Hello from a new guy!

surgeondress · 8th October 2005, 21:15

Greetings everyone!

I found this board recently and decided to join based on it's goal of promoting [mostly] rebreather info. I have been an OC diver since 1980's and recently finished my full trimix course with Alex Mendez in Kendall, FL. Despite the fact that I have been closely following rebreathers and their manufacturers for the past 2 years, this recent OC trimix training has solidified my decision to crossover to eCCR diving once and for all (unless perhaps lobstering...). The amount of gear (up to 200+ pounds on the scale) for a 300 ft dive on OC is staggering and knee breaking on a rolling boat, all for 9-10 minutes of bottom time! Add to that the constant gas consumption worries that often overshadow my goal of enjoying the dive or accomplishing my goal(s) during it, the bothersome dry mouth & throat, the noisy bubbles (which definitely sound different with He in your middle ears), and the frightened marine life...

So I ponied up the 10% and pre-ordered the Dive Rite Optima. I had the opportunity to do a mini-season on the Ultimate Getaway (Ft. Myers, FL) last summer with Lamar and LeAnn and their son and he convinced me to wait for their product. I've scoured the internet and the Optima test-divers appear to have good overall comments about this one on all the forums. I personally got to examine the prototype at the 2004 NACD seminar and it was very solidly built. My experience with Dive Rite dealers and customer support for their products has been better than most over the past few years.

Although there have been at least 4 months of delivery delays, DRE expects to have all units in this first production run shipped by the end of Nov. once the new counterlungs come in (We'll see...).

Questions:
Anyone have recommendations on an Optima instructor in North Florida/Panhandle area?
Are there any more comprehensive production-model picture websites out there (other than DRE or Dive-Rite's websites, or Stefan Besier's prototype pics)?
Anyone at Dema in Vegas seen the production model with comments?

Thanks again for inviting me to join your informative forum, and hopefully I can contribute some meaningful posts in the future.
Chris Dress

scubageek · 9th October 2005, 00:25

Hello Chris,

I have also decided to prepurchase the Optima mostly from the info on this board,scubaboard, and talking to Jeff Johnson in the baltimore area. He has a website at www.divesafety.net
He has more information on the Optima at this page
http://www.divesafety.net/Optima2.html
and this one
http://www.divesafety.net/Optima.html
I can't tell you to much about instructors in your area so good luck in that respect.
When I spoke with Jeff he said he was pleasantly surprised by how capable the unit was and he loved it. I had several conversations with him and finally decided to preorder the unit and now am waiting for it so I can get training on the unit.

Bill Wylie

surgeondress · 9th October 2005, 01:56

Bill,

Thanks for the reply and those links. They were very helpful. I hope that there is someone who teaches on the Optima in my neck of the woods!

Interesting that Jeff Johnson's website shows that there is a "cartridge extender" option for a longer scubber duration. I had not come across that anywhere else. Do you think that would also be a Micropore product?

chris

teksimple · 9th October 2005, 14:33

# Optional cartridge extender to double CO2 time (TBA)
# Optional granular scrubber insert

Yes, that is the first time I have heard of that cartridge extender. If that is more than vaporware, it would definitely bring the Optima into the expedition realm. I will post over on the Optima forum to see what's up with that...

surgeondress · 9th October 2005, 17:03

The current Micropore Extendair cartridge for the Optima...where can I find any published data on the cartridge performance at greater than 1 atm? I have found several internet forum references to some 5 atm test data, but haven't actually located that data myself.

chris dress

ROB DAVIE · 9th October 2005, 17:39

Chris,

Welcome to Rebreather World. This board has become the premier resource for rebreather pilots of all types and stripes thanks to the calibre of our membership, and their willingness to share hard-won data.

