gas switch: backgas? move bottles?

[Garth]

I've read enough reports of folks who are so borked mentally that they can't even take the DSV out of their mouth to switch.

No thanks, chief. I'd rather not drown.

PfcAJ, what is your real name? Are you active on any other forums? What rebreather do you currently dive?

Thanks
Garth


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[PfcAJ]

My name is AJ Gonzales. I occasionally post on CDF, but they're real strict on banter over there so the conversations are somewhat boring compared to the topics we delve into here on SB. I dive an RB80. Still learning a lot, but the case for diving sans BOV is hardly compelling.

You?

 

[jadairiii]

Still waiting on that list of the benefits of 80%. What's the hold up?

 

[kwinter]

Still waiting on that list of the benefits of 80%. What's the hold up?

Pretty hard to argue for backgas breaks to reduce OxTox risk and then argue for 100% in the next post. But I'll try to get some time to run a few schedules. In the meantime, why don't you research the cases of OxTox and what pO2 they occurred at. Anyone diving at 1.6 has a greater risk of OxTox, beyond question. For anyone still confused, I consider OxTox to be the greater risk than DCS. I'll take a hit over a seizure any day.


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[HIGHwing]

I can make list of reasons why a BOV is a good idea, but I can also make a list of why it's a bad idea. When I tally up the two lists what I see is a mixed bag. The BOV is initially compelling, but once you're doing any serious dives and really thinking about things like bailing to very small quantities of low FO2 gas it just doesn't make much sense. Technically you're bailing to a gas you don't really want in a quantity that is grossly insufficient. Continued breathing on a BOV will render you unable to easily Dil flush the loop, use the wing, and perform open loop breathing or SCR mode if you believe in those things (I'm a cave diver, so they're in my tool bag so to speak).

If you like the BOV and you believe you could get enough sanity breaths to flush your body/brain from a handicapped/impared state that's another matter. It's my belief you'll run out of gas before you are able to achieve the full benefit sanity breathing hopes to achieve.

 

[tursiops]

If you like the BOV and you believe you could get enough sanity breaths to flush your body/brain from a handicapped/impared state that's another matter. It's my belief you'll run out of gas before you are able to achieve the full benefit sanity breathing hopes to achieve.

Doesn't this depend rather strongly on what your BOV is plumbed to?


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[Garth]

My name is AJ Gonzales. I occasionally post on CDF, but they're real strict on banter over there so the conversations are somewhat boring compared to the topics we delve into here on SB. I dive an RB80. Still learning a lot, but the case for diving sans BOV is hardly compelling.

You?

My name is Garth McClune and I post occasionally on a few rebreather forums. I dive with a shrimp bailout valve on a hammerhead extreme CCR. I've seen the RB80 at extreme exposure in Florida and see why those who dive them don't dive them all the time. That thing is massive.

I enjoy diving my rebreather in all conditions and am still learning a lot all the time. Do you have criteria that you meet before you dive your rebreather or do you dive it in all conditions?

Might see you in cave country one day.

Thanks
Garth


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[PfcAJ]

Hi Garth,
the thing in the middle is about the same size as most other rebreathers. It's the big ass tanks on the sides that make it look ridiculous. They serve as the OC bailout, and the BOV is fed directly off the right tank. There is no o2 or diluent tanks involved with an rb80. It's generally (but not always) ran off stage bottles, and the RB gives you roughly the same gas that you put in it minus a few % points. How many points is variable based on depth.

Im in the "gain hours" stage of my rb diving so I dive it whenever I can. Eventually, it'll become a tool that I'll use on certain dives. The pre and post dive maintenance (assembly, testing, dissasembly, cleaning, drying) is more involved than OC, and the RB does add a substantial amount of risk and complexity over OC diving IMO. I really like diving the unit, but it's not something I'm interested in using for every dive. If I can put on a set of doubles an a stage and do the dive, no need to do all the RB stuff for such a simple dive.

 

[Garth]

I find my hammerhead more enjoyable than diving doubles. You should really try another rebreather. Maybe a JJ? You sound like you are in no position to try other Rebreathers.


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[PfcAJ]

Risk vs reward doesn't line up for me. Like I said, I enjoy diving the RB80, but why would I want the increased risk of an RB if I don't need it?