Blackfrogfeet
Registered
A few (many) months ago I started the thread "Fathom vs KISS Classic", which ultimately ended in one or two users asking for an update on what I ended up doing and how it went. Well here it is.
Background:
I was an OC hypoxic trimix diver (mostly GUE trained) looking for a CCR option that had BMCLs, produced in North America, was lightweight, modular, and would be easy to configure with backmounted 50s so I could be compatible with a lot of the GUE JJ guys I dive with. My search led me to the Fathom.
I took a 6 day Mod 1 program with Advanced Recreational Trimix Plus (51m max depth, minimum dil O2 18%). The course was run out of Third Dimension with Kelvin in Tulum and there were 2 students in the class including myself. Both of us were using the Fathom with onboard LP50s/Lola in the tech rig, BOV with no ADV. Standard gases were used as dil
The Class:
Day 1 was theory, followed by 5 days of diving. The first day was essentially 150 minutes of swimming around in 6m of water at Casa Cenote, developing buoyancy and some skills (valve drill, SMB deployment, S drill, BO). I found maintaining buoyancy in this range agonizing at first! The next 2 days were spent at Cenote Orcheidea in the 10-20m range. Here we swam circuits while practicing maintaining PO2, dil flushes, BOs, and buoyancy throughout constant depth changes. We also kicked the frequency of the drills up. The last 2 days were spent on the reefs off of Akumal where we dove from a boat. Again, the task loading was increased by adding blue water ascents, as well as valve failure resolutions on the Lola. We totaled 12 hours underwater.
Takeaway:
I felt the class was very well done. The task loading was increased in manageable but challenging increments each day. I left the course feeling very confident about using my new machine in my home waters without supervision. The other student and I were also at different levels in our diving, but Kelvin had a way of getting each student to perform to their maximum without getting in the other's way.
This was my first time in Mexico and it really made me change my mind on the importance of training in your home environment vs traveling to train. I now think being somewhere warm where the logistics is good makes learning much easier and pays dividends in the end.
In terms of the rebreather, I'm very happy with my choice (although every new rebreather diver says that about every unit). I found the needle valve and MAVs very easy to use and intuitive. Its very simple and robust, and I think it will serve me well on my future adventures.
Background:
I was an OC hypoxic trimix diver (mostly GUE trained) looking for a CCR option that had BMCLs, produced in North America, was lightweight, modular, and would be easy to configure with backmounted 50s so I could be compatible with a lot of the GUE JJ guys I dive with. My search led me to the Fathom.
I took a 6 day Mod 1 program with Advanced Recreational Trimix Plus (51m max depth, minimum dil O2 18%). The course was run out of Third Dimension with Kelvin in Tulum and there were 2 students in the class including myself. Both of us were using the Fathom with onboard LP50s/Lola in the tech rig, BOV with no ADV. Standard gases were used as dil
The Class:
Day 1 was theory, followed by 5 days of diving. The first day was essentially 150 minutes of swimming around in 6m of water at Casa Cenote, developing buoyancy and some skills (valve drill, SMB deployment, S drill, BO). I found maintaining buoyancy in this range agonizing at first! The next 2 days were spent at Cenote Orcheidea in the 10-20m range. Here we swam circuits while practicing maintaining PO2, dil flushes, BOs, and buoyancy throughout constant depth changes. We also kicked the frequency of the drills up. The last 2 days were spent on the reefs off of Akumal where we dove from a boat. Again, the task loading was increased by adding blue water ascents, as well as valve failure resolutions on the Lola. We totaled 12 hours underwater.
Takeaway:
I felt the class was very well done. The task loading was increased in manageable but challenging increments each day. I left the course feeling very confident about using my new machine in my home waters without supervision. The other student and I were also at different levels in our diving, but Kelvin had a way of getting each student to perform to their maximum without getting in the other's way.
This was my first time in Mexico and it really made me change my mind on the importance of training in your home environment vs traveling to train. I now think being somewhere warm where the logistics is good makes learning much easier and pays dividends in the end.
In terms of the rebreather, I'm very happy with my choice (although every new rebreather diver says that about every unit). I found the needle valve and MAVs very easy to use and intuitive. Its very simple and robust, and I think it will serve me well on my future adventures.