Rebreather World - View Single Post

n2diving · 21st April 2008, 01:17

I, Mark Derrick, was the instructor he spoke with who recommended upgrading to the delrin handsets. The unit he purchased was from Farallon via eBay, and have the original metal handsets which were pretty much certain to corrode and leak. I'm also aware of some history with that specific unit which makes me uncomfortable.

There were later several improvements to the metal handsets, and there are certainly some still in use. However, I've sold a lot of O2ptimas and as a result I get a fair amount of feedback on them. I also have a great many personal hours on both the metal and the delrin handsets. With meticulous care, and a bit of experience with their peculiarities, such as the resetting problems related to the battery doors, they are certainly serviceable. Still, in my opinion it's just a matter of time until the depth sensor leaks and the handset fails, that issue was only resolved with the delrin handsets. In the last 10 days, I've seen two more of the metal handsets, both with the updates, fail with leaks at the depth sensor. I simply can't recommend the metal handsets when the delrin handsets, which exhibit none of these problems as well as providing a battery voltage monitor, are available. These are not just annoyance issues, in my opinion the Delrin handsets offer improved safety.

An experienced O2ptima diver who is knowledgeable about their unit and it's handsets, vs. a new diver who is about to receive instruction on the O2ptima, are two different situations. For an experienced O2ptima diver, I recommend updating to the delrin handsets when convenient. For a new diver about to train on the O2ptima, I would not recommend starting training until the handsets have been upgraded to the delrin versions. While some other posts in this thread wish to dismiss my experience with the O2ptima, I stand by my recommendation. Based on my experience with the O2ptima, I would not just update the metal handsets. I recommend upgrading to the delrin handsets as the safest choice for a diver new to the O2ptima.

As always, safety issues are rarely black and white, particularly where money is involved. Making a personal choice regarding my safety as an individual, and making a recommendation as a professional instructor during a brief telephone conversation, are significantly different situations.

21st April 2008, 01:17	#11 (permalink)
n2diving Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other CCR Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Florida, USA Posts: 271	Re: Questions about optima controls I, Mark Derrick, was the instructor he spoke with who recommended upgrading to the delrin handsets. The unit he purchased was from Farallon via eBay, and have the original metal handsets which were pretty much certain to corrode and leak. I'm also aware of some history with that specific unit which makes me uncomfortable. There were later several improvements to the metal handsets, and there are certainly some still in use. However, I've sold a lot of O2ptimas and as a result I get a fair amount of feedback on them. I also have a great many personal hours on both the metal and the delrin handsets. With meticulous care, and a bit of experience with their peculiarities, such as the resetting problems related to the battery doors, they are certainly serviceable. Still, in my opinion it's just a matter of time until the depth sensor leaks and the handset fails, that issue was only resolved with the delrin handsets. In the last 10 days, I've seen two more of the metal handsets, both with the updates, fail with leaks at the depth sensor. I simply can't recommend the metal handsets when the delrin handsets, which exhibit none of these problems as well as providing a battery voltage monitor, are available. These are not just annoyance issues, in my opinion the Delrin handsets offer improved safety. An experienced O2ptima diver who is knowledgeable about their unit and it's handsets, vs. a new diver who is about to receive instruction on the O2ptima, are two different situations. For an experienced O2ptima diver, I recommend updating to the delrin handsets when convenient. For a new diver about to train on the O2ptima, I would not recommend starting training until the handsets have been upgraded to the delrin versions. While some other posts in this thread wish to dismiss my experience with the O2ptima, I stand by my recommendation. Based on my experience with the O2ptima, I would not just update the metal handsets. I recommend upgrading to the delrin handsets as the safest choice for a diver new to the O2ptima. As always, safety issues are rarely black and white, particularly where money is involved. Making a personal choice regarding my safety as an individual, and making a recommendation as a professional instructor during a brief telephone conversation, are significantly different situations. Last edited by n2diving : 21st April 2008 at 02:14.
(Offline)