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From: <FBama98@ao*.co*>
Date: Fri, 7 Aug 1998 10:59:47 EDT
To: cavers@ca*.co*, techdiver@aquanaut.com, freeattic@co*.ci*.uf*.ed*
Subject: Those who forget the past...#7
This one is a long one, but I think you will like it.  I may not be able to
post for a few days as I am off in the Hemisphere Dancer and may not have
access to a phone.  Be safe,
Frank

Note:  Paul Heinerth is credited as the author of this section of the book.

(Re.: Sleds mounted to Aquazepp scooters)
"The second aluminum sled was also equiped with four composite tanks.  Due to
a lack of proper high pressure hoses it was hooked up as 2 independent air
"banks" made up of 2 fiberglass tanks each, one behind the other.  The primary
regulators for each bank were attached to the dual DIN Y valves at the front
end, identical to the first aluminum frame sled.  However, since cave diving
discipline demands redundancy, two more regulators were mounted on the outside
of the two rear cylinders.  Therefore, sled "B" required the use of 4
regulators, 2 of which had 7 foot long hoses.  So imagine yourself the driver
of sled "B".  Yes, where do you put the 4 regulators from the sled?  How about
the two regulators coming from the double steel 104 cylinders on your back?
And what about the two stage tanks under your arm and their two regulators?
How does one handle, monitor and control 8 mouthpieces?  This was just one of
the the many little problems that came up day to day on the Wakulla Project,
and was an example of why divers who could adapt rapidly to new learning
situations were needed."

"Driving such a rig required constant attention, despite ever present
distractions.  Imagine yourself driving the Klingon Cruiser, at 300 feet
depth, 4000 feet in from the entrance, fighting to maintain control of its
poor hydrodynamics, using a reel to pay out line to mark your way and help
with the survey for a map and in the midst of all this you forget which bank
you are drawing life giving gas from?   In the spilt second confusion, you
glance at your gauges (one for each bank) trying frantically to remember which
one should be monitored."

Stone, W. C., The Wakulla Springs Project, pg. 67, The U.S. Deep Caving Team,
Gaithersburg, MD, 1989
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