Quote: (Originally Posted by
diverreb)
Ok, since you quoted yourself, so did I!
Don, When I mentioned this it didn't strike a chord, but when Mark told you it rocked your world.... I'm hurt!
Mark, thanks for giving Don a wake up call!
Richie
Ah, Richie. Don't feel hurt. I posted that to clarify for other members that may/may not take my post too literally.
Actually, I was pretty sure that I was maxing out the scrubber even before Mark talked to me. I remember what I was taught and have been doing research also.
I have breathed the 6 hr cartridge in my living room for an extra bit to find the end of life. Sitting and watching TV will give me an extra hour (7 hr total). However, If I am walking around for the extra bit, I can only get about 15 minutes more.
Obviously I was about 15 minutes (or less) from a CO2 hit on the previous dive.
I am the type of person that has to know exactly where my limits are and what to expect at the end of them. I now know when my EAC will expire and give me CO2 breakthrough and that if I let it continue, my head will hurt like hell.
I have a partially used EAC in my garage that is over 3 months old and only used for 37 min. I will be doing some testing with that also to learn about the storage of them. I don't think I will take that one to the water though.
I also know that I can make a free ascent from 80 ft. Yes, this was also on purpose to test my abilities. I had a buddy with me since I was expecting to blackout. I never attempted 85', if that tells you anything
I did a 2 1/2 hr beach dive just to measure my sac rate while at rest and while swimming. Then a lot of other drills with the new configuration.
I have also tried to breathe water and was forced to give up on that idea. I know how much time is required for me to blackout in a relaxed state and in a paniced state also.
Maybe knowing all of this is more than I need to know, but I am a very logical in the way that I approach things and this knowledge helps me keep my sh*t together when I really need it. It eliminates a lot of variables and replaces them with known/tested values.
Now that all of my dive buddies have seen this and freaked out??? Solo???