Discover RBs - and it sucked...

Hanssing

Hi All,
Sorry about the caption but it is was sadly true - well kinda anyway.
Heres an explanation:

I've just returned from an normal OC diving and relaxing trip in Puerto Galera in the Philippines. Due to a bad cold and a sore back, I had some dry days, and went looking for a place where I could actually try one of those magical machines. From various sources (Thankyou: Dive Dojo / Coco Divers) I got pointed to LBC (La Laguna Beach Club & Dive Centre Philippines) where I breifly talked to a fast talking chinese guy called Simon So, who came highly recommended. I only wanted to breifly try to dive an evolution to see if all I had been reading, here on Rebreather World, was holding true.

So this was setup for the an afternoon two days later:
I arrived, and saw an introductory video with R.Pyle et. al. which did not contain anything really new to me.

We then went over the kit, and here's the config:
- Buddy Evolution with standard Vision software for Trimix, no Tempstick.
- Steel BP with OMS-wing
- Adjstable harness
- 7l. Offboard Bailout also used for wing.
- Big counterlungs (As this it a training unit).

Next up was training in the pool for boyancy, DSV-operation and bailout.
As the pool was very small and shallow the session was very short.
Then off for a short 30min swim in the shallows in La Laguna, and we were done - Apparently Simon thought I had an incredible boyancy-control for a first timer, myself i'm not so sure...

So here's why it sucked :

- I was very apprehensive because after reading about Rebreather's so much getting them demystified could only be an anti-climax ....

.... which it was, eventhough I had prepared myself for this.

- My boyancy was not all over the place, but it was INCREDIBLY difficult at the shallows (2 - 6 msw). I did touch the bottom lightly twice , but never took if for the surface. This was expected. I however see this as so difficult, that it will kill most of the fun for many dives to come.

- Swimming inside the harness the counterlungs tended to ride up, so I had feeling of swimming inside a box and looking out a window.
Anyone else get that feeling?

- Biting and sealing the mouthpiece was very heavy, and I could barely turn my head at all. After the short swim my jaws was killing me. The mouthpiece was pulling and I think it was setup with a wrong angle, also the hoses cuold have been to short?

- Breathing the loop, was very much different from what I had expected. The breathing resistence was much more spring-like in the end of inhalation and end of exhalation, and actually not very pleasent. Only when breaths were very shallow the spring-effect was not noticable. I think this is realted to OTS CL made out of neoprene?

- Breathing was more noisy than expected, with the valves and solenoid fireing and all.

- Time on Rebreather was too short

So I would actually advise against buying a short tryout dive on an Rebreather, because all the reasons listed above could perhaps get reviewed to a different conclusion if I had had some more time on the unit. Alas I did not have the time to sign up for a full MOD1 couse which I deeply regret.
It is only because I such a greast intrest in Rebreather's that I have not given up on them, and run away screaming....

So If you're going to try one for the first time, do it for more than one dive!
But since I only have 30mins on one, I have no idea how long one should try to get a decent feel for an Rebreather

Nicolai Hanssing

PS: Sorry about my rant, needed to air some of my disappointments.

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Gilles

First experiences aren't so great on Rebreather. There is much to adjust, fit, and get used to. I cannot speak for the evo, but I'm quite sure after 4-5 hours you'll start to understand how diving metamorphoses into flying.

You will need to spend much time getting your kit just right for you. No one can really do it for you (such as in your first try).

Be patient and I assure you that you must maintain your curiosity. You will not regret!

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Gobfish1

i needed all of 40 mins and i was diving it . no pool two shore dives , and then jumping off the back of a boat in to 30m of water , loved it ,

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Apparently not the only gay diver in the village

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Mdemon

Were the counterlungs done up right? They look well out of place in your photo.

Good point you made - 30 mins isn't enough. Also, 2-6m is a crap zone to try a Rebreather because that's where buoyancy is most tricky. Deeper, longer and fiddle with the harness untill it feels right.

Best of luck.

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www.southwestmafia.com

It's as easy as abc;

a) "Carry adequate bailout"

b) "If in doubt, bail out"

c) "Always know your PO2"

If you find that hard, stick to crochet.

