Task Loading and 'Preprogrammed' Open Circuit Behaviour

Pugwash · 13th February 2007, 12:59

I have hundreds and hundreds of open circuit hours shooting video in the Red Sea, on a couple of different cameras. It is absolutely second nature, almost no concious thought...

Anyway, after my switch to CCR I vowed that I wouldn't shoot any video until I felt my skills on the unit were at a point where there was a fair chance that it wouldn't kill me. One technological piece of kit is enough when it is new!

So, after 45 hours on the unit, to 52 mtrs, everything was fairly under control. Buoyancy good, skills getting pretty familiar, kit familiarity as it should be and bailout options up to speed??

At this point my best mate from the UK came out for a couple of weeks, we did some general bimbly dives, then had the chance to dive a fairly undived canyon in Ras Mohamed National Park. We didn't have a clear idea of it's exact position, but a good general idea. Definitely worth a look.

Shooting video on the unit was like it was on open circuit. Second nature. It just clicked in and off we went. Took some good shots of the eel garden on the way down, then general bottom topography while lookiing for the canyon at 45 mtrs. Then into the canyon, then down, through an overhead and round. Awesome, what an awesome place. Just me and Simon, a couple of units and a camera.

50 mtrs, down to 53, up over a small rise and down to the bottom at 52. And suddenly no inflation. What the...?

No worries, I must have knocked the dil valve. Reach back and twist, erm, that's open. Ah. Look at gauge, which read 200 bar when back at the surface...

Nil.

Oh fekk. It was at this point I wished for my bailout to have an off-board connector! But I kept it together and there was no drama, we turned the dive and headed home. Still shooting of course, just very, very careful with my buoyancy control...

Back on the boat I couldn't work out where all the dil had gone. Topped off the 3 ltr with a decanting whip and left it connected and pressurised for a couple of hours. Nothing apparently wrong, the pressure remained solid.

It was only after reviewing the footage that it became apparent where 200 bar of dil had gone.

On open circuit, which I had never realised, I exhale through my nose to keep the exhaust bubbles clear of the camera monitor screen. And yes, on descent, with the first time with the camera on CCR, I had reverted to O/C preprogrammed behaviour. Exhaling through my nose. My exhalation was clearly picked up on the camera mic.

Amongst other things that dive, lessons learned included:

1. 'New' equipment is possibly not best used for the first time to 53 mtrs.
2. Fit off-board connector to bailout.
3. Don't exhale through your nose while shooting video, and
4. Check gauges.

Subsequent video shot on CCR has been much more frugal on dil usage...

The finished video of Eel Garden Canyon, Ras Mohamed, and Thomas Canyon, Tiran, can be viewed at

YouTube - Rebreather Diving Red Sea.

Dan

tamorgen · 13th February 2007, 13:06

Quote: (Originally Posted by Pugwash)

I have hundreds and hundreds of open circuit hours shooting video in the Red Sea, on a couple of different cameras. It is absolutely second nature, almost no concious thought...

Anyway, after my switch to CCR I vowed that I wouldn't shoot any video until I felt my skills on the unit were at a point where there was a fair chance that it wouldn't kill me. One technological piece of kit is enough when it is new!

So, after 45 hours on the unit, to 52 mtrs, everything was fairly under control. Buoyancy good, skills getting pretty familiar, kit familiarity as it should be and bailout options up to speed??

At this point my best mate from the UK came out for a couple of weeks, we did some general bimbly dives, then had the chance to dive a fairly undived canyon in Ras Mohamed National Park. We didn't have a clear idea of it's exact position, but a good general idea. Definitely worth a look.

Shooting video on the unit was like it was on open circuit. Second nature. It just clicked in and off we went. Took some good shots of the eel garden on the way down, then general bottom topography while lookiing for the canyon at 45 mtrs. Then into the canyon, then down, through an overhead and round. Awesome, what an awesome place. Just me and Simon, a couple of units and a camera.

50 mtrs, down to 53, up over a small rise and down to the bottom at 52. And suddenly no inflation. What the...?

No worries, I must have knocked the dil valve. Reach back and twist, erm, that's open. Ah. Look at gauge, which read 200 bar when back at the surface...

Nil.

Oh fekk. It was at this point I wished for my bailout to have an off-board connector! But I kept it together and there was no drama, we turned the dive and headed home. Still shooting of course, just very, very careful with my buoyancy control...

Back on the boat I couldn't work out where all the dil had gone. Topped off the 3 ltr with a decanting whip and left it connected and pressurised for a couple of hours. Nothing apparently wrong, the pressure remained solid.

It was only after reviewing the footage that it became apparent where 200 bar of dil had gone.

