Discuss: gas analyzer before second Shearwater?

[CuzzA]

No offense, I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. What does soaking tanks before analyzing them have to do with anything? It's kind of ridiculous.

The tanks I filled in Chicago when it was 20f/-6c analyze within a point or two when I recheck them in Florida before my dive and they've been laying out in the sun all day.

I am assuming his argument is based on temperature effecting the read out and I was being facetious about soaking tanks. If I am planning on doing a dive I will have planned exactly what gasses I want to use. I take those tanks to my shop and request the mix. When I return I will calibrate the analyzer, analyze each tank and mark each one appropriately. If they are not what I expect then we're going to have to figure out what went wrong. If I asked, for example, 21/35 and the analyzer reads 21/35 I am going to trust that's what is in the tank. If the next day it's actually 22/34 or 20/36 it will have little effect on my dive because I'm not diving to my MOD, o2 exposure limit and a few feet difference in END is not going to be a deal breaker.

I think it's important to clarify the context here. Doing multiple stage cave dives and filling your own tanks is much different than someone just entering technical diving and being told they should buy an $800 analyzer before they have a backup computer. IMO, the backup computer is far more important at this point.

 

[abnfrog]

as usual jim dead nuts on you need an analyzer for what you are diving maintain it ...check it against others and never trust any one else ....

 

[J-Vo]

For entry level, an O2 analyzer is $100. That's less than a 10% topper on a couple Shearwaters. Add in that your going to need another 3 regs as well and it's almost nothing relatively. I was another 3 to 5k into dives and training fees before I needed the He analyzer so the additional $600 was once again not significant. I don't see any excuse to not have one.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

You need to be able to analyze your gas in all of your tanks. I used a computer in gauge mode for most of my tech dives. You can easily make tech dives without an expensive computer, let alone two. An analyzer is a must.

 

[decompression]

Yes, an analyzer even before a tech computer. Certainly if you already own a shearwater then all you need is a simple gauge mode backup.......$250 for an analyzer is a no brainer......

 

[DavidFL]

I did pick up a trimix analyzer before my second tech computer. I bought a used analyzer from someone on SB I trust; replaced one sensor (O2); checked it against my LDS analyzer on multiple tanks. So was only about 1/2-a-shearwater.

 

[Caveeagle]

I have. Mixed feelings about the “gotta pay up to play” mindset. I am fortunate to not have to make these tough choices anymore, but that was not always the case.

When I first started cave diving, I was scraping up loose change and selling stuff to afford my first computer, that amazing Aladdin Pro!

The definition of “tech” diving covers a pretty broad spectrum of diving. I could easily get buy using my shops gas analyzers but prefer to have my own, and can test whoever or wherever I want. Not everybody has to pony up $10k all at once if they are patient, creative, and good at networking.

 

[NothingClever]

If you're not filling your own tanks what's the point? My shop has two AI analyzers. I can't see a practical reason to buy one when you should be analyzing and marking your tanks at the shop. If you don't trust your shop's anaylizer, you might be better off finding a different shop, because what else are they neglecting at the fill station?

I wish it worked like that everywhere but it doesn’t. Where I live for work, there’s lots to be assumed is being cocked up.

Before I purchased my own twinset, I was renting. I went to pick up a normal air rental for the day from the only tec shop around and the compressor monkey pushed a Tx tank towards me with a hypoxic mix. I told him that was the wrong set and I was looking for my rental set with 21%. He then peeled the TX sticker off and then motioned for me to take the twinset as if everything was right as rain.

The analyzer moved to the top of my DGX wishlist.

 

[Marie13]

Yes, an analyzer even before a tech computer. Certainly if you already own a shearwater then all you need is a simple gauge mode backup.......$250 for an analyzer is a no brainer......

Not if you’re doing He. Lowest I’ve seen is nearly $700 for the new Divesoft Solo Trimix analyzer. I’m doing Helitrox.

ETA: I’ve had my Perdix for two years. Backup will be Geo 2.0 in gauge mode. I’d love a another Perdix but the trimix analyzer has a higher priority on my list. I have a good shop for fills, but who is to say I’ll be using that fill the same week? Might be a couple of weeks, depending on weather on the lake.

 

[Stoo]

I have an O2 analyzer of my own, but the odd time I dive mix, guaranteed that every one of my buddies has an He analyzer. I got the boat, they got the analyzer. It works.

Having said that, I too would buy my own if this wasn't the case, and I'd do it before a second SW.