What to do ? Convert the Dolphin or get me a KISS ?

ebon.hawk

Oh what to do.....

Finally got in the pool last night with the Dolphin and managed a successful dive, no bubbles from hoses, slightly overweighted but at least I came out with a big smile rather then a frown.

Now the dilemma ( spelling ? )

I really want to look at ccr ( yes I should have brought something at the time rather then buying the Dolphin package )

Options :-

Keep the Dolphin and stay SCR till I win the lottery

Keep the Dolphin and convert it to mccr ? Could I do this for under 1000euro ?

Sell the dolphin and source a 2nd user KISS ( funds limited - married ! )

Cancel the new kitchen ( hence funds limited ) and siphon the funds to a rebreather manufacturer.

Im sort of looking at conversion, so I can fettle and play with the unit and learn more and spend my spare time doing this, rather then watching TV / drinking my life away with beer.

Comments / Observations / Beer ?

Andy

divetheworld

Take this advise with the knowledge that I know little about you, your diving styles and how long you've had the Dolphin.

You have a Dolphin, that part is over and done with. Dive it, dive it until you feel your ready to go CCR. If I was advising you before you had bought the Dolly, I would have said dont.... Buy a CCR.

Converting the Dolly is a matter of entheusiasm, you do it because you love it. Not because you just want a CCR. If you just wanted a CCR you would sell the Dolly and buy one. I speak from some experience with this . Click here -> http://www.therebreathersite.nl/brent's_dolphin.htm

So that is what I am advising you, dive it for a while, then sell it and buy a purpose built unit which suits your needs both now and in the future.

In the mean time, set the Dolly up with an additional cylinder with pure O2 in a little 1-1.5ltr which you can switch into the mix for accelorated deco. Switch gases at 6m, but make sure your up to the task. O2 rebreather-ing is not a simple task and carries with it some risk. That will turn you to the dark side!!

Brent.

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mortenkjerulff

Hi Andy.

I do not know what kind of diving you want to do, but...

Since you already have the Dolphin, I would dive the Dolphin in SCR-mode for a while and then convert it.
It can be done for around 1000€ (you need another cylinder for oxygen, another first stage, a KISS-valve, an adaptor to add the oxygen to the loop somewhere, and of course a second ppO2 meter).

I did this myself, and have been very happy for more than 2 years now. Bear in mind though that you will probably end up spending alot more money on the unit as time goes on as there is always something that can be done better (backplate conversion, a third ppO2 meter, HUD, etc.)

Morten

ebon.hawk

Thanks for the replies...

After I posted, I sat and thought a bit more about it, carry on with the Dolphin as it is at the moment, get some hours on the unit and take a look in a few months as I probably will change my mind on what I'm doing within diving.

Good Weekend All :-)

divetheworld

Good move.

If you set up an oxy bottle on a second jet (60? for example) and a simple method of switching into the ADV, you can use it as an O2 rebreather for off gasing. There's a bit more to it than that but you'll figure it out

Brent.

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denzel

Andy, screw that new kitchen mate.
You know deep down that you need a sporty.
A sporty will keep you alive underwater, a kitchen - best case scenario - might keep you afloat. So the choise is easy...

From personal experience, you're not saving much by converting insead of buying a sporty, specially if you look 2nd hand and already have the wing and BP. (who doesn't?)

And for not too much money you'll end up with a factory unit with a rest value, a certification possibility and the possibility to take her along with holiday operators who might not accept converted/ homebuilt.

just my 2 euro cents.

denz.

PS you love take-away so why bother with the kitchen....

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caveseeker7

If you really can't make up your mind you can always buy wizbang's converted Dolphin.

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Cheers
Stefan



"It is still a good day if you are on the green side of the grass!

Su amigo Roberto!"

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fr0sty8

Sometimes you have to bring happiness to your betterhalf. Once the kitchen is completed I am sure you will have an easier time of getting a CCR than if you canceled the project. Don't want to catch to much hell if you know what I mean....

felixsimba

Married are you? how abt just selling the wife???? Just kidding - dive the SCR Dolphin, I have been on one since 2001, it is a great little unit and a great starting point. You need to built up the disclipine for CCR down the road. Although financially I am ready I am so comfortable on my Dolphin that I am a little scared to get into CCR - go ahead, call me chicken

ebon.hawk

I must not be tempted to the even darker side....was visiting Hydrogom tonight looking at the kiss valves, walking away with two voices in my head, one saying "do it, do it now", the other saying "stay where you are!"

Hmmm I get what they call the 13th month payment next month which means its spending time.

Andy