How much weight on a Dolphin for you ?

mothball · 6th April 2006, 23:09

Well, Hawk, I guess I can count myself lucky. I actually squeezed about 9 hrs out of my unit after three years of "proud" ownership. I did my first real open water dive with it last summer in the Gulf of Mexico. Everyone on the boat was ooh-ing and aah-ing til the d@mn thing crapped out after dive number two of the day - good thing I brought my OC gear for that weekend. I wanted to take my dive knife out and stab the friggin thing and litter the bottom of ocean with it... but I couldn't do that to the ocean

I've tried to take it out two more times since then and it worked when I put it together on the dock and then it didn't work when I was on the boat.

I bought the unit from my instructor who now (I'm sure) regrets ever meeting me and regrets more-so selling me the POS. Especially since I've handed it to him not working and then he hands it back to me still not working five or six times now. BUT, that's life... next time I'll buy a real rebeather or I might have to learn to be happy on OC. Hope your luck changes with your unit. Blue water wishes whether OC, SCR or CCR. Semper Fi Dave

debersole · 6th April 2006, 23:40

I use an aluminum 50 cu ft cylinder with my dolphin. With my open circuit gear using an aluminum 80 cylinder and 5 mm wetsuit I use 8 lbs of weight. With the dolphin in the same wetsuit I use 18 lbs. The 10 lbs difference holds for me with various wetsuits thicknesses, salt vs. fresh water, etc. I've made lots of dives (approx 100) on the unit and it has always worked very well. I've had no problems whatsoever except my O2 sensors going out on my Uwatec Oxy 2. Hope this helps!

That having been said, I now use my dolphin mainly for teaching others who are getting into rebreathers as I'm an instructor for both the Drager dolphin and the OMG Azimuth. Personally, I moved to the Sport Kiss about 6 months ago and will never go back to SCRs again! I consider SCRs as "gas efficient nitrox". CCR diving is so much more versatile.

6th April 2006, 23:09	#11 (permalink)
mothball New Member Current Rebreather/s: Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Louisiana, USA Posts: 62	Re: How much weight on a Dolphin for you ? Well, Hawk, I guess I can count myself lucky. I actually squeezed about 9 hrs out of my unit after three years of "proud" ownership. I did my first real open water dive with it last summer in the Gulf of Mexico. Everyone on the boat was ooh-ing and aah-ing til the d@mn thing crapped out after dive number two of the day - good thing I brought my OC gear for that weekend. I wanted to take my dive knife out and stab the friggin thing and litter the bottom of ocean with it... but I couldn't do that to the ocean I've tried to take it out two more times since then and it worked when I put it together on the dock and then it didn't work when I was on the boat. I bought the unit from my instructor who now (I'm sure) regrets ever meeting me and regrets more-so selling me the POS. Especially since I've handed it to him not working and then he hands it back to me still not working five or six times now. BUT, that's life... next time I'll buy a real rebeather or I might have to learn to be happy on OC. Hope your luck changes with your unit. Blue water wishes whether OC, SCR or CCR. Semper Fi Dave __________________ Do NOT die STUPID Ignorance WILL get you killed I refuse to tip-toe through life only to arrive safely at Death
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6th April 2006, 23:40	#12 (permalink)
debersole Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Dolphin Azimuth Other Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Classic Kiss Dolphin Azimuth Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Lakeland, Florida Posts: 210	Re: How much weight on a Dolphin for you ? I use an aluminum 50 cu ft cylinder with my dolphin. With my open circuit gear using an aluminum 80 cylinder and 5 mm wetsuit I use 8 lbs of weight. With the dolphin in the same wetsuit I use 18 lbs. The 10 lbs difference holds for me with various wetsuits thicknesses, salt vs. fresh water, etc. I've made lots of dives (approx 100) on the unit and it has always worked very well. I've had no problems whatsoever except my O2 sensors going out on my Uwatec Oxy 2. Hope this helps! That having been said, I now use my dolphin mainly for teaching others who are getting into rebreathers as I'm an instructor for both the Drager dolphin and the OMG Azimuth. Personally, I moved to the Sport Kiss about 6 months ago and will never go back to SCRs again! I consider SCRs as "gas efficient nitrox". CCR diving is so much more versatile. __________________ www.debersole.com
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