About to try a Dolphin, any tips or insights?

kpalas · 25th April 2006, 07:43

Hello all, On May 6 I will be in Bonaire for two weeks of diving.

Rec Tec Scuba in Bonaire offers a Dolphin rebreather experience where I will be able to try the Dolphin for up to a hour at 60ft. max. Anybody have any insights as to what I should expect, or things I should be aware of? This will be the first time diving a rebreather for me and just wanted to draw on some other people's experience with the unit. Thanks.

Odin · 25th April 2006, 09:11

Quote: (Originally Posted by kpalas)

Hello all, On May 6 I will be in Bonaire for two weeks of diving.

Rec Tec Scuba in Bonaire offers a Dolphin rebreather experience where I will be able to try the Dolphin for up to a hour at 60ft. max. Anybody have any insights as to what I should expect, or things I should be aware of? This will be the first time diving a rebreather for me and just wanted to draw on some other people's experience with the unit. Thanks.

Enjoy it!
be prepared for the different buoyancy techniques.
You will hear bubbles being let loose - but it should only be every 4 - 5 breaths and it will not be as many as a normal exhaled breath.
Do not have the harness too tight. It will compress the counterlungs.
Relax and enjoy the first step to the Dark side...

kpalas · 25th April 2006, 16:58

Cool, thanks for your reply.

Andrei Yashin · 25th April 2006, 18:30

And dont forget to close mouthpiece valve before you remove the mouthpiece from your mouth.

magentaseas · 26th April 2006, 12:28

Hi

Ive found the breathing takes some getting used to as its constant flow, but that could be personal thing!
Theyre great units.
Have fun

sharon

kpalas · 26th April 2006, 17:17

Yes, I've heard that also. Thanks!!

denzel · 27th April 2006, 16:15

You'll have great fun, but stop exhaling thru your nose.
On my first ever dolphy dive I emptied the tank in 20 mins flat.

denz.

trash · 21st May 2006, 10:07

I've just started rebreather diving. Did the padi course because the TDI was not available where I was on holidays. (I knew the TDI back to front). I trained on the Ray which I think is a nice simple unit and excellent for newbies for it's simplicity. I didn't get the chance to use a dolphin as the unit was out of action at the time. So my padi skippy badge says ray.
My attempt to hire a dolphin to familiarise myself with it so that if I ever want to hire a unit while on holidays, I'd be prepeared.
But my local dive shop decided he wouldn't hire me a unit. (he had no qualms selling me one, given his $4800 aud price tag).

So I put on my BIG frown that I use for padi drones and asked how much to get "certifed" with it. He quoted more for the 'upgrade' than I paid for the course. I wanted to familarise him with hypoxia, but I took more delight changing my plans to do my adv nitrox with him.

I'm familiar with the dolphins on paper and I have absolutely no issues using a ray. I will probably find myself buying a dolphin or something very similar in the near future.

I consider myself a conservative person. I fly hang gliders, so I'm no stranger to what happens if you fly outside your limits. Am I overstepping my mark with a dolphin or should I consider paying money to people I don't like ?
Are there any tips and tricks that might be helpful ?

sven · 21st May 2006, 12:37

Quote: (Originally Posted by trash)

... snip ...

But my local dive shop decided he wouldn't hire me a unit. (he had no qualms selling me one, given his $4800 aud price tag).

.. snip ...

Am I overstepping my mark with a dolphin or should I consider paying money to people I don't like ?
Are there any tips and tricks that might be helpful ?

From your profile it is not clear where in Oz you are, but if you can, spent some time in the "Troll Cave" - aka Southern Cross Divers, Spit, Sydney - and talk to Bazza about rebreathers. He may be able to arrange a trial with other units (Inspo, Evolution, MK15.5, KISS??? ...) Besides SCR (like the Dolphin), there are manual CCRs (like the KISS) or electronic CCRs like the Inspo and others, available. Before you spent the money, try out other options.

No, I am not affiliated with SCD. Exactly the opposite - Bazza seems to get extreme pleasure from taking my money for training, parts, consumables ... :-))) Nevertheless - try the other options before committing to a Dolphin. Also, there is a lot of reading material on Rebreatherworld - try out the library!

***caveseeker7*** · 21st May 2006, 15:59

Dive Dive Dive in QL also supports Rebreather, the divers in Melbourne get together for regular meetings (contact jdz for those) and there some members out west in Perth you clould hook up with, too.

