Why does this exist?

[Dirty-Dog]

You fail to understand the fact that this device automatically makes choices for you, and then acts upon them without your input. It is a completely different idea that diving without a BCD or a non-functioning BCD.

I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you. If you focused on critical thinking skills instead of trying to be a dick you might understand the issue.

I bet you just loved that BCD that decided when you weren't breathing enough and fully inflated, sending the diver to the surface like a Posiedon.

What does any of this have to do with your ridiculous claim that a BCD is life support?

Nothing? Gotcha. Anybody want a strawman? There's one here you can have for free...

 

[Bob DBF]

But at least you wear your mask on your forehead...

Everyone has to have at least one hobbie.



bob

 

[seeker242]

It exists so that the person who invented it can make some money.

 

[rhwestfall]

Just realizing that we land large passenger aircraft now via computer a majority of the time, this thing just might work (some day) in some manner......

That being said, I have no interest in it.....

 

[erisch]

Can someone enlighten me where I learn the skills to dive without the use of a BC in cold water?

 

[Akimbo]

Can someone enlighten me where I learn the skills to dive without the use of a BC in cold water?

Wetsuit material was much less compressible when the BC was introduced, so buoyancy change was much less. Rubatex G231 dominated the market for wetsuits and the few drysuits on the market then. Of course you can still use a drysuit to compensate for buoyancy changes, which is exactly what was done after the Poseidon Unisuit was introduced in the late 1960s.

Cylinders also tended to be smaller than since we had to dive tables and could not credit parts of the dive spent at shallower depths, which computers allow now. The single 2250 PSI 72 was the norm and a few people doubled them up for deeper dives. Therefore, the weight loss in gas at the end of the dive was less. It was not unusual to pick up a rock and stuff it in your belt or a goody bag toward the end of the dive when gas weight was less. We also spent a lot more time fooling around with the weights on our belt to adjust for the expected depth range.

Finally, there were no safety stops then so you could just go a little deeper if you were too buoyant at the end of the dive.

 

[erisch]

Thanks for the explanation. I thought I'm now supposed to compensate 22lbs lift swing in the wetsuit with my lungs. Or have to start the dive with a rock, drop it when I'm down for most of the dive, then find a smaller rock for when my tank gets lighter.

I could foresee a new feature for decompression software which calculates rock sizes for your dive. Sorry for being a smart ass, this is not directed at you but the folks who claim that with enough skill you don't need a BC.

 

[Akimbo]

Thanks for the explanation. I thought I'm now supposed to compensate 22lbs lift swing in the wetsuit with my lungs….

Eric Sedletzky frequently dives without a BC in Northern California. It is doable but much less convenient with the more compressible foam Neoprene blended materials.

I don’t see anything “smart ass” about it. Instead of a new feature for a decompression computer, how about a non-compressible wetsuit material? That would be a breakthrough! It really is nice not needing a BC.

 

[erisch]

[...] how about a non-compressible wetsuit material? That would be a breakthrough!

Yes, that would be nice. But I think you probably have to throw it in the microwave or a bucket of hot water before you can put it on.
I guess you'd need to come up with a solid material which has heat conduction similar to air and then but tiny balls of this material into the neoprene.

It really is nice not needing a BC.

Agreed, but as I mentioned above I don't see how to do that reasonably. Even if you have no air bladder, the compression/expansion of you suit already makes buoyancy control harder. So I only see this being nice if you are basically diving naked.

 

[Dirty-Dog]

Eric Sedletzky frequently dives without a BC in Northern California. It is doable but much less convenient with the more compressible foam Neoprene blended materials.

I don’t see anything “smart ass” about it. Instead of a new feature for a decompression computer, how about a non-compressible wetsuit material? That would be a breakthrough! It really is nice not needing a BC.

Yes, that would be nice. But I think you probably have to throw it in the microwave or a bucket of hot water before you can put it on.
I guess you'd need to come up with a solid material which has heat conduction similar to air and then but tiny balls of this material into the neoprene.



Agreed, but as I mentioned above I don't see how to do that reasonably. Even if you have no air bladder, the compression/expansion of you suit already makes buoyancy control harder. So I only see this being nice if you are basically diving naked.

Lavacore and Sharkskin both make neutrally buoyant wetsuits. Sue and Kim both wear Lavacore suits.
But what's wrong with diving naked? Considering some of the people I've seen on boats wearing a budgy smuggler...