Just OC at the moment

RJMcGill60 · 24th August 2005, 18:51

I was refered to this website while researching what my second computer will be. I just bought my first about 2 months ago and was disappointed when I found out it could not be adjusted for EANx. I had remebered that it did but I read (skimmed) so many user manuals before i bought it that I was remebering something from a more advanced model of the same make.

Anyway, I've always wanted to try scuba diving (OC) for some time now (along with skydiving - you'll never get me to bungee jump though - no backup plan) and my upcoming wedding in Maui (April 2006) prompted me to learn before I went. My fiance (Becky) had been certified since 1986 but hadn't been diving in 10 years and had onlym 20-30 tropical water dives credit anyway, so she got recertified with me.

I immediately had a desire to dive deep; however, my PADI OW cert meant I was only qualified to dive to 60 fsw, so I immediately signed up for the AOW class. Now I'm "qualified" to go to 100 but have been as deep as 125ft (but that's another story). Before I even finished OW training, I started doing some web searches (god I love the internet). I knew that commercial divers "routinely" went well beyond recreational (no stop) limits but I had no idea how deep one could safely dive with OC scuba.

My first search led me straight to John Bennett's 1000m record dive (rip). Now there was not urning back. Although I will not be using a Rebreather anytime soon ($$$$$), I know I will be doing (at least once) a deep dive before the end of 2006. Right now, I'm just getting my experience (bc is hard) and doing my due diligence research.

See you on the bottom!

Deepwreck · 24th August 2005, 19:14

Diving can be a lot of fun, and diving deeper is even more fun. I say this in the spirit of advice not lecture. Get some more dives under your belt before you attempt a deep dive. Deep is relitive, and what is deep for you isn't deep for some one else. But the reason why we gear up to deep dives by taking classes and gaining experience is for the problems that can happen. If nothing happens it's pretty easy to dive deep. Yet when somethings happens only those who are trained to handle the problems come out ahead. Having any kind of problem at 250' of not somethink to mess with, and when you have to spend another 50 of 60min

just to get out of the water you may just be spending more time underwater that you planned.

So just be careful and have lots of fun. I love to dive and I hope you mean NDT (no deco time) diving, and less than 130. Because diving deeper than that requires many dives to adjust to the Narcosis level.

Being narced out of your mind with an 80cf is a sure way to have no air soon.

But welcome to the Rebreather site and I hope you will get one soon, they are the only way to dive. I just love mine and I think Ill buy another next year, (you know just for a backup)he he he.

Dive safe, Im going next week to dive some deep wrecks and do some cold long deco. My suit heater should keep the cold out for the first hour at least.

RJMcGill60 · 24th August 2005, 22:52

Thanks for warning. Right now I am doing what (almost) everyone calls no decomp diving yet I try not to use that term in these types of forums and refer to it as recreational diving (as opposed to technical diving); by this I mean depths to less than 130 ft.

I've read (and tend to agree) that there really is no such thing as no decomp diving since you are decompressing and venting nitrogen as you slowly surface. Even in recreational diving, it is still very possible to get bent even at shallow depths. I've heard of people getting DCI in as little as 8 ft of water.

I do plan on making at least one dive beyond 130 ft by the end of next year (just need a place to go). My experience level will be substantially increased by then and I will have proper training, equipment, and support. How deep, I don't know. I suppose that depends on where and why I'm diving (e.g. wreck, wall, etc.) I assure you, I will only be doing it if I feel ready (hey, I'm flexible).

RJMcGill60 · 24th August 2005, 22:56

Why aren't my signature emoticons working?

bubblefree · 25th August 2005, 10:41

Welcome to the world of rebreathers. I agree with Deepwrecks sentiments that it is important to get comfortable with your diving before you start looking at depth. Although rebreathers are better tools to help you dive deeper than OC rigs they can also be used at recreational depths (130 fsw or less) with many advantages over OC. I have done over 500 OC dives and a basic rebreather course and have not yet gone deeper than 130. I just haven't had the desire to do it on OC, maybe will on CCR but that is for the future.

Going deeper than 130 requires a whole new set of thinking, training and support in consistently getting you in and out of the water safely. In short it starts you down the road of serious technical diving. If you are serious about doing that you may find that the CCR would be a better way to go than learning using OC and then converting.

