Austin, Texas

LVX · 28th May 2008, 22:39

Hello all,

I am a tech instructor from Austin, Texas about to jump to the darkside. Right now I am considering the Optima on the Meg. I have read several threads comparing the 2. This is a great source of info.

Currently I am leaning towards the Optima. It seems the major drawback to the Optima is the avaliability of the Extendair scrubber cartridges. Is that correct? I would say the majority of my diving will be in the US or Caribbean with some elsewhere. Thoughts?

How much do the cartridges cost anyway?

thanks so much and I am glad to be here.

Layne
Liquidtravel

**NEDIVER** · 29th May 2008, 02:08

welcome,

I am currently in San Antonio for the summer, let me know when you get certified and we will do some dives!

**Fun Under Pressure** · 29th May 2008, 08:07

Welcome on board Layne. I think the sofnolime or sherasorb is available too in your dive destinations. Give the Meg a chance...

PacketSniffer · 29th May 2008, 11:13

Layne,

Long time, no see. Good to see you here. Been out in the Gulf lately?

Christoph · 29th May 2008, 15:00

Hi Layne,

welcome aboard and greetings from Austria!

**sfldiver** · 29th May 2008, 15:31

Quote: (Originally Posted by LVX)

Hello all,

I am a tech instructor from Austin, Texas about to jump to the darkside. Right now I am considering the Optima on the Meg. I have read several threads comparing the 2. This is a great source of info.

Currently I am leaning towards the Optima. It seems the major drawback to the Optima is the avaliability of the Extendair scrubber cartridges. Is that correct? I would say the majority of my diving will be in the US or Caribbean with some elsewhere. Thoughts?

How much do the cartridges cost anyway?

thanks so much and I am glad to be here.

Layne
Liquidtravel

Hi Layne,

I have nothing negative to say about the Meg, because many of my dive buddies dive it and it'a a great unit. I've been diving the Optima for about 10 months now and I love it!

Many folks do view the availabilty of the EAC's as a drawback, but if you have access to them or if you don't mind having them shipped to you, they're the greatest things in the world - I change my scrubber in two minutes flat, with no mess or dust clouds at all!

Fortunately, I live minutes away from Dive Rite Express (DRE), which stocks anything I need for the Optima. However, I still buy my EAC's by the case (4 EAC's to a case). If you don't have access to them, many places will ship them to you, as will DRE.

I just checked online, and at DRE, the EAC's run approximately $129 per case, and that includes shipping. I pay a bit less in the store, because they factor out the shipping costs.

The manufacturer recommends the EAC's be used for approximately 3 hours of diving, but I think you will find that those following the 3 hour guideline dive primarily in very cold water. Most tend to follow the 4 hour guideline, but definitely check with you instructor on that one.

Whatever decision you make, I'm sure you will enjoy the rebreather diving thing tremendously and will have no regrets!!!

If you have any questions, post them on this site and you will receive lots of help - We're a small, but tight community here!

Best of luck to you!

Adrian

LVX · 29th May 2008, 15:36

Quote: (Originally Posted by PacketSniffer)

Layne,

Long time, no see. Good to see you here. Been out in the Gulf lately?

hey, yeah it has been a while. yes, I have been out in the Gulf this year. I am diving the Clipper in July and I just got back from an underwater archaeology survey in the Caribbean a couple of weeks ago. I have been very busy. Now, I am moving over in this direction for a number of reason.

Thanks so much everyone for your info and making me feel welcome.

Layne

Pipnaintez · 30th May 2008, 05:29

I live in the Houston area and dive an Optima. It has been fantastic! No complaints here! Let me know if you are interested in doing some dives once you get certified.

Quote: (Originally Posted by NEDIVER)

welcome,

I am currently in San Antonio for the summer, let me know when you get certified and we will do some dives!

Tom you missed some great dives on the Oriskany this past weekend! I will have to send you some pics. Sorry I have not sent you the pics from the clipper trip yet. I have been pretty busy lately. I'll send you some pics from both.

**Lake_Tahoe_Diver** · 30th May 2008, 22:06

Welcome to the group.

28th May 2008, 22:39	#1 (permalink)
LVX New Member Current Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Join Date: May 2008 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 3	Austin, Texas Hello all, I am a tech instructor from Austin, Texas about to jump to the darkside. Right now I am considering the Optima on the Meg. I have read several threads comparing the 2. This is a great source of info. Currently I am leaning towards the Optima. It seems the major drawback to the Optima is the avaliability of the Extendair scrubber cartridges. Is that correct? I would say the majority of my diving will be in the US or Caribbean with some elsewhere. Thoughts? How much do the cartridges cost anyway? thanks so much and I am glad to be here. Layne Liquidtravel
(Offline)