Welcome aboard.

surgeondress · 9th October 2005, 18:55

Thanks Rob,
I'm devouring every thread I can get my hands on here. Great info! I hope to be posting my Rebreather experiences soon. The fever is in full force.
chris dress

***schford*** · 10th October 2005, 12:46

Quote: (Originally Posted by surgeondress)

The current Micropore Extendair cartridge for the Optima...where can I find any published data on the cartridge performance at greater than 1 atm? I have found several internet forum references to some 5 atm test data, but haven't actually located that data myself.

chris dress

Well I am being turned into a believer on the cartridge - they told us they have done a shed load of testing on it and will publish results soon and after hearing about the test facility they invested in I can believe them.

Also Pete Readey told me he had done testing on it and set up in the right way it was a very capable option.

Stuart

***caveseeker7*** · 11th October 2005, 19:31

Hi Chris,

I took a bunch of pictures including the O2ptima at DEMA last week.
Those will go up throuout the week, unfortunately I do have some work to do.

I had a long conversation with Phil, Farallon's O2ptima project manager.
He promised some info regarding the testing next week when he gets back to the office.

In regards to the instructor, John P. Jones is a member here at Rebreather World. He lives and dives FL cave country and has been spending the last year on one of the prototypes. He gave me a detailed run down of the unit, changes etc and I wouldn't hesitate getting training from him.

surgeondress · 11th October 2005, 21:49

Stefan,
Thanks for your answers to my questions! I'll PM John Jones to see if he's interested to take on a new student pilot!

Looking forward to your DEMA pics.

Chris

8th October 2005, 21:15	#1 (permalink)
surgeondress New Member Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Shalimar, FL Posts: 38	Hello from a new guy! Greetings everyone! I found this board recently and decided to join based on it's goal of promoting [mostly] rebreather info. I have been an OC diver since 1980's and recently finished my full trimix course with Alex Mendez in Kendall, FL. Despite the fact that I have been closely following rebreathers and their manufacturers for the past 2 years, this recent OC trimix training has solidified my decision to crossover to eCCR diving once and for all (unless perhaps lobstering...). The amount of gear (up to 200+ pounds on the scale) for a 300 ft dive on OC is staggering and knee breaking on a rolling boat, all for 9-10 minutes of bottom time! Add to that the constant gas consumption worries that often overshadow my goal of enjoying the dive or accomplishing my goal(s) during it, the bothersome dry mouth & throat, the noisy bubbles (which definitely sound different with He in your middle ears), and the frightened marine life... So I ponied up the 10% and pre-ordered the Dive Rite Optima. I had the opportunity to do a mini-season on the Ultimate Getaway (Ft. Myers, FL) last summer with Lamar and LeAnn and their son and he convinced me to wait for their product. I've scoured the internet and the Optima test-divers appear to have good overall comments about this one on all the forums. I personally got to examine the prototype at the 2004 NACD seminar and it was very solidly built. My experience with Dive Rite dealers and customer support for their products has been better than most over the past few years. Although there have been at least 4 months of delivery delays, DRE expects to have all units in this first production run shipped by the end of Nov. once the new counterlungs come in (We'll see...). Questions: Anyone have recommendations on an Optima instructor in North Florida/Panhandle area? Are there any more comprehensive production-model picture websites out there (other than DRE or Dive-Rite's websites, or Stefan Besier's prototype pics)? Anyone at Dema in Vegas seen the production model with comments? Thanks again for inviting me to join your informative forum, and hopefully I can contribute some meaningful posts in the future. Chris Dress
(Offline)

9th October 2005, 00:25	#2 (permalink)
scubageek New Member Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: washington, dc. usa Posts: 7	optima info Hello Chris, I have also decided to prepurchase the Optima mostly from the info on this board,scubaboard, and talking to Jeff Johnson in the baltimore area. He has a website at www.divesafety.net He has more information on the Optima at this page http://www.divesafety.net/Optima2.html and this one http://www.divesafety.net/Optima.html I can't tell you to much about instructors in your area so good luck in that respect. When I spoke with Jeff he said he was pleasantly surprised by how capable the unit was and he loved it. I had several conversations with him and finally decided to preorder the unit and now am waiting for it so I can get training on the unit. Bill Wylie
(Offline)

