BOV Use Poll

gerstl_ossi

Use a homemade BOV with Apeks inner parts. WOB is good on CC and OC too. For me works fine.

jmurba

I want less gear
not more gear

__________________
when will I be able to think about something else then spending hours underwater, when will I be normal ?

http://web.mac.com/jmurba/Site_2/home.html
http://web.mac.com/jmurba/Site_3/home.html

Dsix36

I have not voted because I am still trying to figure out if I want one or not. Maybe a FFM is in order? I only have about 35hr on my Optima and am still researching options.

CO2 is the only thing that scares the s**t out of me with my Rebreather. All of the other problems are minor in comparison (IMHO)

.

__________________
THE MORE THAT I LEARN, THE MORE THAT I STILL NEED TO LEARN!!!!!!

hoppyinca

I don't plan on using one. I still bungee my bail out around my neck, and if I need to get off the loop I want completely off... and I AM NOT going back!
I know they completely seal the loop off, but it is the reaction I am concerned with ("the cocktail").

the main reason I see having a BOV is scrubber failure; break through, complete flood w/ cocktail, etc... so I want it to breath off a different system.

with break through, it done the unit can not be used... therefore, not going back.

with 'the cocktail', though I have never had one, speaking with someone who has all he wanted to do was get it out of his mouth, both the cocktail and the DSV, now if that DSV is a BOV, you will be spitting out you bailout too!

as many have said before, a bailout should be that... a bailout.

my novice-ish 2 cents.
hoppy

JimBo

I put a BOV on my prism and really like so far

Skipbreather

A little over 5 years ago I nearly bought the farm due to a massive CO2 hit. The next day I began design and construction of my own BOV. I would not dive without one.

I view it as a sanity breath device to enable me to perform an orderly shut down & switch to off board bail out gas/ reg.

__________________
"Entropy RULES! Enjoy the interim."

grahamsp

It's worth reading the reports of hypercapnia related incidents/accidents. A typical comment is how difficult (to the point of being impossible in some cases) even relatively simple things become. "I knew exactly what I had to do but I just couldn't do it" is the best way to put it.

Let's be very clear - going off the loop and onto a stand-alone OC bailout is not a simple business. Arguably, even under normal circumstances, it's a difficult, multi-step process requiring two hands. When you are stressed physically and psycholgically by all the cr*p that's going on that caused the onset of hypercapnia in the first place, it can be close to impossible, and if you read the reports, it often is.

In my view, a BOV is one bit of gear that is an absolute must. When the sh*t hits the fan, a simple one-handed movement is all it takes to get off the loop. In my experience, because it is so simple, you bail out much earlier precisely because it is so straightforwar, so psychologically unchallenging. As, of course, is going back on the loop again when things have settled down. You don't hold on and on, putting off the evil moment, hoping things will get better even as they get worse.

I've used my BOV in earnest three times. Whilst not quite in extremis, things were pretty hairy and my ability to go to OC quickly and safely was one factor (amongst others) that allowed me manage the situation through to a safe conclusion.

A BOV is one bit of gear that you should not dive with, particularly if heavy current, high workload, and/or entanglement are risk factors. Under those circumstances and with the onset of hypercapnia, there is a good chance all the stand-alone OC in the world won't be able to help you.

Graham

Gilles

Having a BOV does not necessitate not having a normal 2nd stage on your offboard. Most people, myself included, have both

This is a better argument .

I will counter that the extra peice provides sufficient extra value to justify it's price and hassles.


The BOV also makes life much simpler for a would be rescuer. If you're found taking a nap, (with a neckstrap at least), your life can be saved a twist of the knob.

It's surprising that some 15% so far, are not even considering a BOV. Must be FFM want to haves.

__________________
Gilles
http://www.dirrebreather.com

gerstl_ossi

Same for me, the BOV is on a 4Liter 300 bar on-board tank. In shallow water I use also 230 Bar 3 Liter AL. Its enough gas for sanity breath, also with a high l/min breathing volume. Than I can bail out to my offboard tank

jmurba

in my opinion a bov or no bov can't sum a correct oc bail out strategy .
a bov ok , for how long ?
connected to what tank ?
multi tank connected?
if not a switch will have to be done anyway when the first tank is empty (and it won't last long after a co2 hit)
if the bov is connected to more then one tank the the stages won't be able to be shared
thy could be shared if quick connectors are used but all diver will need to use the same system...etc etc...
not enough to say bov or no bov...

__________________
when will I be able to think about something else then spending hours underwater, when will I be normal ?

http://web.mac.com/jmurba/Site_2/home.html
http://web.mac.com/jmurba/Site_3/home.html