25th April 2006, 07:43	#1 (permalink)
kpalas New Member Current Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Elk Grove, Calif. Posts: 10	About to try a Dolphin, any tips or insights? Hello all, On May 6 I will be in Bonaire for two weeks of diving. Rec Tec Scuba in Bonaire offers a Dolphin rebreather experience where I will be able to try the Dolphin for up to a hour at 60ft. max. Anybody have any insights as to what I should expect, or things I should be aware of? This will be the first time diving a rebreather for me and just wanted to draw on some other people's experience with the unit. Thanks.
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25th April 2006, 09:11	#2 (permalink)
Odin Egbert - the Deco Dancer Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: U.K Posts: 142	Re: About to try a Dolphin, any tips or insights? Quote: (Originally Posted by kpalas) Hello all, On May 6 I will be in Bonaire for two weeks of diving. Rec Tec Scuba in Bonaire offers a Dolphin rebreather experience where I will be able to try the Dolphin for up to a hour at 60ft. max. Anybody have any insights as to what I should expect, or things I should be aware of? This will be the first time diving a rebreather for me and just wanted to draw on some other people's experience with the unit. Thanks. Enjoy it! be prepared for the different buoyancy techniques. You will hear bubbles being let loose - but it should only be every 4 - 5 breaths and it will not be as many as a normal exhaled breath. Do not have the harness too tight. It will compress the counterlungs. Relax and enjoy the first step to the Dark side...
(Offline)

25th April 2006, 16:58	#3 (permalink)
kpalas New Member Current Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Elk Grove, Calif. Posts: 10	Re: About to try a Dolphin, any tips or insights? Cool, thanks for your reply.
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25th April 2006, 18:30	#4 (permalink)
Andrei Yashin New Member Current Rebreather/s: Ray Other Rebreather/s: Ray Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Russia Moscow Posts: 27	Re: About to try a Dolphin, any tips or insights? And dont forget to close mouthpiece valve before you remove the mouthpiece from your mouth. __________________
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26th April 2006, 12:28	#5 (permalink)
magentaseas New Member Current Rebreather/s: Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Join Date: May 2005 Location: London Posts: 56	Re: About to try a Dolphin, any tips or insights? Hi Ive found the breathing takes some getting used to as its constant flow, but that could be personal thing! Theyre great units. Have fun sharon
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26th April 2006, 17:17	#6 (permalink)
kpalas New Member Current Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Elk Grove, Calif. Posts: 10	Re: About to try a Dolphin, any tips or insights? Yes, I've heard that also. Thanks!!
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27th April 2006, 16:15	#7 (permalink)
denzel Holiday diver Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Perth! Posts: 358	Re: About to try a Dolphin, any tips or insights? You'll have great fun, but stop exhaling thru your nose. On my first ever dolphy dive I emptied the tank in 20 mins flat. denz. __________________ My deepest so far, 558.50 mtr, my rig a LF90D...
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21st May 2006, 10:07	#8 (permalink)
trash New Member Current Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Join Date: May 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 16	Re: About to try a Dolphin, any tips or insights? I've just started rebreather diving. Did the padi course because the TDI was not available where I was on holidays. (I knew the TDI back to front). I trained on the Ray which I think is a nice simple unit and excellent for newbies for it's simplicity. I didn't get the chance to use a dolphin as the unit was out of action at the time. So my padi skippy badge says ray. My attempt to hire a dolphin to familiarise myself with it so that if I ever want to hire a unit while on holidays, I'd be prepeared. But my local dive shop decided he wouldn't hire me a unit. (he had no qualms selling me one, given his $4800 aud price tag). So I put on my BIG frown that I use for padi drones and asked how much to get "certifed" with it. He quoted more for the 'upgrade' than I paid for the course. I wanted to familarise him with hypoxia, but I took more delight changing my plans to do my adv nitrox with him. I'm familiar with the dolphins on paper and I have absolutely no issues using a ray. I will probably find myself buying a dolphin or something very similar in the near future. I consider myself a conservative person. I fly hang gliders, so I'm no stranger to what happens if you fly outside your limits. Am I overstepping my mark with a dolphin or should I consider paying money to people I don't like ? Are there any tips and tricks that might be helpful ?
(Offline)

21st May 2006, 12:37	#9 (permalink)
sven Blogs Admin / Forum Mod Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Evolution Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sydney Posts: 574	Re: About to try a Dolphin, any tips or insights? Quote: (Originally Posted by trash) ... snip ... But my local dive shop decided he wouldn't hire me a unit. (he had no qualms selling me one, given his $4800 aud price tag). .. snip ... Am I overstepping my mark with a dolphin or should I consider paying money to people I don't like ? Are there any tips and tricks that might be helpful ? From your profile it is not clear where in Oz you are, but if you can, spent some time in the "Troll Cave" - aka Southern Cross Divers, Spit, Sydney - and talk to Bazza about rebreathers. He may be able to arrange a trial with other units (Inspo, Evolution, MK15.5, KISS??? ...) Besides SCR (like the Dolphin), there are manual CCRs (like the KISS) or electronic CCRs like the Inspo and others, available. Before you spent the money, try out other options. No, I am not affiliated with SCD. Exactly the opposite - Bazza seems to get extreme pleasure from taking my money for training, parts, consumables ... :-))) Nevertheless - try the other options before committing to a Dolphin. Also, there is a lot of reading material on Rebreatherworld - try out the library! __________________ Regards, Sven [SIZE=1]The Sydney Project website: [URL]http://www.sydneyproject.com[/URL] My Blog: [URL]http://sven.rebreatherworld.com[/URL] "Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it's time to pause and reflect." Mark Twain[/SIZE]
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21st May 2006, 15:59	#10 (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	Re: About to try a Dolphin, any tips or insights? Dive Dive Dive in QL also supports Rebreather, the divers in Melbourne get together for regular meetings (contact jdz for those) and there some members out west in Perth you clould hook up with, too. __________________ 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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