Trip Report: Hydro Atlantic Wreck 02/24/2008

mempilot

I didn't pay any attention to them. I think they did a circle around the tie off at @ 115 fsw. They both had very large singles (120's). One of them at least had an h-valve. Appropriate if they stayed above 130fsw for just a few minutes of BT, I guess. What a waste if you ask me.

Man, I love my Rebreather!!! 160fsw for 30 minutes on the bottom, and could deco out OC on two AL40's. Scott and I want to go back and do a 45 minute BT with an 80 and 40.

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Eric Stadtmueller, otherwise known as, MEM "Da Pilot"

sfldiver

The diver I spoke to was wearing a the large 120cf tank, with 26% Nitrox, but it was set-up with a single tank valve with a yoke fitting - He was also not carrying any form of redundant air source. After the dive he indicated to me that he had a total run time of about 35 minutes, but I don't recall if he mentioned how much of that was actually spent on the bottom. I'm sure he strayed a fair distance from the tie off, because I recovered his neopreme weight belt a decent distance from the tie off and into the current and brought it back to the boat, but I never saw him underwater and I didn't know it was his belt at the time - It only had a 3-4 pounds in it.


Just say when Eric and I'm there!

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Currently piloting & shooting...
Dive Rite O2ptima FX
*Rigged w/ a Dsix Custom Aluminum Frame, Nomad Wing, Transpac Harness and VR3 Computer w/ VPM-B/E & a 4th Cell Sensor Link.
Canon PowerShot G9 Digital Camera
*Rigged in a Patima-PDCH 2008 G9 Aluminum Housing w/ an Inon UWL-100 Achromat Wide Conversion Lens, 2 Inon UCL-165M67 Close-Up Lenses and 2 Inon Z-240 Strobes.

Dsix36

The dive went without a hitch, it was the ascent that got me. I have gained a newfound respect for tech diving since this dive. I was actually quite scared when fumbling for my SMB and could not get it. My bouyancy really suffered while I was concentrating on other tasks. I blew through a hell of a lot of dil with my sawtooth profile until I just said F**K IT and drifted without a bag (my life was more important than the boat knowing where I was).

There will be a lot of practice drills in my future and some reconfiguration of my gear.

We all came back without gettin bent, so it was still worth it. Very educational for me. Can you say "Humble"?

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

mempilot

Don,

Where do you stowe your SMB?

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I know Scott and I were deep when you guys bailed off the submerged ascent line. Where you seperated from Howard and Adrian?

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Eric Stadtmueller, otherwise known as, MEM "Da Pilot"

Dsix36

I keep it in a pouch on my butt plate. Yes, I was drifting alone, no big deal being alone. I am used to solo diving.

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

mempilot

Maybe try bungee'ing it on the side of your bailout bottle for easier access? I keep my primary SMB in a pouch on the bottom of my backplate. I used to keep the backup in my leg pocket on my drysuit, but that can be a cluster if you have other stuff in there too. Now, I think I'm going to bungee it to the tank. I believe Adrian does this as well.

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Eric Stadtmueller, otherwise known as, MEM "Da Pilot"

sfldiver

I also keep my primary SMB within the pouch on the bottom of my backplate. And you are correct, I keep my backup SMB/liftbag tightly bungeed on my bailout bottle.

I'm not sure if Don has the same pouch underneath his backplate that my Nomad System has, but if he does, I understand the difficulty that Don had trying to retrieve his SMB from that pouch. That pouch is velcro'd shut and can be very difficult to tear open with one hand, especially with gloves on. For that very reason, I always ensure that even though the velcro on the pouch is tightly sealed, I always leave the ring from the base of my SMB sticking out a couple of inches - That way I only have to grab hold of that ring and pull to retrieve the SMB, rather than having to pry the velcro open. However, even if that becomes a problem, my backup is very accessible. FYI, we should all probably be carrying two reels as well - I do!

__________________
Currently piloting & shooting...
Dive Rite O2ptima FX
*Rigged w/ a Dsix Custom Aluminum Frame, Nomad Wing, Transpac Harness and VR3 Computer w/ VPM-B/E & a 4th Cell Sensor Link.
Canon PowerShot G9 Digital Camera
*Rigged in a Patima-PDCH 2008 G9 Aluminum Housing w/ an Inon UWL-100 Achromat Wide Conversion Lens, 2 Inon UCL-165M67 Close-Up Lenses and 2 Inon Z-240 Strobes.

mempilot

The video is available:

http://www.rebreatherworld.com/flori...tml#post170648

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Eric Stadtmueller, otherwise known as, MEM "Da Pilot"

jkaterenchuk

I am not an expert just trying to be helpful. Here is some food for thought. Just in case it helps.

Pockets look nice....a couple of bungees at the bottom of the backplate secure the lift bag well and allow it be removed easily even with a pair of gloves.

SMB on a BO tank could be problematic if you need to hand the tank off to someone.

SMB deployment is an skill that improves with practise. Try doing it at the end of every dive when possible even if its not necessary (be sure to let everyone know about your intention).

Just when you think your good at it you will screw-up or you should add another level of task loading. How about doing it from 6M in a current while running the unit SCR.

John

PCDiver

Good advice John. I can recommend another version. Try to shoot a bag while you are bailing out. I can guarantee task loading.

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