On open circuit, which I had never realised, I exhale through my nose to keep the exhaust bubbles clear of the camera monitor screen. And yes, on descent, with the first time with the camera on CCR, I had reverted to O/C preprogrammed behaviour. Exhaling through my nose. My exhalation was clearly picked up on the camera mic.

Amongst other things that dive, lessons learned included:

1. 'New' equipment is possibly not best used for the first time to 53 mtrs.
2. Fit off-board connector to bailout.
3. Don't exhale through your nose while shooting video, and
4. Check gauges.

Subsequent video shot on CCR has been much more frugal on dil usage...

The finished video of Eel Garden Canyon, Ras Mohamed, and Thomas Canyon, Tiran, can be viewed at YouTube - Rebreather Diving Red Sea.

Dan

Good lesson learned Dan. Thanks.

***Beanie*** · 13th February 2007, 13:20

I blame your mate

should of given you an underwater bollocking for it

Have to remind yourself not to breathe out yet another skill to master

Kudos for admitting it though

Pugwash · 13th February 2007, 13:31

Unfortunately I was following him, so he didn't actually see me doing it, the times he looked around were the times I wasn't doing it!

But no bollocking U/W from Padowan - more a 'what the fekk are you doing you tosser' kind of look... then sticking really close to me on the ascent.

He's a good lad, someone I've known and dived with for several years and have total faith in.

Padowan · 13th February 2007, 14:22

It was a good experience for me too. I'd never seen anyone run out of dil so unexpectedly, so it came as a bit of a surprise to see the guage, check the obvious things and think to myself "Hmm, that's a bit of a bummer".

Impressed that Dan kept his cool and realised that there was no real emergency, we had OC bailout in the back pocket just in case the unit had thrown an (O2) wobbly as well, but as it happened this was not necessary and he continued to return to the pick up point and conduct about 20mins of deco.... with no air - nice - you can't do THAT on OC!

PCDiver · 13th February 2007, 14:53

Pugwash,

Do you have a BOV on your rebreather. A BOV is a great tool to transfer gas from your bailout to your rebreather (that is if the BOV is connected to the offboard and not to the onboard gas).

Peter

Pugwash · 14th February 2007, 09:10

Hi Peter

No BOV, it's on my wish list. One day...

Chris · 14th February 2007, 11:13

Sounds like a tops dive site. I always have a QD on the bailout, always good for dil, suit inflation and wings

So where is the video

Cheers
Chriso

***sadave*** · 14th February 2007, 12:05

Quote: (Originally Posted by Chris)

So where is the video

Cheers
Chriso

Ummm... Chriso, you'd better sit down so you can get your foot outta your mouth.

Read the original post!!!

Hmmm, didn't your mumma tell you if you didn't stop you'd go blind? Ya obviously didn't listen to her!!!

Quote: (Originally Posted by Pugwash)

The finished video of Eel Garden Canyon, Ras Mohamed, and Thomas Canyon, Tiran, can be viewed at YouTube - Rebreather Diving Red Sea.

