) at 47MSW. See
Greg Ryan's post on the subject.  Paul used an air block like you describe,
it has two SP AIR II quick disconnects, non-return valves, a single second 
stage, and a valve that selected between either or both inlets.  Independent
twin tanks with SP Mk X first stages with AIR II quick disconnects on the 
primary LP hoses connected to the air block.  He dived using one bottle of 
air and one of nitrox for deco, both connected to the air block, and 
inadvertantly had the nitrox bottle selected at the beginning of and 
throughout the dive, he convulsed (and drowned?) at 47MSW after about 15 
minutes.  Paul was a very experienced diver and had been using this system 
for some time, I don't know if he routinely used it with potentially 
oxygen toxic mixtures available as he did on this day.  I believe his 
dive buddy, who uses a similar system and was on the fatal dive, reads this
list and may be able to shed light.  There are obviously problems with gas 
management.

David Doolette
ddoolett@me*.ad*.ed*.au*

ps.  If you are on this list Pat I was very sorry to hear about Paul.

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