Deep wreck expedition

Drmike · 2nd June 2005, 06:08

Sometimes I really hate my Rebreather. Sometimes I love it. Last weeks expedition was just one of those times when everything comes together and it all starts to make sense.

We just did a 10 day expedition to search for new wrecks in the deep water from Singapore up towards Vietnam. Being days from land the dive vessel was equipped with a two man chamber and we also had two trained hyperbaric technicians on board. With forward and side scanning equipment we were well set up.

The team included 3 Meg divers one MK15.5 diver, two with Sports Kiss and two on OC.

The trip was a real success. With the sidescan we located and dived three unchartered virgin wrecks diving to depths of 95m, 98m and 105m and carried out some light penetration and salvage (including yet another ships safe), as well as another 7 charted but undived wrecks in 65 to 88m range.

The MK15.5 performed flawlessly as did the three Megs, (which would certainly be my choice for Rebreather if they had rear lungs).....The same cant be said for the Sports Kisses which were a nightmare with breakages, failures, leaks and just nowhere near rugged enough for this type of diving.

Below is a pic of the top of the funnel on a SuperTanker that we dived on this trip, the weird thing was the engine room was so big and deep that you actually went through a thermocline inside the engine room as you dropped down through it.

***schford*** · 2nd June 2005, 06:50

Mike you really are convincing me to run one of our next Rebreather World trips out to you!

so what did the safe contain and how many lift bags did you need for that!!!!

Stuart

Drmike · 2nd June 2005, 07:01

Quote: (Originally Posted by schford)

Mike you really are convincing me to run one of our next Rebreather World trips out to you!

so what did the safe contain and how many lift bags did you need for that!!!!

Stuart

Drugs mainly, morophine etc plus capts ID. Still no gold - but we keep looking.

Just used one big bag on this - the red line you can see is a safety line attached to the sling so we dont lose track of it if bag fails and it sinks

cedricverdier · 2nd June 2005, 07:46

Quote: (Originally Posted by Drmike)

Sometimes I really hate my Rebreather. Sometimes I love it. Last weeks expedition was just one of those times when everything comes together and it all starts to make sense.

We just did a 10 day expedition to search for new wrecks in the deep water from Singapore up towards Vietnam. Being days from land the dive vessel was equipped with a two man chamber and we also had two trained hyperbaric technicians on board. With forward and side scanning equipment we were well set up.

Hi Mike,

Your expedition trip sounds really nice. What was the boat you were on and do they propose regular dive trips like that?

Thanks for the information. you can PM me if you don't want to advertise on that

Cheers

decoweenie · 2nd June 2005, 08:25

Quote: (Originally Posted by Drmike)

The same cant be said for the Sports Kisses which were a nightmare with breakages, failures, leaks and just nowhere near rugged enough for this type of diving.

Who were the SK divers, Mike ?

Are they experienced SK divers or newly acquired units despite having experience with other units ?

Just interested since I have used the SK in similar type trips twice now in 6 months, yet haven't found a single issue. So was wondering about the "user factor"...

Drmike · 2nd June 2005, 09:47

Quote: (Originally Posted by decoweenie)

Who were the SK divers, Mike ?

Are they experienced SK divers or newly acquired units despite having experience with other units ?

Just interested since I have used the SK in similar type trips twice now in 6 months, yet haven't found a single issue. So was wondering about the "user factor"...

I think you know who the users were.

They are new users on the Sports Kiss, but experienced Rebreather divers on MK15s. That may have been a factor - but there were certainly design/assembly issues.

BTW One was diving his unit with a neat little electronic setpoint controller on it that he made...well at least for half a dive

They did seam to have problems with the units - like the whole scrubber and lungs kept jumping out of the top of the unit when they jumped in

Leaks from cable glands etc.

Another problem was a water leak into the scrubber through between the white scrubber top and the black plastic connector that is screwed down to it.

I liked the small size and simple design very much, but the plastic pods are certainly very vulnerable to damage unprotected as they are...and made from thin plastic.

I did like the design concept a lot - just would like it made from more robust materials or protected.

I believe it is a superb design for many diving conditions - but I dont believe its suitable in its basic form for the kind of diving we were doing on this trip - penetrating wrecks in the 80-100m range.

Andy M · 2nd June 2005, 09:52

Quote: (Originally Posted by Drmike)

They did seam to have problems with the units - like the whole scrubber and lungs kept jumping out of the top of the unit when they jumped in

Happened to me too. It is a problem with the Sport KISS, the velcro strap holding everything in the box is useless. I modified my jumping style to enter the water more forward, and now it never happens, I have also replaced the velcro strap with a rubber dive knife strap.

Now my mouthpiece gets ripped off my DSV whenever I jump from any great height.... working on that one now.

Andy M · 2nd June 2005, 09:54

Quote: (Originally Posted by Drmike)

BTW One was diving his unit with a neat little electronic setpoint controller on it that he made...well at least for half a dive

Great, got any pictures of it?

***Decodiver*** · 2nd June 2005, 09:59

Hi Mike,

Sounds like you had a smashing trip.

Cheers,

Dave Cooper.

Drmike · 2nd June 2005, 10:04

Quote: (Originally Posted by Andy M)

Great, got any pictures of it?

