Spare Air have you tested? Do you Dare? Do you care? Really what's in there?

[diver 85]

It works for me...and for me, I'm looking for something to get me to the top (around 80 or so feet) OR get me to my buddy(@ deeper depths) if/when all hell breaks loose....

EDIT:...& concerning the 80 or so feet thingy, what's a safety stop(we were trained without them---ie it was mentioned but never required--see old Navy dive tables---60'/60 min....90'/30 min etc etc etc )

 

[ianr33]

Assuming a 1 CFM SAC rate for moderate stress (you did just run out of air and had to go looking for your spare air),

If you wear the Spare Air on a bungee around your neck you will be able to find it quickly. That should reduce stress and drop the SAC rate a bit.

 

[dpbishop]

I had a spare air and used it a few times. It is meant to give you enough air to get to the surface on a no-decompression dive. If you use it for that, it works. I've also done blow-n-goes from 80 feet without one. It's better with a spare air. I switched to a 13 cu pony after I lost the spare air. It gives you more options, but you can't fill it off of your tank, like you can a spare air, so if you use it it's done until you get to the air station.

 

[perdidochas]

Tested Spare Air?
Do you Dare?
Do you care?
Would it help if the dive became a bear?

Really what's in there?
Is the question fair?
Answer with some flair!
Speak up as at the screen you stare!


Seriously, I have a question about spare air. Ian posted a thread with some links and in one of those someone said they carried spare air and were counting on the to get them to the surface. I have read that line many times about people saying this is their backup plan.

So here are my questions:

1. It is my understanding that Spare Air can be refilled. Is that correct?

2. I know how long I will get out of an 80 cu ft tank on a give dive under various circumstances. I know this because I have breathed more than one tank, so based on history, I can give a pretty good answer. I test all my gear on every dive and know how it all works and how it works. So if I am correct in question number 1 that you can refill a Spare Air, I wonder how many people that have them on this board have actually gone down to say 100' and switched to the Spare Air to test it and see how many breaths they can take before said Spare Air is gone and then of course switched back to main reg and tank afterwards?

If I were depending on it as I do my other gear, I would test it for myself to see how it actually performs. Just like I test my smoke alarms not only with the button tester, but I aslo test them with real smoke once in a while to make sure I don't have a bum one.

So has anyone that is depending on a Spare Air actually tested one in the water from depth?

3 And how did it perform when you tested it?

4 Under what conditions did you test it?

5 How long did it last?

6 How did the test meet with how you thought it would perform vs how it really performed?

I've never tested Spare air, but I have done calculations. It simply doesn't have enough air to get you to the surface from a depth of 70 ft + The only use I can see for it in scuba is to get to your buddy, so your buddy can share his air.

 

[UnderSeaBumbleBee]

Lots on answers from people who don't like spare air. That is not what I am looking for. I know and accept that many many many MANY MANY people think spare air is worthless. I accept that you have come to that conclusion.

I want to know if people who are trusting spare air have tested out the gear to see how it works according to how they think it will work.

So back to my original 7 questions to THE OWNERS OF SPARE AIR AND ONLY THOSE WHO OWN SPARE AIR.


Those of you who are not spare air owners for a number or reasons have concluded that this does not work. I am asking those who own and are depending on it if they have tested it out in real work conditions under the water.

For those of you who don't think spare air is a good idea, why not be quiet and allow some people who own it to get the idea to go out and test--then they will know you are right which should make you feel good about yourself and that you had part in saving their life!

If you do not own or have not tested spare air in the water under 60' please do not respond to this thread. I am asking for the experience of people who have actually used the device. If you own it and have not used it, I ask that you test it and post. If you test it, please breath fast and hard like you might under a stressfull situation. Please do this with plenty of gas on your back from your main tank.

 

[UnderSeaBumbleBee]

It is my understanding/belief that spare air is for those people that really have no business diving.

If you plan your dive and dive your plan you should not need it.. RIGHT?

If something did go wrong with my 1st stage, I would rather use my buddy as we have planned rather than resort to some device without a gauge.

That is the only thing I can think of that would ever affect me and my diving as we are purely warm water recreational divers. I dont have any desire to dive anywhere that has poor vis and hazzards..

Thank you for posting even though you don't own one and haven't used one and as noted I have asked for people who have them to report if they have tested the device out.