9th October 2005, 01:56	#3 (permalink)
surgeondress New Member Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Shalimar, FL Posts: 38	Bill, Thanks for the reply and those links. They were very helpful. I hope that there is someone who teaches on the Optima in my neck of the woods! Interesting that Jeff Johnson's website shows that there is a "cartridge extender" option for a longer scubber duration. I had not come across that anywhere else. Do you think that would also be a Micropore product? chris
(Offline)

9th October 2005, 14:33	#4 (permalink)
teksimple Enlightened Alpinist Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss MK 15.X Other Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Back in Hawaii Posts: 480	# Optional cartridge extender to double CO2 time (TBA) # Optional granular scrubber insert Yes, that is the first time I have heard of that cartridge extender. If that is more than vaporware, it would definitely bring the Optima into the expedition realm. I will post over on the Optima forum to see what's up with that...
(Offline)

9th October 2005, 17:03	#5 (permalink)
surgeondress New Member Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Shalimar, FL Posts: 38	The current Micropore Extendair cartridge for the Optima...where can I find any published data on the cartridge performance at greater than 1 atm? I have found several internet forum references to some 5 atm test data, but haven't actually located that data myself. chris dress
(Offline)

9th October 2005, 17:39	#6 (permalink)
ROB DAVIE Administrator Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: HOUSTON, REPUBLIC OF TEJAS Posts: 1,120	Chris, Welcome to Rebreather World. This board has become the premier resource for rebreather pilots of all types and stripes thanks to the calibre of our membership, and their willingness to share hard-won data. Welcome aboard. __________________ [SIZE=2]"CC Rebreathers will become a viable part of tech diving [U]WHEN PIGS FLY[/U]!!"--GI3[/SIZE]
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9th October 2005, 18:55	#7 (permalink)
surgeondress New Member Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Shalimar, FL Posts: 38	Thanks Rob, I'm devouring every thread I can get my hands on here. Great info! I hope to be posting my Rebreather experiences soon. The fever is in full force. chris dress
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10th October 2005, 12:46	#8 (permalink)
*schford* Despotic Overlord Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Sport Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: London, UK Posts: 3,662	Quote: (Originally Posted by surgeondress) The current Micropore Extendair cartridge for the Optima...where can I find any published data on the cartridge performance at greater than 1 atm? I have found several internet forum references to some 5 atm test data, but haven't actually located that data myself. chris dress Well I am being turned into a believer on the cartridge - they told us they have done a shed load of testing on it and will publish results soon and after hearing about the test facility they invested in I can believe them. Also Pete Readey told me he had done testing on it and set up in the right way it was a very capable option. Stuart
(Offline)

11th October 2005, 19:31	#9 (permalink)
*caveseeker7* Who loves ya, baby Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Prism Topaz Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Too far from Neverland Posts: 5,325	Hi Chris, I took a bunch of pictures including the O2ptima at DEMA last week. Those will go up throuout the week, unfortunately I do have some work to do. I had a long conversation with Phil, Farallon's O2ptima project manager. He promised some info regarding the testing next week when he gets back to the office. In regards to the instructor, John P. Jones is a member here at Rebreather World. He lives and dives FL cave country and has been spending the last year on one of the prototypes. He gave me a detailed run down of the unit, changes etc and I wouldn't hesitate getting training from him. __________________ Cheers Stefan "It is still a good day if you are on the green side of the grass! Su amigo Roberto!" Sponsor Lou in Race For Life!
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11th October 2005, 21:49	#10 (permalink)
surgeondress New Member Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Shalimar, FL Posts: 38	Stefan, Thanks for your answers to my questions! I'll PM John Jones to see if he's interested to take on a new student pilot! Looking forward to your DEMA pics. Chris
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