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Sender: Capt JT Date: 1/28/99 6:40 PM > >What good is redundancy if you do not know how to operate the manifold , I >have seen newbie doubles divers close all three valves , and think that you >are suppose to do it . That can lead to some problems . I even this year >had to open the isolator valve for a diver on the bottom , he had closed it >and could not reach it during the dive . You were there! JT, you have much more experience diving than I and I truly respect your opinion. You also know that people fuck up, sometimes even the best. Sure a diver can get in over his/her head rapidly, that's why in that post I sent you I espoused that the diver get as much experience with a single tank as he/she can until they are totally comfortable with being in the water under any conditions. Althought I have not jumped in with my isolator closed, it's a matter of time before I do. And I will notice that my air consumption is really awful and put 2+2 together and open up my isolator. It is real important that a diver get down a routine, a mental check list that you go though on your dive and only experience can put you on "autopilot" to do this. A funny thing happened this summer. I was gearing up in my usual fashion and I happened to have a couple of helpful divers standing around. I could not reach my second reg and the next thing I know I had about three divers helping me gear up. My first thought was "hey, this is pretty cool, I feel like a pasha or something". Well, before I jumped in I found that my light cord was wrapped around my belt, by DS inflator hose was routed wrong and not plugged in and my shit was not together. I had to pause on the bottom and re-route all my gear and waste 10 mins of my dive. Now why did this happen? The "helpers", who were very nice people, completely screwed up my mental routine. These folks were so helpful I felt obliged to jump in no matter how fucked up my config was. Now why did this diver not have his isolator turned on? Unless he was distracted for some reason he needs to do his valve check routine first thing before he even sits down. If I forget the routine, I would rather get up and check it myself than ask someone. I did ask you once this summer to turn on my valves when I forgot, but I would not have had anyone else do it. Even so I felt guilty that I did not start the routine over again. And I will bet you that this diver will not forget his isolator again... >>You can be a bad diver with a single or doubles. The only reason I >>recommend a single to a new diver is for he or she to get used to air >>mgmt. skills by limiting the air supply. If you feel you need to use a >>pony for your type of diving, a small set of doubles is the better way to >>go. > >You have been intent on pulling me in on this from the start , so here is >my 2 cents on that. >The pony bottle that a recreational diver carries is not for himself as >part of air mgmt. or to extend his dives , but is for his buddy who will >sooner or later need it.Another reason is his gauge may get stuck and lead >him to believe he has more air then he does , you saw that happen this >summer , that was on a tech dive , but it could happen on any dive .The >diver was highly skilled and noticed the malfunction rite away , I do not >believe a rec. diver could be that lucky some might but not all. A free >ascent from any depth is not good , panic because of sudden lost air ( and >I don't mean low , but out ) may cause a diver to hold his breath , need I >say more .Okay Jim happy now , did I step on my dxxx anywhere here ? Step on your dick? Wow, you have that problem, too? I recommend jockeys rather than briefs, heheheh. Hey, the gauge froze up on this guy at 280' and it was a ancient relic of a gauge. I see your point and I hope that the diver who does not know his air consumption to the point where he believes a gauge over his experience is diving shallow enought to do a free ascent. Jim ------------------------------------------------------------------- Learn About Trimix at http://www.cisatlantic.com/trimix/trimix.html -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
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