Channel Islands... What do I need to know...

[Manatee Diver]

I didn't giggle. In fact I attempted to keep a completely straight face, and listen politely as a way of respecting his experience.

But OTOH, on Sunday when I pass through cave country on my way home, I will be filling the set of LP85s I used. I just don't attempt to argue, I know that there is no way of convincing others that cave country has decades of experiencing of cave fills, with no reliable reports of any issues (just rumors).

 

[Squirm88]

I didn't giggle. In fact I attempted to keep a completely straight face, and listen politely as a way of respecting his experience.

But OTOH, on Sunday when I pass through cave country on my way home, I will be filling the set of LP85s I used. I just don't attempt to argue, I know that there is no way of convincing others that cave country has decades of experiencing of cave fills, with no reliable reports of any issues (just rumors).

Makes me feel fortunate for having cave country shops for my fills. I've also never seen an operator inquire about fill pressure on customer provided tanks before either.

 

[Manatee Diver]

Makes me feel fortunate for having cave country shops for my fills. I've also never seen an operator inquire about fill pressure on customer provided tanks before either.

I detailed this without naming the shop in another thread.

But basically I had a small leak and was trying to figure out where it was coming from Joel decided to be helpful and take a look at it. At first he came to the conclusion that it was the burst disc, so he inquired about the fill pressure. Which was 4,250 when I checked my tank in the trunk. After he went off, he took a look at it again and realized it was the DIN o-ring. They are new regs (just switched from D6 to Scubapro), so infant mortality on the o-ring.

As far as why and how did I fill it that high? Why, is I just hook it up and let Wayne's regulator handle all the filling (I stop at Amigos after a Branford dive as typically EE or CCDS is closed by then). I want 3,700 cold, and typically that means I want all I can get from the bank which is normally 3,900. Well it was a cool rainy evening, and I just refilled the tank with fresh well water, so it all worked together to get me a 4,100psi fill when I tested the tanks the next day after they warmed up, which in the desert heat raised up to 4,250psi.

 

[Squirm88]

I detailed this without naming the shop in another thread.

But basically I had a small leak and was trying to figure out where it was coming from Joel decided to be helpful and take a look at it. At first he came to the conclusion that it was the burst disc, so he inquired about the fill pressure. Which was 4,250 when I checked my tank in the trunk. After he went off, he took a look at it again and realized it was the DIN o-ring. They are new regs (just switched from D6 to Scubapro), so infant mortality on the o-ring.

As far as why and how did I fill it that high? Why, is I just hook it up and let Wayne's regulator handle all the filling (I stop at Amigos after a Branford dive as typically EE or CCDS is closed by then). I want 3,700 cold, and typically that means I want all I can get from the bank which is normally 3,900. Well it was a cool rainy evening, and I just refilled the tank with fresh well water, so it all worked together to get me a 4,100psi fill when I tested the tanks the next day after they warmed up, which in the desert heat raised up to 4,250psi.

I get my fills at Dive Outpost, EE or Cave Adventures. My back mount doubles are LP 85's for cave diving. So I'm with you on getting good fills.

Just blows my mind what is considered a common practice in Florida was enough to make a dive boat operator go full Karen on a public post on FB. I have no plans in diving that way but if I did I know who not to use. Thanks for posting.

 

[Manatee Diver]

Just blows my mind what is considered a common practice in Florida was enough to make a dive boat operator go full Karen on a public post on FB. I have no plans in diving that way but if I did I know who not to use. Thanks for posting.

TBH outside a short posting in my tech forum thread, that would've been the end of it for me, as honestly I didn't care that much. It was his posting on Facebook that amplified it more than I would've.

 

[Ulfhedinn]

@Manatee Diver DId they weigh you dive stuff when you boarded the boat to Catalina? I see they have a 50lb limit and feel my gear and gearbox "Pelican 1660" will be an issue.

I have not been in a few years and they use to have no problems with my box.

 

[Marie13]

It was funny - as soon as I saw Joel’s posting on FB, I messaged Manatee to see if that was him.

 

[Manatee Diver]

@Manatee Diver DId they weigh you dive stuff when you boarded the boat to Catalina? I see they have a 50lb limit and feel my gear and gearbox "Pelican 1620" will be an issue.

I have not been in a few years and they use to have no problems with my box.

No weight checks, not sure if that is a normal thing or a COVID we don't want to touch anything related.

TBH I was probably within the weight limits regardless.

 

[wnissen]

@Manatee Diver DId they weigh you dive stuff when you boarded the boat to Catalina? I see they have a 50lb limit and feel my gear and gearbox "Pelican 1620" will be an issue.

I have not been in a few years and they use to have no problems with my box.

I do know one person who was charged for extra weight, but if you read their document it has specific dimensions. You can bring a pretty good sized box, plenty of room for a standard rec setup but maybe not for a camera. I think the weight limit is more to keep boarding moving smoothly, they need to get a lot of people off and on quickly up the ramps. So just make sure it's an amount of weight you can handle easily. There does not seem to be a consistent procedure, sometimes I have left it in the normal (dry) baggage area, sometimes in the back of the boat, where there was some spray.

 

[Ulfhedinn]

My 1660 is 31.59 x 22.99 x 19.48 in but over there 50lb limit. Guess we shall see. I use to stash it on the back of the boat.