My Optima's Here!!!!!

seafox · 21st March 2006, 15:11

Congratulations and welcome to the club!

**Gill Envy** · 21st March 2006, 16:40

Quote:

I hope that my account of my transition will be helpful to anyone who is about to undergo this process, and who wants to get a little insight into one CCR diver's path to bubbleless diving. Thanks for taking the time to follow my story.

hey there scuba dad, thanks for your detailed account of your process. I am one of those who is about to undergo this process and have benefitted from your story. It is challenging to get a real feel for what is required from the outside.
It's spring now, may calmer weather be ahead. Hope you have lots of fun with your new toy!!

***caveseeker7*** · 21st March 2006, 17:52

Your training turned into quite an endevour, Howard, thanks for writing it all down for us.
It made for good reading.

And congratulations!

**JPJones** · 22nd March 2006, 01:03

I knew you would make it, look forward to having you for CCR Cave.

***ScubaDadMiami*** · 26th March 2006, 21:13

Now that I am free from doing class drills, I finally got a chance to do my first fun dives on my Optima. I signed up for a two dive outing off of Pompano Beach, Florida.

On our first dive, we dove the Captain Dan wreck, with average depth of about 100, bottom time of 30 minutes. Water temp was about 74 to 75 degrees. Visibility was very good, probably 50 to 70 feet. Almost no current, and seas were less than one foot. The air was about 60F. So, it was great to be wearing a drysuit without sweating out of the water (for once).

I felt pretty good on the rebreather. I had made an adjustment to my sidemount bailout tank since my last dive, making the tail a bit shorter and moving the band around the tank. This certainly snugged the tank up well though I think I still need to adjust the tank band a bit before I am final with the setup. One thing I can say is that it felt like I wasn't carrying anything. Sidemounting is great!

I also adjusted the placement of the HUD. Now, I can finally see it. I am finally able to use it for monitoring my PPO2. It is pretty convenient not to have to look at the gauges all the time.

I am now wrapping the handset cables around my arms instead of just letting them hang out. This eliminates the danglies.

During ascent, we spent time shining our lights around. We saw some pretty squid swimming around us in the darkness.

On our second dive, we did a drift over a 50 foot reef. We spent a few minutes playing with the cuttle fish that was about a foot long.

There was some surge on this dive. I was surprised that such a small change in depth (when not so near the surface) while surging up and back affected my buoyancy as much as it did. Flushing the loop in the surge was a bit of a challenge (even though it was not very strong surge).

Making a free ascent, I will have to admit that I had poor buoyancy control. I think that part of the issue is the lag time between depth change and my computer picking up the change of depth. I think I will start to use my D3's ascent meter on future outings. Honestly, it is hard to tell what was going on since we were doing free ascents in the darkness.

Buoyancy is still going to take some work. I am surprised at how long this is taking. Otherwise, I am please with my unit and the progress I have made so far.

***ScubaDadMiami*** · 17th July 2006, 05:12

I have just removed about four pounds of lead from my setup. Although I am still in the early runs since making the change, I am now able to hold my stops while making my ascents without much problem. I guess I was just so overweighted before that I was building momentum either up or down, making it nearly impossible to stop in one place while ascending at the end of the dive.

This was a big issue for me. Finally, some progress!

I am now at about 30 hours on my unit.

E-man · 17th July 2006, 17:50

With the SS backplate I dive with about 4lbs cliped into the handle (in front of the scrubber) and 2 lbs on the weight belt with a 3mm wet suit in salt water. With that setup I feel plenty weighted (can probably take off the 2lbs weight belt) and trim is good.

***ScubaDadMiami*** · 17th July 2006, 19:19

I'm diving dry, with a DUI TLS350, 40 gram Thinsulate underwear (plus some silk weight underwear below). Right now, I am with about 12.5 pounds of lead plus an aluminum backplate.

I prefer the aluminum backplate because I have the six pound Optima weight above the tanks, and I put six more just below that on the bolt that I use to connect the the backplate to the unit (but on the inside of the case).

I keep the weight up high, which makes the unit trim out well, and this stup allows the advantage of being able to travel with lighter weight gear that only requires adding some lead at my destination.