Dan

13th February 2007, 13:06	#2 (permalink)
tamorgen Gadget guru extrordinaire Current Rebreather/s: Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Columbia, MD Posts: 183	Re: Task Loading and 'Preprogrammed' Open Circuit Behaviour Quote: (Originally Posted by Pugwash) I have hundreds and hundreds of open circuit hours shooting video in the Red Sea, on a couple of different cameras. It is absolutely second nature, almost no concious thought... Anyway, after my switch to CCR I vowed that I wouldn't shoot any video until I felt my skills on the unit were at a point where there was a fair chance that it wouldn't kill me. One technological piece of kit is enough when it is new! So, after 45 hours on the unit, to 52 mtrs, everything was fairly under control. Buoyancy good, skills getting pretty familiar, kit familiarity as it should be and bailout options up to speed?? At this point my best mate from the UK came out for a couple of weeks, we did some general bimbly dives, then had the chance to dive a fairly undived canyon in Ras Mohamed National Park. We didn't have a clear idea of it's exact position, but a good general idea. Definitely worth a look. Shooting video on the unit was like it was on open circuit. Second nature. It just clicked in and off we went. Took some good shots of the eel garden on the way down, then general bottom topography while lookiing for the canyon at 45 mtrs. Then into the canyon, then down, through an overhead and round. Awesome, what an awesome place. Just me and Simon, a couple of units and a camera. 50 mtrs, down to 53, up over a small rise and down to the bottom at 52. And suddenly no inflation. What the...? No worries, I must have knocked the dil valve. Reach back and twist, erm, that's open. Ah. Look at gauge, which read 200 bar when back at the surface... Nil. Oh fekk. It was at this point I wished for my bailout to have an off-board connector! But I kept it together and there was no drama, we turned the dive and headed home. Still shooting of course, just very, very careful with my buoyancy control... Back on the boat I couldn't work out where all the dil had gone. Topped off the 3 ltr with a decanting whip and left it connected and pressurised for a couple of hours. Nothing apparently wrong, the pressure remained solid. It was only after reviewing the footage that it became apparent where 200 bar of dil had gone. On open circuit, which I had never realised, I exhale through my nose to keep the exhaust bubbles clear of the camera monitor screen. And yes, on descent, with the first time with the camera on CCR, I had reverted to O/C preprogrammed behaviour. Exhaling through my nose. My exhalation was clearly picked up on the camera mic. Amongst other things that dive, lessons learned included: 1. 'New' equipment is possibly not best used for the first time to 53 mtrs. 2. Fit off-board connector to bailout. 3. Don't exhale through your nose while shooting video, and 4. Check gauges. Subsequent video shot on CCR has been much more frugal on dil usage... The finished video of Eel Garden Canyon, Ras Mohamed, and Thomas Canyon, Tiran, can be viewed at YouTube - Rebreather Diving Red Sea. Dan Good lesson learned Dan. Thanks.
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13th February 2007, 13:20	#3 (permalink)
*Beanie* Cheif tea maker Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: In da house! yeah baby! Posts: 3,134	Re: Task Loading and 'Preprogrammed' Open Circuit Behaviour I blame your mate should of given you an underwater bollocking for it Have to remind yourself not to breathe out yet another skill to master Kudos for admitting it though __________________ Beanie Gallery Admin & Library Assistant. www.outlawdivers.org.uk www.beandiving.co.uk www.beanengineering.co.uk www.divelife.co.uk
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13th February 2007, 13:31	#4 (permalink)
Pugwash New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: May 2006 Location: Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt (Red Sea) Posts: 45	Re: Task Loading and 'Preprogrammed' Open Circuit Behaviour Unfortunately I was following him, so he didn't actually see me doing it, the times he looked around were the times I wasn't doing it! But no bollocking U/W from Padowan - more a 'what the fekk are you doing you tosser' kind of look... then sticking really close to me on the ascent. He's a good lad, someone I've known and dived with for several years and have total faith in. __________________ Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.
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13th February 2007, 14:22	#5 (permalink)
Padowan Proper Boffin Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Kent, UK. Posts: 501	Re: Task Loading and 'Preprogrammed' Open Circuit Behaviour It was a good experience for me too. I'd never seen anyone run out of dil so unexpectedly, so it came as a bit of a surprise to see the guage, check the obvious things and think to myself "Hmm, that's a bit of a bummer". Impressed that Dan kept his cool and realised that there was no real emergency, we had OC bailout in the back pocket just in case the unit had thrown an (O2) wobbly as well, but as it happened this was not necessary and he continued to return to the pick up point and conduct about 20mins of deco.... with no air - nice - you can't do THAT on OC! __________________ Padowan The future's bright, the future's Yellow .....for now padowan.net - Latest Video: Scapa Flow Rebreather Diving
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13th February 2007, 14:53	#6 (permalink)
PCDiver Submerge Productions Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Belgium Posts: 879	Re: Task Loading and 'Preprogrammed' Open Circuit Behaviour Pugwash, Do you have a BOV on your rebreather. A BOV is a great tool to transfer gas from your bailout to your rebreather (that is if the BOV is connected to the offboard and not to the onboard gas). Peter
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14th February 2007, 09:10	#7 (permalink)
Pugwash New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: May 2006 Location: Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt (Red Sea) Posts: 45	Re: Task Loading and 'Preprogrammed' Open Circuit Behaviour Hi Peter No BOV, it's on my wish list. One day... __________________ Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.
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14th February 2007, 11:13	#8 (permalink)
Chris Go Nude Or Go Home Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Megalodon Prism Topaz Sport Kiss Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 599	Re: Task Loading and 'Preprogrammed' Open Circuit Behaviour Sounds like a tops dive site. I always have a QD on the bailout, always good for dil, suit inflation and wings So where is the video Cheers Chriso __________________ Megalodon Sorb and Sensors whilst in Australia www.divetub.com.au Diving & Photography @ www.uwphotog.com
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14th February 2007, 12:05	#9 (permalink)
*sadave* Moderator Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Sport Kiss Classic Kiss Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Brisbane, Queensland Posts: 972	Re: Task Loading and 'Preprogrammed' Open Circuit Behaviour Quote: (Originally Posted by Chris) So where is the video Cheers Chriso Ummm... Chriso, you'd better sit down so you can get your foot outta your mouth. Read the original post!!! Hmmm, didn't your mumma tell you if you didn't stop you'd go blind? Ya obviously didn't listen to her!!! Quote: (Originally Posted by Pugwash) The finished video of Eel Garden Canyon, Ras Mohamed, and Thomas Canyon, Tiran, can be viewed at YouTube - Rebreather Diving Red Sea. Dan
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