"Once the agenda-monkeys and perfect-worlders have moved on, perhaps we can do some diving?"

chunter

Many people are a bit let down after their first dive on a rebreather because they are not used to diving the configuration (which is very different than OC), and they don't really get any of the major benefits.

Diving an Evolution in shallow water can be difficult because you may not be fully aware of when you are firing your ADV, and therefore you introduce diluent by accident. This will cause the solenoid to fire, which will change your bouyancy. For a rebreather to dive most comfortably, it should be dived at minimum counterlung volume, and the skill can't be perfected in 2 dives.

Also, I'm sure the unit was not set up perfectly for you. For example, the heavy mouthpiece can be made comfortable by adjusting the position of the hoses, or even cutting them shorter.

You really won't appreciate the full benefit of diving a Rebreather in shallow water either. The times when I love my unit the most are when doing multi-level dives within recreational limits, or deep dives. There is usually no way to carry enough ideal mixes when diving OC to be even close to a RB.

I recently had the opposite experience to yours...I did an OC dive!!! I had a student who wanted to try out both of my units so that he could decide which one he wanted to buy, so rather than disinfecting both units before switching, I thought I'd just dive an aluminum 80. It was only a pool dive. I felt like the 2nd stage was jamming air into my mouth, and my bouyancy was nowhere near perfect. That was my first OC dive in over a year, and my second in the past 3 years. Hopefully it will be my last.

Aloha,
Charlie

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RichardGreen

What he said


Piece of piss, how difficult is this?


Richard Green

richie

my first dive on ybod was mod 1 in a quarry in January so felt nothing but cold and just got on with it. it was only when i did a few dives back home and i thought what a mistake i had made spending all that money and so awkward to dive. and then just like that things came together and wow really started to enjoy it and been hooked ever since.

luxrok

I did my discover with Andrew Driver in PA. It was a serious all day affair. I think I got there around 10-11am and we got to the pool around 6-7 and then spent an hour or two at the pool. We did a head to head comparison between the Meg Apec2 and the Kiss Sport. It was an eye opening experience. I got to feel the difference between the back mounted cl and the chest mounted. We reviewed how to setup both units. What the pro and cons of the units are.

I learned a tremendous amount. I was also told in no uncertain terms that I was a complete beginner again and that I have to relearn many of my skills. A couple of minutes in the pool confirmed this. So I accepted the facts, relaxed and enjoyed the experience. It helped me come to a decision about which unit to purchase. It also helped me to get to know Andrew and Louis. Both very good guys. And it got me completely hooked. I knew when I left that I wanted a Rebreather and I knew that I was ready to start from scratch. With in a day or so, my Meg was put on order. The devil in any experience is always in the expectations. Learn to want what you have and you will be fulfilled.

Hans

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almity1

Hello Nicolai

I did my first Try Dive on Rebreather back in November and in was on an Evolution.

Before the dive, my thought process was much the same as yours and I was expecting to be anti-climatic, if that's what it is to be.

But in my case, I loved it I got the hang of it within 5 minutes.

On that dive I learnt a lot, I have got to comprehend a lot of things.

Since then I have tried the Optima and Prism.

Configuration and trim, I grant you from my perspective is important, just as other things.

I am looking at making the decision in getting a Rebreather in a month, sfter I have tried the Meg.

Part of the process for me is to see which is the most comfortable in the configuration that is given to me on the day, so far, different configurations have taken some to adjust to, but I can see whatever unit I get, I will have start adjusting for my person.

Here is a thread that I started, I am hoping in a couple of postings to announce my decision.

http://www.rebreatherworld.com/intro...r-journey.html

You said you had a cold couple of days ago, I would say you didn't recover fully and that added to angst of the dive.

I can only say, do not give up here, try it again and try other units as well.

Keep Going and do not quit.

Good Luck

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tflaris

My first time on the EVo in O/W was quite a shock and was completely different than OC. I had alot of bad habits to break. Several dives and days later it was feeling quite natural (still not perfect) and was really getting into the silence. The icing on the cake was 2 huge turtles that swam up to us and hung out as well as the multitude of fish that were not the least bit taken back by us. As an underwater photo/vid guy this opened up new doors. Don't throw in the towel fit and confort is everything as well as the adjustment time for the task loading.

Good Luck

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