Nope it, er, wasnt on the unit long enough to take a pic

2nd June 2005, 06:50	#2 (permalink)
*schford* Despotic Overlord Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Sport Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: London, UK Posts: 3,671	Mike you really are convincing me to run one of our next Rebreather World trips out to you! so what did the safe contain and how many lift bags did you need for that!!!! Stuart
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2nd June 2005, 07:46	#4 (permalink)
cedricverdier S21 M.I.B. Current Rebreather/s: Evolution Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Inspiration Classic Inspiration Vision Sport Kiss Classic Kiss Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Worldwide! Posts: 494	Quote: (Originally Posted by Drmike) Sometimes I really hate my Rebreather. Sometimes I love it. Last weeks expedition was just one of those times when everything comes together and it all starts to make sense. We just did a 10 day expedition to search for new wrecks in the deep water from Singapore up towards Vietnam. Being days from land the dive vessel was equipped with a two man chamber and we also had two trained hyperbaric technicians on board. With forward and side scanning equipment we were well set up. Hi Mike, Your expedition trip sounds really nice. What was the boat you were on and do they propose regular dive trips like that? Thanks for the information. you can PM me if you don't want to advertise on that Cheers __________________ Cedric Verdier PADI Course Director, ANDI-IANTD-PSAI-TDI-DSAT-DAN-NAUI-CMAS Instructor Trainer Trimix (CCR and OC) and Cave Diving Instructor Trainer www.CedricVerdier.com DIRrebreather member
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2nd June 2005, 08:25	#5 (permalink)
decoweenie Crash Test Dummy Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cairo Posts: 5,510	Quote: (Originally Posted by Drmike) The same cant be said for the Sports Kisses which were a nightmare with breakages, failures, leaks and just nowhere near rugged enough for this type of diving. Who were the SK divers, Mike ? Are they experienced SK divers or newly acquired units despite having experience with other units ? Just interested since I have used the SK in similar type trips twice now in 6 months, yet haven't found a single issue. So was wondering about the "user factor"...
(Offline)

2nd June 2005, 09:47	#6 (permalink)
Drmike Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: MK 15.X Ouroboros Other CCR Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other CCR Home Build Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 3,128	Quote: (Originally Posted by decoweenie) Who were the SK divers, Mike ? Are they experienced SK divers or newly acquired units despite having experience with other units ? Just interested since I have used the SK in similar type trips twice now in 6 months, yet haven't found a single issue. So was wondering about the "user factor"... I think you know who the users were. They are new users on the Sports Kiss, but experienced Rebreather divers on MK15s. That may have been a factor - but there were certainly design/assembly issues. BTW One was diving his unit with a neat little electronic setpoint controller on it that he made...well at least for half a dive They did seam to have problems with the units - like the whole scrubber and lungs kept jumping out of the top of the unit when they jumped in Leaks from cable glands etc. Another problem was a water leak into the scrubber through between the white scrubber top and the black plastic connector that is screwed down to it. I liked the small size and simple design very much, but the plastic pods are certainly very vulnerable to damage unprotected as they are...and made from thin plastic. I did like the design concept a lot - just would like it made from more robust materials or protected. I believe it is a superb design for many diving conditions - but I dont believe its suitable in its basic form for the kind of diving we were doing on this trip - penetrating wrecks in the 80-100m range.
(Offline)

2nd June 2005, 09:52	#7 (permalink)
Andy M Dude Current Rebreather/s: Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Home Build Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 415	Quote: (Originally Posted by Drmike) They did seam to have problems with the units - like the whole scrubber and lungs kept jumping out of the top of the unit when they jumped in Happened to me too. It is a problem with the Sport KISS, the velcro strap holding everything in the box is useless. I modified my jumping style to enter the water more forward, and now it never happens, I have also replaced the velcro strap with a rubber dive knife strap. Now my mouthpiece gets ripped off my DSV whenever I jump from any great height.... working on that one now. __________________ Know your PO2 at all times
(Online)

2nd June 2005, 09:54	#8 (permalink)
Andy M Dude Current Rebreather/s: Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Home Build Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 415	Quote: (Originally Posted by Drmike) BTW One was diving his unit with a neat little electronic setpoint controller on it that he made...well at least for half a dive Great, got any pictures of it? __________________ Know your PO2 at all times
(Online)

2nd June 2005, 09:59	#9 (permalink)
*Decodiver* Administrator Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Ouroboros rEvo Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Inspiration Vision Evolution Sport Kiss Classic Kiss rEvo Other CCR Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Geneva Posts: 2,178	Hi Mike, Sounds like you had a smashing trip. Cheers, Dave Cooper. __________________ CCR/OC Trimix Instructor Trainer CCR Training to Mixed Gas in Switzerland, France, UK & Germany on Megalodon/COPIS-Megalodon/KISS/Sport KISS/Ouroboros/rEvo/Inspiration/Evolution/Sentinel www.zerogravitydiving.com Rebreather World Terms & Conditions
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2nd June 2005, 10:04	#10 (permalink)
Drmike Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: MK 15.X Ouroboros Other CCR Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other CCR Home Build Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 3,128	Quote: (Originally Posted by Andy M) Great, got any pictures of it? Nope it, er, wasnt on the unit long enough to take a pic
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