I don't need help...you do. Everybody else, just let Gian do what he wants and try to prevent him from infecting the divers just starting down the path to tech and cave diving. Hell, Gian I'll even give you a like...might be that only one you ever receive. Mods close this thread.
Mods started the thread and can close the thread if they want.
Now, I break Scuba 101 rules and "conventions" (i.e. Tec diving BS) and more than one because it either does not add to my risk or in 99.999% of the cases it reduces my risk.
1. I "yo-yo" dive (not my choice in a cave).
2. I dive "solo."
3. I dive "rebreather solo."
4. I "solo rebreather cave dive."
5. I "modify my rebreather" (it is a hybrid between a Pelagian and an eCCR Meg).
6. I "build my own rebreather electronics" (to complement and not replace original manufacturer electronics).
7. I build my own rebreather pPO2 monitor.
8. I build my own rebreather CO2 monitor.
9. I carry "too much gas" (so Tony says...)
10. I replace N with O2 to reduce narcosis by diving N32 (as opposed to Air in a cave).
11. I dive with no weight belt and no weights (when using a rebreather).
12. I dive with no weight belt.
13. I dive with no back-plate.
14. My rebreather is ditcheable and not fixed.
15. I do not carry a 2 or 3 liter (i.e. small) rebreather diluent bottle.
16. My longest regulator hose is cm. 74 (and if I could make it usable/comfortable and shorter I would).
17. I dive under cave lines.
18. ...
On this one occasion on this dive on that day because I forgot the tapper-ware box (first time in 29 years I forget my SCUBA electronics) with inside my home-built additional rebreather pPO2 monitor and OSTC 2N Dive Computer and Uwatec 330 Bottom Timer I had to make an executive decision:
1. Go home, or
2. find a solution.
I went for route 2. and found a solution and the solution was to plan and execute the dive in a manner such that a Dive Computer and Bottom Timer and pPO2 monitor would not be required.
So, I left the rebreather in the car boot. I decided not to carry out an exploration dive. I reduced the dive plan to a route where the cave had been surveyed and I had personally verified many times (400+) which means I knew the depth of each waypoint to which the line was attached to and the distances and I knew that there was not a chance I could get into a deco situation.
I broke deliberately one more rule on that dive.
I was taught not to dive under the cave line, but to ALWAYS dive above it (which I ALWAYS did)... except on that dive since I had my thinking hat on I questioned the logic/validity/applicability of that rule.
I am diving with a scooter and on two occasions there is a much wider and safer gap/route if I were to go under the line (i.e. between the line and the cave floor), than above it (i.e. between the line and the cave ceiling)... so on two occasions broke another "rule" and went under... and surprise, nothing happened and it was easier and safer.
So, we have established I break rules and conventions, but in my risk assessment, given the environment in which I dive, given the dives which I do, and given I think with my own thinking head, given that I do not follow rules blindly, given that I do not trust electronics (but only "use" them)... in my risk assessment it is SAFER for me to do as I do.
Now, granted that in the specifics of that dive that day there is NO BENEFIT whatsoever NOT to carry a Dive Computer and Bottom Timer, which means by all means it should have been carried as a matter of course, given I did not have either (did not have my home-built pPO2 Monitor either), I made a risk assessment and concluded (rightfully or wrongfully) that on that dive that day as planned it would not have made a dildo of a difference whether I had a Dive Computer/Bottom Timer or not (or a PPO2 Monitor cause I left the rebreather in the boot of the car).
I made a risk assessment and took a calculated risk. I could have miscalculated or made an error of judgement.
I did not (but I remain with an open mind in case you can think of a single "what if" scenario in which a Dive Computer/Bottom Timer on that day that dive could have saved my life or prevented my death/injury).
