Should I carry bailout??

andrespp

Thank you all, guys

I think I will be using bailout from the very beginning, so can get used to carry it. In fact, just bought to a friend an used tank of 6 L

Did not think about the fact the BOV is not operational in case of caustic cocktail.

Maybe it is a good idea to have a 2nd stage attached to the dil tank as well.

But this will have to wait. First I need to get familiar with the unit, and dive it as much as possible so I get used to the CK.

LakeLover

AndreSPP, if this issue is not already in perspective consider asking your significant other or random family members if they think you should skydive without a reserve parachute. The decision should be made with their input as it may well determine whether or not they have to bury you.

The bottle will obviously provide you with breathable gas in an emergency, but it will also allow you to be more confident, since you KNOW that you have breathable gas in the event that your breather malfunctions.

andrespp

You are right, LakeLover. Knowing that BO is available provides peace of mind in all kind of compromised diving situations. I have noticed in risky OC dives that the stress level, and hence gas consumption, decreases significantly when you have bailout and dependable dive buddies.

My problem is that I have been in OC since 1979.....was taught by the military, and emergency ascendings from -30 meters in almost zero visibility waters was part of the routine training.....I use to feel so confident when OC diving, and now have to change my mind completely and recognize the plain truth, that CCR are new to me and that these units have extreme performances but are not so forgiveful as OC when Murphy shows up.

Thanks

LakeLover

AndreSPP, It was very wise of you to post your question here; many fools would have simply gone ahead and done what they wanted to. I respect you for being brave enough to post, and smart enough to listen to all of these very smart and experienced people! Happy Diving!

OceanOpportunity

I would think/hope that 99.9% of the folks on Rebreather World would agree that an independent bailout is a good idea.

A next step consideration is having access to your onboard gasses in OC mode. In general, my thinking is that the Rebreather is the RB is the RB. WOrst case, you need another way home. However, wouldn't it suck to have used up your bailout cylinder and have a half full dil bottle, but no way to use the gas effectively...likewise for oxygen. I think this area of configuration could use some standardization.

ML

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Skipbreather

The big difference to wrap your mind around now you've gone closed circuit:

When OC, that last breath you exhaled all the way to the surface during the free swimming bail was from a known, safe gas. On Closed circuit it could have any one of a dozen problems, all of which could be potential killers.

Congrats on having the judgment to ask!

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diveoceanos

How about the extra weights you would need to counter-balance their inherent buoyancy? IMHO clipping a carbon fiber cylinder on your side would ruin the whole trim and one would have to readjust everything regarding it, if s(he) does not tie-wrap weights around the CF cylinder...(this is the reason CF is not ideal for SCUBA either). How much weight would you have to add really to be properly weighted if you would replace an aluminium 10Lt with a CF one of the same capacity? I recon it should be more than 6-7 Kg? Right? Then what is the real benefit? You get rid of 2-4 extra kilos? And what is the cost of it?

On the other hand aluminium cylinders are practically ideal since they make almost no difference in buoyancy when are being used as B/O cylinders.

Stephane

Hello Diveoceanos;

Look at that:



No extra weight and the trim is quite correct (I was teaching hence the not so horizontal position).
A 12l carbon cylinder weights 10kg, less than a S80 for more capacity.

The tank is buoyant? So what? A S80 is also buoyant when empty, don't forget it when you'll have to do a full deco on OC.

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diveoceanos

I bet they are not buoyant the same degree as aluminium cylinders. Aren't they? So how many kilos did you manage to reduce your total weight by replacing S80s with CF ones?

lizardland

That should be printed and posted to all divers once a year. I licked my finger after filling my scrubber once and vomited for ten minutes, I can't imagine having that happen underwater with a full gobful of lime, I have the utmost respect for those insignificant little white grains -- and for anyone that survives a full cocktail. I've also got no doubt that it's going to take feck all lime contamination to render a DSV useless.

A cocktail and a CO2 hit are the two things that genuinely scare me on a rebreather, and the two things that only reliable bailout is going to save you from. Likewise, I won't go in water I can't stand up in without bailout either.

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