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On Saturday 22 December 2001 08:14, you wrote: > If you all want to see how these people were equipped when they died just > take a look at the latest Immersed magazine. >snip... It seems that an analysis of the actual cause of most tech diving deaths was the use or or a switch to an inappropriate gas at depth (e.g. recently 100% He; high O2) and excessive depth on air. The gear configuration with the resultant diver task loading certainly is a factor, but not the direct cause of the fatalities in most cases. Having said that, IMHO many "tech" diveres are psychologically too dependent on their equipment thus giving them a false sense of security. Even when a minor casualty occurs, the most important piece of equipment, the brain, fails in people who lack the skills and discipline to think and act efficiently under pressure (no pun intended). If equipment is the fallback and thus salvation for these people and it is a totally screwed configuration, then this relatively small event may and often becomes life threatening very quickly. Many "tech" divers are diving for the wrong reasons. A diver ascending from depth may switch to the wrong gas without even making the most basic checks during the switch because they are diving so far outside their circle of comfort that all they can think of is getting back to the surface (to beat their chests and feel like a big-time diver before their peers). These people don't realize they dive within a razor's edge of killing themselves and/or someone else on a dive. Equipment alone will not make a diver safe; but it is an important component, especially when it is totally inappropriate (and designed by MBAs). 'And we haven't heard the phrase, "gear selling instructors" lately. -Doug P.S. On a separate thread. I am building a number of systems for the Japanese which will operate to 400meters, with submersion times up to two weeks on each deployment. I do not know anything about Apek regulators but I am interested in the details of the first stage to see how compatible they are for the project. I would also be interested in the 2nd stage designs for possible modification for the project, although I typically design my own 2nds (as an acoustic signal with a high enough intensity and low frequency will activate a standard 2nd stage regulator and deplete the gas source). Can anyone direct me to a webpage with detailed info on Apeks (breakdown drawings); and where could someone find these regulators in Central Florida (or nearby). I will need 8. In particular are the first stages diaphragm or piston operated; are the 2nd stage diaphrams one piece (without a center hole and button); and how available are the parts? What are the materials of construction for the first stage? If SS, what grade, and are all interior parts of a similar grade? Your comments on these regulators are appreciated. Thank you in advance. -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
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