Hello!

I have a few questions and need some input on getting started. I am currently AOW, EANx certified, age 41, 944 logged minutes.

I would like to minimize my expenses and would like to use as much equipment that I already and will soon to own as possible. I would like to purchase a pony bottle to hang on my descent line at 15ft. while I am still diving OC. I do a very good job sticking to dive plan and have not exceeded no-stop time or ended a dive with less than 400 psi remaining. So could this be a waste of money to buy? I would then like to use this later as my bailout for CCR. Any size recommendations? Steel or Aluminum? I am a Virgin Islands diver so max. depth is 100 feet. Can I use my Oceanic Omega II 2nd stage on the bailout tank?

I have spoken to one member who blends her own gases. What kind of expense would I be looking at to build my own station to blend trimix and heliox? Currently, no helium/Trimix on St. Thomas. No demand with the shallow depths. St. Croix is another story, where she is located. I want to take gas blender course before I take introduction to CCR course to help with my training.

I am going to order the DVD Rebreather FUNdamentals as a start but I was wondering if I could get some help on deciding which rebreather to pursue. I would like the "top 3 units, if such a thing exists" to meet my needs for the following:

1. Photography (edit: current housing rated to 200 ft.)
2. Primarily for no-stop diving but later deep training to photograph U-Boat and Coelacanth
3. Travel (comes with case or fits in a _________ case), close to 50 lbs. w/o tanks.
a. Uses standard scuba tanks
b. Can use standard valves but will accept custom as long as I can buy extra and install in standard tanks.
4. Use with OC buddy, built in bailout can those be shared???
5. Have courses near to St. Thomas or Chicago


Thanks in Advance,

Chris Howard