Shearwater on its own ?

SML · 28th April 2008, 08:14

Hi Folks

I've just bought a CK which has got a Shearwater plumbed in on its own and was just wondering how reliable or sensible this approach is

I will be doing MOD 1 shortly but slightly worried about the lack of backup so do I…………..

1) Just dive it as it is
2) Buy a couple of backup displays, looking at buying a Dave Mager dual
3) Stop being tight and buy a HUD now ?

I guess I know the answer which is 3 but is diving on a shearwater alone a good idea to start off with

Cheers Simon

**Fun Under Pressure** · 28th April 2008, 08:29

i have dive a shearwater fo 1/2 a year on my classic inspiration w/o any problems. 3 cell reading and online deco, works great. Dive it !!

Ben Field · 28th April 2008, 08:29

Hi Simon,

The KISS principle would suggest the 3 seperate displays are best... and theoretically that is true. In practice the 3 displays are not brilliantly good at water resistance, if you get a good set you will be laughing but there are many users who've been beaten trying to keep the 3 displays dry.

IMVHO the Shearwater is an excellent replacement- yes you sacrifice triple redundancy- but that assumes the displays are unlikely to flood, which isn't the case... In my mind changing from 3 highly likely to flood displays to 1 highly unlikely to flood display is actually a safety improvement, despite the theory!

As a bonus you gain full trimix deco computer which is simply and easy to use, a delightful download system and long battery life.

I would reccomend that so long as your instructor doesn't mind you should stick with the GF, yes later add the HUD, because its superb, but to begin with it would be better to just dive the display- it will get you into the habbit of looking at the displays and build up some healthy paranoia- just what the KISS diver needs

lizardland · 28th April 2008, 08:42

I went through a long thought process over the same thing. I use a Shearwater on it's own with 3-cell monitoring on my CK but it has taken a lot of debating, is a single, reliable unit better than a triple independant system? On the Shearwater it takes one failure to wipe out the system, on the triple system you have to have two failures to get to a point where you may have to do some sort of counter-measure. Also remember the Shearwater uses a common ground wire which I think is a BIG weakness.

My ideal system would be Shearwater cal'd to one cell and two independant displays on the other two cells. Unfortunately, my Shearwater will not calibrate on one cell, even Bruce couldn't figure it out. My Plan B was to fit the Shearwater on 3 cells with a jetsam display piggybacked on to the cells. I had a kidney modified to let me do it, cable gland on one port for the Shearwater with two blank ports which could have glands fitted.

It's for sale as it's surplus to requirements as I've bought something with a proper secondary

SML · 28th April 2008, 09:01

Currently got the shearwater plumbed in through one port and so have the other two currently blocked so can use those for adding another two displays.

Will need to have a chat with the instructor to see what he thinks.

Still after a HUD if anyone wants to sell one

RobPot · 28th April 2008, 16:40

What about a good old-fashioned dive timer, tables and bailout approach for the time being?

Robert.

ForTheFight · 28th April 2008, 18:42

They are very reliable, but I would want at least one other source of PPO2 information. That could be a HUD, another Shearwater, a VR3, whatever.

Personally I have two Pursuits and a HUD...but thats overkill and I know it.

zoo_diver · 28th April 2008, 18:58

I'll pipe in with the crowd. I have a Pursuit running online with my Meg and I love it. I still have the Copis PO2 monitor attached but I rarely go a dive and ask myself why I don't just hack that thing off. Having an additional system to monitor P02 is never a bad idea though. For "Mod 1" type stuff though, I think you will be fine.

Enjoy!!!

***EBT*** · 28th April 2008, 19:30

MOD1 is usually bailout in case of probs and end the dive. I'd say you're fine in that config

Mark Chase · 28th April 2008, 20:15

I was going to wire in a single KISS display as a secondary but the Shearwater has been 100% reliable so i haven't bothered.

In your case if the hand set fails, you bailout and thats that. On a MCCR you will be spending more than enough time looking at the hand set to see issues especialy because the PP02 is so dynamic.

I do have a HUD and as a total aside I believe its well worth the investment to get one put on. It makes flying a MCCR much nicer.