29th May 2008, 02:08	#2 (permalink)
NEDIVER Sic Semper Tyrannis Current Rebreather/s: Evolution Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Nashua, NH Posts: 200	Re: Austin, Texas welcome, I am currently in San Antonio for the summer, let me know when you get certified and we will do some dives! __________________ -Tom- "slow is smooth, and smooth is fast" TM "Insanity is repeating the same thing over and over again, expecting different results" Albert Einstein
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29th May 2008, 08:07	#3 (permalink)
Fun Under Pressure Supporting Member Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Germany Posts: 789	Re: Austin, Texas Welcome on board Layne. I think the sofnolime or sherasorb is available too in your dive destinations. Give the Meg a chance... __________________ Cheers Markku Meg # 773 Dive my dreams is my life-task
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29th May 2008, 11:13	#4 (permalink)
PacketSniffer ~~~~~ #417 ~~~~~ Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Houston Posts: 437	Re: Austin, Texas Layne, Long time, no see. Good to see you here. Been out in the Gulf lately? __________________ Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checked by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory or defeat.
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29th May 2008, 15:00	#5 (permalink)
Christoph HH newbie Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Steyr, Austria Posts: 106	Re: Austin, Texas Hi Layne, welcome aboard and greetings from Austria! __________________ Cheers, Chris When my basement became full, I believed to have enough divegear. Truth is, I had to get another basement. http://www.sharkforce.at
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29th May 2008, 15:31	#6 (permalink)
sfldiver S.C.R.U.B.'S Photographer Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Pompano Beach, FL Posts: 816	Re: Austin, Texas Quote: (Originally Posted by LVX) Hello all, I am a tech instructor from Austin, Texas about to jump to the darkside. Right now I am considering the Optima on the Meg. I have read several threads comparing the 2. This is a great source of info. Currently I am leaning towards the Optima. It seems the major drawback to the Optima is the avaliability of the Extendair scrubber cartridges. Is that correct? I would say the majority of my diving will be in the US or Caribbean with some elsewhere. Thoughts? How much do the cartridges cost anyway? thanks so much and I am glad to be here. Layne Liquidtravel Hi Layne, I have nothing negative to say about the Meg, because many of my dive buddies dive it and it'a a great unit. I've been diving the Optima for about 10 months now and I love it! Many folks do view the availabilty of the EAC's as a drawback, but if you have access to them or if you don't mind having them shipped to you, they're the greatest things in the world - I change my scrubber in two minutes flat, with no mess or dust clouds at all! Fortunately, I live minutes away from Dive Rite Express (DRE), which stocks anything I need for the Optima. However, I still buy my EAC's by the case (4 EAC's to a case). If you don't have access to them, many places will ship them to you, as will DRE. I just checked online, and at DRE, the EAC's run approximately $129 per case, and that includes shipping. I pay a bit less in the store, because they factor out the shipping costs. The manufacturer recommends the EAC's be used for approximately 3 hours of diving, but I think you will find that those following the 3 hour guideline dive primarily in very cold water. Most tend to follow the 4 hour guideline, but definitely check with you instructor on that one. Whatever decision you make, I'm sure you will enjoy the rebreather diving thing tremendously and will have no regrets!!! If you have any questions, post them on this site and you will receive lots of help - We're a small, but tight community here! Best of luck to you! Adrian __________________ *Currently piloting & shooting...* Dive Rite O2ptima FX Rigged w/ a Dsix Custom Aluminum Frame, Nomad Wing, Transpac Harness and VR3 Computer w/ VPM-B/E & a 4th Cell Sensor Link.* Canon PowerShot G9 Digital Camera *Rigged in a Patima-PDCH 2008 G9 Aluminum Housing w/ an Inon UWL-100 Achromat Wide Conversion Lens, 2 Inon UCL-165M67 Close-Up Lenses and 2 Inon Z-240 Strobes.
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29th May 2008, 15:36	#7 (permalink)
LVX New Member Current Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Join Date: May 2008 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 3	Re: Austin, Texas Quote: (Originally Posted by PacketSniffer) Layne, Long time, no see. Good to see you here. Been out in the Gulf lately? hey, yeah it has been a while. yes, I have been out in the Gulf this year. I am diving the Clipper in July and I just got back from an underwater archaeology survey in the Caribbean a couple of weeks ago. I have been very busy. Now, I am moving over in this direction for a number of reason. Thanks so much everyone for your info and making me feel welcome. Layne __________________ Layne http://www.liquidtravel.org
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30th May 2008, 05:29	#8 (permalink)
Pipnaintez RBW Member Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Houston Texas Posts: 91	Re: Austin, Texas I live in the Houston area and dive an Optima. It has been fantastic! No complaints here! Let me know if you are interested in doing some dives once you get certified. Quote: (Originally Posted by NEDIVER) welcome, I am currently in San Antonio for the summer, let me know when you get certified and we will do some dives! Tom you missed some great dives on the Oriskany this past weekend! I will have to send you some pics. Sorry I have not sent you the pics from the clipper trip yet. I have been pretty busy lately. I'll send you some pics from both.
(Offline)

30th May 2008, 22:06	#9 (permalink)
Lake_Tahoe_Diver Enjoying the silence Current Rebreather/s: Prism Topaz Sport Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Reno, Nv. (Lake Tahoe) Posts: 196	Re: Austin, Texas Welcome to the group. __________________ Scuba Diving,the only sport where it is good to be in over your head....
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