Hi
Just had to say I finally got hold of a second hand Drager Dolphin (a very good find through someone I know) and Im dead excited about going diving with it.
Ive been diving OC for 15 years (BSAC) and thought using a rebreather would take some getting used to, especially concerning buoyancy.
I did the PADI Drager course and last weekend did the OW dives. Ive never noticed how noisy OC is untill I started doing the bailout exercises, its almost deafening!!
Had to pile on the weight a bit to get down (been told this is normal at the start, although the extra thermals probably didnt help) but buoyancy wasnt bad.
Interestingly the Instructor said I was the first female he'd taught on the unit and had had the best buoyancy compared to the guys who were up and down like yo yo's! Is it a gender thing, experience? Maybe us girlies are more cautious and take it nice and slow?!
The one thing Ive really found different and is taking some getting used to is the breathing, Im too used to sucking! Now its constant flow I have to keep reminding myself to breathe normally as on the surface, it was weird.
So Im now raring to go.
Anyone else thinking of moving to the Dark Side go for it, its great fun and sooo quiet!
cheers
Sharon