ATB

Mark

28th April 2008, 08:14	#1 (permalink)
SML New Member Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Farnborough, UK Posts: 44	Shearwater on its own ? Hi Folks I've just bought a CK which has got a Shearwater plumbed in on its own and was just wondering how reliable or sensible this approach is I will be doing MOD 1 shortly but slightly worried about the lack of backup so do I………….. 1) Just dive it as it is 2) Buy a couple of backup displays, looking at buying a Dave Mager dual 3) Stop being tight and buy a HUD now ? I guess I know the answer which is 3 but is diving on a shearwater alone a good idea to start off with Cheers Simon
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28th April 2008, 08:29	#2 (permalink)
Fun Under Pressure Supporting Member Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Germany Posts: 640	Re: Shearwater on its own ? i have dive a shearwater fo 1/2 a year on my classic inspiration w/o any problems. 3 cell reading and online deco, works great. Dive it !! __________________ Cheers Markku Meg # 773
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28th April 2008, 08:29	#3 (permalink)
Ben Field CK+Shearwater Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: London, England Posts: 1,559	Re: Shearwater on its own ? Hi Simon, The KISS principle would suggest the 3 seperate displays are best... and theoretically that is true. In practice the 3 displays are not brilliantly good at water resistance, if you get a good set you will be laughing but there are many users who've been beaten trying to keep the 3 displays dry. IMVHO the Shearwater is an excellent replacement- yes you sacrifice triple redundancy- but that assumes the displays are unlikely to flood, which isn't the case... In my mind changing from 3 highly likely to flood displays to 1 highly unlikely to flood display is actually a safety improvement, despite the theory! As a bonus you gain full trimix deco computer which is simply and easy to use, a delightful download system and long battery life. I would reccomend that so long as your instructor doesn't mind you should stick with the GF, yes later add the HUD, because its superb, but to begin with it would be better to just dive the display- it will get you into the habbit of looking at the displays and build up some healthy paranoia- just what the KISS diver needs __________________ www.hugsac.org.uk Beware Fridge Suck
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28th April 2008, 08:42	#4 (permalink)
lizardland Yak Current Rebreather/s: MK 15.X Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Home Build Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: North... Posts: 1,238	Re: Shearwater on its own ? I went through a long thought process over the same thing. I use a Shearwater on it's own with 3-cell monitoring on my CK but it has taken a lot of debating, is a single, reliable unit better than a triple independant system? On the Shearwater it takes one failure to wipe out the system, on the triple system you have to have two failures to get to a point where you may have to do some sort of counter-measure. Also remember the Shearwater uses a common ground wire which I think is a BIG weakness. My ideal system would be Shearwater cal'd to one cell and two independant displays on the other two cells. Unfortunately, my Shearwater will not calibrate on one cell, even Bruce couldn't figure it out. My Plan B was to fit the Shearwater on 3 cells with a jetsam display piggybacked on to the cells. I had a kidney modified to let me do it, cable gland on one port for the Shearwater with two blank ports which could have glands fitted. It's for sale as it's surplus to requirements as I've bought something with a proper secondary __________________ Can you imagine drifting along in the sea with your mouth open and a load of f***ing plankton going in? You'd like it, would you? www.westons-cider.co.uk Azerbaijani Association of Technical Divers Publicity Officer and Goat Wrangler
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28th April 2008, 09:01	#5 (permalink)
SML New Member Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Farnborough, UK Posts: 44	Re: Shearwater on its own ? Currently got the shearwater plumbed in through one port and so have the other two currently blocked so can use those for adding another two displays. Will need to have a chat with the instructor to see what he thinks. Still after a HUD if anyone wants to sell one
(Offline)

28th April 2008, 16:40	#6 (permalink)
RobPot Rebreather World Writer Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: May 2005 Location: Portishead - Gateway to the South West Posts: 180	Re: Shearwater on its own ? What about a good old-fashioned dive timer, tables and bailout approach for the time being? Robert.
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28th April 2008, 18:42	#7 (permalink)
ForTheFight What's a custom title? Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Optima rEvo Other CCR Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Optima rEvo Other CCR Dolphin Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 209	Re: Shearwater on its own ? They are very reliable, but I would want at least one other source of PPO2 information. That could be a HUD, another Shearwater, a VR3, whatever. Personally I have two Pursuits and a HUD...but thats overkill and I know it. __________________ This post may be up to 80% accurate...
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28th April 2008, 18:58	#8 (permalink)
zoo_diver Is it snack time yet? Current Rebreather/s: Evolution Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Megalodon Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Suffolk, VA Posts: 267	Re: Shearwater on its own ? I'll pipe in with the crowd. I have a Pursuit running online with my Meg and I love it. I still have the Copis PO2 monitor attached but I rarely go a dive and ask myself why I don't just hack that thing off. Having an additional system to monitor P02 is never a bad idea though. For "Mod 1" type stuff though, I think you will be fine. Enjoy!!!
(Offline)

28th April 2008, 19:30	#9 (permalink)
*EBT* Apprentice Luddite Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: UK, Brighton Posts: 1,904	Re: Shearwater on its own ? MOD1 is usually bailout in case of probs and end the dive. I'd say you're fine in that config __________________ Eagles May Soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines! Rebreather World Terms of service Real diving t-shirts for real divers
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28th April 2008, 20:15	#10 (permalink)
Mark Chase I go down for ages Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Kent Posts: 2,539	Re: Shearwater on its own ? I was going to wire in a single KISS display as a secondary but the Shearwater has been 100% reliable so i haven't bothered. In your case if the hand set fails, you bailout and thats that. On a MCCR you will be spending more than enough time looking at the hand set to see issues especialy because the PP02 is so dynamic. I do have a HUD and as a total aside I believe its well worth the investment to get one put on. It makes flying a MCCR much nicer. ATB Mark __________________ Is it supposed to make that noise ? I took my unit to the dive shop and demanded they bolt on every thing that would fit. Join my elite diving teem and get a Tshirt "Doing It Chasey"Hammerhead Eccr Advanced Diving System
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