I WANT TO KNOW IF PEOPLE WHO ARE TRUSTING THEIR LIFE TO THIS DEVICE HAVE TESTED IT OUT IN THE WATER. AND IF NOT, WHY NOT?

Who would like to post next that they also do not have one and have never used one, but think it is a bad idea?????????????????

 

[Nemrod]

Lots on answers from people who don't like spare air. That is not what I am looking for. I know and accept that many many many MANY MANY people think spare air is worthless. I accept that you have come to that conclusion.

I want to know if people who are trusting spare air have tested out the gear to see how it works according to how they think it will work.

So back to my original 7 questions to THE OWNERS OF SPARE AIR AND ONLY THOSE WHO OWN SPARE AIR.


Those of you who are not spare air owners for a number or reasons have concluded that this does not work. I am asking those who own and are depending on it if they have tested it out in real work conditions under the water.

For those of you who don't think spare air is a good idea, why not be quiet and allow some people who own it to get the idea to go out and test--then they will know you are right which should make you feel good about yourself and that you had part in saving their life!

If you do not own or have not tested spare air in the water under 60' please do not respond to this thread. I am asking for the experience of people who have actually used the device. If you own it and have not used it, I ask that you test it and post. If you test it, please breath fast and hard like you might under a stressfull situation. Please do this with plenty of gas on your back from your main tank.

I own a Spare Air (don't know were it is) and I would trust it to deliever exactly 1.7 cf or less, do I trust that to be enough, no. Oh, and I agree with everyone else, it is a BAD idea. N

 

[UnderSeaBumbleBee]

Usually when you have a majority leaning towards and educated notion.. Its something you may want to consider seriously...

Still looking for direct answers to questions 1-7

 

[Scott M]

I have one I got way back when I started diving, I have tested it from the depths I dive which are never planned deeper than 90' to 100'. It does work. Can you breath it like a freight train from 90' and have air all the way up? Probably not but compared to having no air it is better than that and your not going to get a safety stop in but your not going to get one in with out one either. I have come to the conclusion that by the time I figure out I am OOA, do the basic quick checks to see if this situation is easily remedied, looked for alternate source (buddy) and figured it is time to head for the surface it would take me longer to deploy it than to just head up.

My original thought when I bought it was what if I needed just one more breath but after a lot of thought and discussions I determined that if I get to that point it is highly unlikely one more is going to fix anything. I have an air source with two ways to breath off it, I have a buddy that has an air source with two ways to breath off it and I take very good care of my equipment, I can swim up from 75' to 80' or more if my life was on line I'm sure with out one. If all that fails it is highly unlikely one more breath or anything the SP will provide is going to solve whatever situation i have gotten myself into. If I ever decide to dive deeper or get into diving of a more tech. nature I will carry an adequate pony or doubles.

I do however use it a lot for setting up my docks and setting my mooring each year so it was not a waste for me but other than that I see no reason to own one. YMMV

OK, so there it is from someone who owns one and has tested it, hope that helps.

Regards

 

[BubblesUp]

I own a 3 cu.ft. SpareAir, bought dirt cheap but quickly set aside with a number of "seemed like a good idea at the time" purchases made in the early years.

I did a couple of tests at 70' at a quarry. The reg worked about as I expected at depth...didn't breathe as smoothly or easily as the regs I'm used to, but it wasn't like sucking mud through a straw either. I don't think it would even register as a concern if it had to be used in a moment of panic.

Huffing hard and fast to simulate OOA stress, it lasted an average of 1 minute 35 seconds at a constant depth of 70'. Water temp was about 38-40 degrees, and there was no hint of free flow. Have to admit it lasted longer than I expected. More than enough time to get me safely to the surface, in the unlikely event I would choose to carry it and be in a position to use it on a dive.

Every diver takes their own journey, and I've evolved into one who prefers - for many reasons - to dive doubles with an isolation manifold whenever possible. In the event I'm diving with a single cylinder, I either dive a conservative profile with a like-minded buddy or bring along a 19 cu.ft. or larger pony bottle.

Responses shared in this and other SpareAir threads show that many have passionate opinions on the merit of this product. While it doesn't work for me, I think it does have a place for those who truly understand the product's limitations and choose to dive within them.