Megaladon Versus Optima Fx

Dsix36

here is another discussion of EAC duration and how it was measured by Dive Rite:
http://www.rebreatherworld.com/o2pti...n-o2ptima.html

I am personally getting 6 hr of use from a cartridge. After use, I unroll it and actually measure the used portion. With 6 hr of usage, I have used 3/4 of it. That is as far as I am comfortable pushing my scrubber.

Please remember that each and every diver will metabolize CO2 at a different rate and thus the scrubber duration will also vary with each individual diver. Most testing is done with higher than average workloads to insure a margin of safety. Dive Rite testing showed 320 liters of CO2 absorbtion but they rate it for 240 liters thus they are allowing a full 1/4 for safety margin.

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sensor330

I just looked at the Diverite web site SCUBA Diving Equipment and gear for Technical, Wreck and Cave Diving: Dive Rite, Inc - Product Catalog - O2ptima FX CCR and it says 3 hours in warm and 2 hours in cold. A couple of years ago I remember reading the 2 hour report. Not sure if they retested in warm or made calculation off the original report.

I'm guilty as well of using my scrubber longer and I understand that you and other use it longer. The bottom line in both DR and extendair do not recommend those run times. I don't have a problem with that. What I do have a problem with however is the guy who started this thread is a new Rebreather diver and we shouldn't be saying to him the this scrubber is rated for "X" amount of hours, but I use it for "X" hours.

So this is how I see it.

Optima 2hrs in cold water, 3 hours in warm
Meg 3 hrs in whatever temp, 6 hours if using radial

Scott

ScubaDadMiami

Been there, done that. You will notice that I did include the issues with the older Hammerhead case. (That issue is resolved with the new case.) So, I think I told it like it was.

Let me add one last thing, which again shows that I think that the Meg is a good unit. When I was trying to decide which unit to buy, after doing my research, I had everything narrowed down to the Meg and the Optima as the final candidates.

When I finally tipped the scale in favor of the Optima, I contacted my instructor before placing my order. I specifically stated what I found the be the more favorable and less favorable things about each unit for my intended use. I told him that I had tipped the scale in favor of the Optima. However, I told him that I would respect his suggestion as to which would be the right unit for me since he is someone who has initmate knowledge of each unit. In other words, it would be no love lost for me if he were to advise me not to get the Optima and to elect to purchase the Meg instead. I was prepared to cut the check and place my order based upon my instructor's advice. So, it was almost a neck and neck race for the final decision almost right to the end.

So, I am not saying that the Meg or any of the other major, well built units out there are bad. (But that doesn't mean I am stepping away from saying that my unit is better! )

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Howard Packer
IANTD CCR Instructor
Miami Beach, Florida
CCRDiveTraining.com

Dsix36

We seem to be getting into a big debate over EAC's vs. Sorb. This is something that must be decided by the individual. The EAC was a positive point in my decision to buy an Optima. I had been diving with a Dolphin for a couple of years prior to moving to CCR. I was never 100% confident in the packing of a scrubber. There was always a little nagging voice in the back of my head saying "Is this the time that it will channel and kill me?". Sure the EAC is a little more money, but last weekend was a lot of fun watching another diver fill a scrubber with sorb on a rocking boat. I am still very happy with my choice. The Optima remains the best Rebreather for my diving.

The Meg was the only other unit that was a contender in my Rebreather choice. I still, very much so, like the modular design of it. A HammerMeg with a EAC would be a great choice for me

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diverklondike

Shortly you will be able to get a HammerHead CCR with an EAC option..

Barfab

Of course price and weight are very interesting, furthermore I'm sure it works fine because of HH and EAC technology, but I thik that the care of details is important too and a firm like DiveRite should do a little better. Of couse cars' market is worst "fore wheel drive" cars are dangerous!
Anyway this thread concern Megalodon versus Optima so is not possible to discuss i.e. BMW versus Nissan or FIAT (worst) or whetever.......

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Dsix36

He was trying to say this:
It is like comparing a Ferrarri (Optima) with a Fiat (Meglawhatever).
No Comparison!

Sorry, Meg guys, I just couldn't hold it back any longer.

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mverick

But,
You didn't point it out in this post. I did. I put out the positive and negative. The guy wanted to know which and the reasons. I stated problems with both units. You just covered the Optima problems I stated. Not telling the story about the Handsets.

On the Hammerhead. It's went from acrylic to Nickle plated to Aluminum to ? Plastic now?

A lot of people like the Hammerhead. I'm not sold on it either. So that puts the NEW Rebreather they came out with off my chart. I seem to read about a lot of Little problems with them.

Apecs has been "Plastic" and never had problems with Water intrusion.

And, if you were sold from your trainer. You and I are completely different. I tend to know they are selling me something. I don't trust there judgement. They sell more or train more they tend to get things. I listen to people who dive them. And do my own research.

Been there done that with a Recomendation on the HS Explorer from a highly regarded instructor. It's sitting here being a Brick. Cause it never worked and was sent back 3 times. At that time, it's junk. I could never trust it. And, it still doesn't work anyway.

Some people like the New Bling toy. And are willing to Risk problems for the new toy. I on the other hand. Just want one that works day in and day out. I don't need or want all the little extras. Just want it to work. Which, the Meg has always done for me. Since I owned it, never back to the factory.

Same with MEG stands. Nice, but not needed. It looked to me like a lot of extra snag points and I don't want that.

If the Prism didn't have so many problems. I would have been sold on that. But, with all the Plus's of the system. It just had to many failures and problems with durability. The "THEORY" is great. Implementation was not. Some have had good luck. Most seemed to not have good luck. Telling me it's great and always had great service from a failure. Isn't a good recomendation. I want to here. Don't know about service. Never needed it.

My friends hate that I don't use tank boots. My cylinders are steel and roll. Pain to get on. But, none of the bottoms are rusty. LOL... There's are. LOL...

I'm not looking to see computer games, able to track my previous dive at my deco stop, I do like my MP3 player but don't want it on my Rebreather.

I just want one to work without having to go back to the Manufacturer. Meg has done that for me. They don't send out fixes for there problems on a whim. It's all well tested. EAC's were tested by YOU. And other Optima test pilots. I don't pay to test gear. They seem to be working quite well. But, Sorb is still cheaper and I can pack a scrubber. It's not a problem. And, if I make a 1 hour dive and want to pitch the Sorb I pitch it. On the EAC's I see people reuse them. Not me, Sorb is cheap insurance on a long dive if a problem happened under water. So, ability to use Sorb is Primary. Eac's would be a nice extra for there ease of use.

SeaBass

Richie,

I really am not considering buying a Meg or an Optima right now. However I believe they are both very good units. As far as the Hammerhead is concerned I think that is a very nice rig also but I wanted to stay on topic

Thom

jiseson

One thing i found helpful in my decision process was to get/download the various units manuals' and read them for yourself. Often i found differences there than what a particular diver was stating. Make your own decision with the most information u can get your hands on. Read manufacturer of componance we sites' etc..

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Jonathan D Iseson