21st March 2006, 15:11	#71 (permalink)
seafox 02ptima Instructor Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: TORONTO, CANADA -Have "02ptima" will travel! Posts: 172	Re: My Optima's Here!!!!! Congratulations and welcome to the club! __________________ Protect the SHARKS! Excellence is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction, skillful execution and the vision to see obstacles as opportunities. Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards!
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21st March 2006, 16:40	#72 (permalink)
Gill Envy Shearwater Copis Diver Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Evolution Other CCR Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: seattle Posts: 1,302	Re: My Optima's Here!!!!! Quote: I hope that my account of my transition will be helpful to anyone who is about to undergo this process, and who wants to get a little insight into one CCR diver's path to bubbleless diving. Thanks for taking the time to follow my story. hey there scuba dad, thanks for your detailed account of your process. I am one of those who is about to undergo this process and have benefitted from your story. It is challenging to get a real feel for what is required from the outside. It's spring now, may calmer weather be ahead. Hope you have lots of fun with your new toy!! __________________ Gill Envy ...Because I wasn't born with gills! ><(°>><(°>><(°>><(°>><(°>><(°>><(°>><(°>
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21st March 2006, 17:52	#73 (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: 5,435	Re: My Optima's Here!!!!! Your training turned into quite an endevour, Howard, thanks for writing it all down for us. It made for good reading. And congratulations! __________________ Cheers Stefan "Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.'!"
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22nd March 2006, 01:03	#74 (permalink)
JPJones O2ptima Test Dummy Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Megalodon Sport Kiss Classic Kiss Optima Titan Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 367	Re: My Optima's Here!!!!! I knew you would make it, look forward to having you for CCR Cave. __________________ NSS/CDS Training Chairman www.jpjscuba.com
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26th March 2006, 21:13	#75 (permalink)
*ScubaDadMiami* Moderator Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Florida, USA Posts: 2,073	Re: My Optima's Here!!!!! Now that I am free from doing class drills, I finally got a chance to do my first fun dives on my Optima. I signed up for a two dive outing off of Pompano Beach, Florida. On our first dive, we dove the Captain Dan wreck, with average depth of about 100, bottom time of 30 minutes. Water temp was about 74 to 75 degrees. Visibility was very good, probably 50 to 70 feet. Almost no current, and seas were less than one foot. The air was about 60F. So, it was great to be wearing a drysuit without sweating out of the water (for once). I felt pretty good on the rebreather. I had made an adjustment to my sidemount bailout tank since my last dive, making the tail a bit shorter and moving the band around the tank. This certainly snugged the tank up well though I think I still need to adjust the tank band a bit before I am final with the setup. One thing I can say is that it felt like I wasn't carrying anything. Sidemounting is great! I also adjusted the placement of the HUD. Now, I can finally see it. I am finally able to use it for monitoring my PPO2. It is pretty convenient not to have to look at the gauges all the time. I am now wrapping the handset cables around my arms instead of just letting them hang out. This eliminates the danglies. During ascent, we spent time shining our lights around. We saw some pretty squid swimming around us in the darkness. On our second dive, we did a drift over a 50 foot reef. We spent a few minutes playing with the cuttle fish that was about a foot long. There was some surge on this dive. I was surprised that such a small change in depth (when not so near the surface) while surging up and back affected my buoyancy as much as it did. Flushing the loop in the surge was a bit of a challenge (even though it was not very strong surge). Making a free ascent, I will have to admit that I had poor buoyancy control. I think that part of the issue is the lag time between depth change and my computer picking up the change of depth. I think I will start to use my D3's ascent meter on future outings. Honestly, it is hard to tell what was going on since we were doing free ascents in the darkness. Buoyancy is still going to take some work. I am surprised at how long this is taking. Otherwise, I am please with my unit and the progress I have made so far. __________________ Howard Packer IANTD CCR Instructor Miami Beach, Florida CCRDiveTraining.com
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17th July 2006, 05:12	#76 (permalink)
*ScubaDadMiami* Moderator Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Florida, USA Posts: 2,073	Re: My Optima's Here!!!!! I have just removed about four pounds of lead from my setup. Although I am still in the early runs since making the change, I am now able to hold my stops while making my ascents without much problem. I guess I was just so overweighted before that I was building momentum either up or down, making it nearly impossible to stop in one place while ascending at the end of the dive. This was a big issue for me. Finally, some progress! I am now at about 30 hours on my unit. __________________ Howard Packer IANTD CCR Instructor Miami Beach, Florida CCRDiveTraining.com
(Offline)

17th July 2006, 17:50	#77 (permalink)
E-man On the loop! Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Optima Other Rebreather/s: Titan Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Eastern Coast ;) Posts: 212	Re: My Optima's Here!!!!! With the SS backplate I dive with about 4lbs cliped into the handle (in front of the scrubber) and 2 lbs on the weight belt with a 3mm wet suit in salt water. With that setup I feel plenty weighted (can probably take off the 2lbs weight belt) and trim is good.
(Offline)

17th July 2006, 19:19	#78 (permalink)
*ScubaDadMiami* Moderator Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Florida, USA Posts: 2,073	Re: My Optima's Here!!!!! I'm diving dry, with a DUI TLS350, 40 gram Thinsulate underwear (plus some silk weight underwear below). Right now, I am with about 12.5 pounds of lead plus an aluminum backplate. I prefer the aluminum backplate because I have the six pound Optima weight above the tanks, and I put six more just below that on the bolt that I use to connect the the backplate to the unit (but on the inside of the case). I keep the weight up high, which makes the unit trim out well, and this stup allows the advantage of being able to travel with lighter weight gear that only requires adding some lead at my destination. __________________ Howard Packer IANTD CCR Instructor Miami Beach, Florida CCRDiveTraining.com
(Offline)

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