24th August 2005, 18:51	#1 (permalink)
RJMcGill60 New Member Current Rebreather/s: Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Redondo Beach, CA, U.S.A. Posts: 8	Just OC at the moment I was refered to this website while researching what my second computer will be. I just bought my first about 2 months ago and was disappointed when I found out it could not be adjusted for EANx. I had remebered that it did but I read (skimmed) so many user manuals before i bought it that I was remebering something from a more advanced model of the same make. Anyway, I've always wanted to try scuba diving (OC) for some time now (along with skydiving - you'll never get me to bungee jump though - no backup plan) and my upcoming wedding in Maui (April 2006) prompted me to learn before I went. My fiance (Becky) had been certified since 1986 but hadn't been diving in 10 years and had onlym 20-30 tropical water dives credit anyway, so she got recertified with me. I immediately had a desire to dive deep; however, my PADI OW cert meant I was only qualified to dive to 60 fsw, so I immediately signed up for the AOW class. Now I'm "qualified" to go to 100 but have been as deep as 125ft (but that's another story). Before I even finished OW training, I started doing some web searches (god I love the internet). I knew that commercial divers "routinely" went well beyond recreational (no stop) limits but I had no idea how deep one could safely dive with OC scuba. My first search led me straight to John Bennett's 1000m record dive (rip). Now there was not urning back. Although I will not be using a Rebreather anytime soon ($$$$$), I know I will be doing (at least once) a deep dive before the end of 2006. Right now, I'm just getting my experience (bc is hard) and doing my due diligence research. See you on the bottom!
(Offline)

24th August 2005, 19:14	#2 (permalink)
Deepwreck Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 112	Diving can be a lot of fun, and diving deeper is even more fun. I say this in the spirit of advice not lecture. Get some more dives under your belt before you attempt a deep dive. Deep is relitive, and what is deep for you isn't deep for some one else. But the reason why we gear up to deep dives by taking classes and gaining experience is for the problems that can happen. If nothing happens it's pretty easy to dive deep. Yet when somethings happens only those who are trained to handle the problems come out ahead. Having any kind of problem at 250' of not somethink to mess with, and when you have to spend another 50 of 60min just to get out of the water you may just be spending more time underwater that you planned. So just be careful and have lots of fun. I love to dive and I hope you mean NDT (no deco time) diving, and less than 130. Because diving deeper than that requires many dives to adjust to the Narcosis level. Being narced out of your mind with an 80cf is a sure way to have no air soon. But welcome to the Rebreather site and I hope you will get one soon, they are the only way to dive. I just love mine and I think Ill buy another next year, (you know just for a backup)he he he. Dive safe, Im going next week to dive some deep wrecks and do some cold long deco. My suit heater should keep the cold out for the first hour at least.
(Offline)

24th August 2005, 22:52	#3 (permalink)
RJMcGill60 New Member Current Rebreather/s: Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Redondo Beach, CA, U.S.A. Posts: 8	Yes - I agree! Thanks for warning. Right now I am doing what (almost) everyone calls no decomp diving yet I try not to use that term in these types of forums and refer to it as recreational diving (as opposed to technical diving); by this I mean depths to less than 130 ft. I've read (and tend to agree) that there really is no such thing as no decomp diving since you are decompressing and venting nitrogen as you slowly surface. Even in recreational diving, it is still very possible to get bent even at shallow depths. I've heard of people getting DCI in as little as 8 ft of water. I do plan on making at least one dive beyond 130 ft by the end of next year (just need a place to go). My experience level will be substantially increased by then and I will have proper training, equipment, and support. How deep, I don't know. I suppose that depends on where and why I'm diving (e.g. wreck, wall, etc.) I assure you, I will only be doing it if I feel ready (hey, I'm flexible). __________________ It's all about the certs! (and # of posts) See you at the bottom!
(Offline)

24th August 2005, 22:56	#4 (permalink)
RJMcGill60 New Member Current Rebreather/s: Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Redondo Beach, CA, U.S.A. Posts: 8	Why aren't my signature emoticons working? Why aren't my signature emoticons working? __________________ It's all about the certs! (and # of posts) See you at the bottom!
(Offline)

25th August 2005, 10:41	#5 (permalink)
bubblefree New Member Current Rebreather/s: Evolution Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grand Cayman Posts: 40	Welcome to the world of rebreathers. I agree with Deepwrecks sentiments that it is important to get comfortable with your diving before you start looking at depth. Although rebreathers are better tools to help you dive deeper than OC rigs they can also be used at recreational depths (130 fsw or less) with many advantages over OC. I have done over 500 OC dives and a basic rebreather course and have not yet gone deeper than 130. I just haven't had the desire to do it on OC, maybe will on CCR but that is for the future. Going deeper than 130 requires a whole new set of thinking, training and support in consistently getting you in and out of the water safely. In short it starts you down the road of serious technical diving. If you are serious about doing that you may find that the CCR would be a better way to go than learning using OC and then converting.
(Offline)

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