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While at DUI, I did some research into argon inflation systems.  Several 
points that need to be corrected or added to follow:

1.  Even though argon is a denser gas, no adjustments need to be made to 
a regulator to accomodate for flow rates.

2.  COMEX, the ex-French did research into hyoerbaric argon atmospheres 
and subcutaneous transmigration of argon.  A 45 minute exposure at I 
beleive 750fsw (it may have been 1000fsw) was the limit for argon 
exposure.  Jean Imbert, the COMEX Safety Officer presented two papers on 
the subject.  Dr. Bill Hamilton offered to research the subject further 
for DUI but funds were not available to support this.  It was our 
conclusion that for most technical dive profiles, this limit would not be 
exceeded.  An anecdotal sidenote,  during Sealab II I beleive a lI I 
beleive a link was made between President Kennedy on the surface, n the 
surface, the undersea lab, and a Mercury spacecraft cry spacecraft 
orbiting the earth.  For the Sealab aquanauts to talk clearly in the 
Heliox atmosphere, an Argox breathing mixture was inhaled and then the 
speaker spoke into a face cone to capture the exhausted gas mixture.  Due 
to the dense gas on the outside and the sturated helium inside the body, 
a rapid transmigration of the Helium occured outward through the skin of 
the face.  The diver's face exposed within the cone rapidly blistered 
with skin hits and the talks were halted.  I ed.  I donot know the final 
disposition of the diver, but he was not severely injured.

3.  I believe small releif valves that fit in an LP port of a regulator 
are available from AMRON or DSI (in Santa Barbara).  This allows a low 
performance (economical) regulator to be used for inflation systems.

4.  Billie Deans stated that while properly outfitted, i.e. minimally 
weighted, not overweighted as most wreck divers dive, he could make two 
dives on the Doria, 240fsw, on DUI's 4.7 cf bottle.

Respectfully,
Jay


Jay Jeffries
a028171t@bc*.se*.li*.fl*.us*

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