Dolphin BCD Nightmare...

blackvet · 2nd December 2005, 16:29

Hello all!

After diving the dolphin about a dozen times I came to the conclusion that the BCD that Drager designed really had much to desired. After a little reading I desided to reconfigure the unit to my OMS BC. I got an stainless adapter from a guy in Union NJ that makes the drager shell adaptable to any back-plate. It seemed OK in theory and the piece was built well but it function it failed. It placed the shell on the middle of my back thus making the breathing hose chokingly tight around my neck! (I had it adjusted in the highest holes possible)

I found a site where you use a DR Transpak II and DR Trek Wings (45) and it looks like an easy conversion. What do you guys think? Will I run into the same problem?

Thanks...........safe diving!!

caver95 · 2nd December 2005, 16:33

check out www.tecme.de he sells some elbows for the breathing hoses. it might help

**wedivebc** · 2nd December 2005, 18:40

Quote: (Originally Posted by blackvet)

Hello all!

After diving the dolphin about a dozen times I came to the conclusion that the BCD that Drager designed really had much to desired. After a little reading I desided to reconfigure the unit to my OMS BC. I got an stainless adapter from a guy in Union NJ that makes the drager shell adaptable to any back-plate. It seemed OK in theory and the piece was built well but it function it failed. It placed the shell on the middle of my back thus making the breathing hose chokingly tight around my neck! (I had it adjusted in the highest holes possible)

I found a site where you use a DR Transpak II and DR Trek Wings (45) and it looks like an easy conversion. What do you guys think? Will I run into the same problem?

Thanks...........safe diving!!

Maybe a link to the site might be helpful

kiam · 3rd December 2005, 13:39

Quote: (Originally Posted by blackvet)

After diving the dolphin about a dozen times I came to the conclusion that the BCD that Drager designed really had much to desired.......... I got an stainless adapter from a guy in Union NJ that makes the drager shell adaptable to any back-plate. It seemed OK in theory and the piece was built well but it function it failed. It placed the shell on the middle of my back thus making the breathing hose chokingly tight around my neck!........

I had the same issue.....went to, I think, the same guy in Union and like you was impressed with the build quality! I found that getting the adapter to work was useless in SCR mode on the Dolphin. There doesn't sem to be enough room for the bags to inflate fully, so it causes the demand valve to kick in a lot. Maybe if you were converting the Dolphin to CCR, the adapter would work. Want my opinion, stop trying to modify the Dolphin to be comfortable, sell it, buy a Sport Kiss from Jetsam, http://www.jetsam.ca/ and enjoy the hell out of the underwater realm. If you decide to do what I'm suggesting, I know a couple of excellent instructors in NJ.

2nd December 2005, 16:29	#1 (permalink)
blackvet New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Thorofare, NJ Posts: 41	Dolphin BCD Nightmare... Hello all! After diving the dolphin about a dozen times I came to the conclusion that the BCD that Drager designed really had much to desired. After a little reading I desided to reconfigure the unit to my OMS BC. I got an stainless adapter from a guy in Union NJ that makes the drager shell adaptable to any back-plate. It seemed OK in theory and the piece was built well but it function it failed. It placed the shell on the middle of my back thus making the breathing hose chokingly tight around my neck! (I had it adjusted in the highest holes possible) I found a site where you use a DR Transpak II and DR Trek Wings (45) and it looks like an easy conversion. What do you guys think? Will I run into the same problem? Thanks...........safe diving!!
(Offline)

2nd December 2005, 16:33	#2 (permalink)
caver95 Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Other Rebreather/s: Megalodon Not Bought Yet Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: US Posts: 170	Re: Dolphin BCD Nightmare... check out www.tecme.de he sells some elbows for the breathing hoses. it might help
(Offline)

2nd December 2005, 18:40	#3 (permalink)
wedivebc FIGJAM Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Inspiration Classic Sport Kiss Other CCR Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Vancouver Island BC Canada Posts: 1,394	Re: Dolphin BCD Nightmare... Quote: (Originally Posted by blackvet) Hello all! After diving the dolphin about a dozen times I came to the conclusion that the BCD that Drager designed really had much to desired. After a little reading I desided to reconfigure the unit to my OMS BC. I got an stainless adapter from a guy in Union NJ that makes the drager shell adaptable to any back-plate. It seemed OK in theory and the piece was built well but it function it failed. It placed the shell on the middle of my back thus making the breathing hose chokingly tight around my neck! (I had it adjusted in the highest holes possible) I found a site where you use a DR Transpak II and DR Trek Wings (45) and it looks like an easy conversion. What do you guys think? Will I run into the same problem? Thanks...........safe diving!! Maybe a link to the site might be helpful __________________ Cheers, Dave.... Man is the only animal burdened with the knowledge he will eventually die
(Online)

3rd December 2005, 13:39	#4 (permalink)
kiam student diver Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 91	Re: Dolphin BCD Nightmare... Quote: (Originally Posted by blackvet) After diving the dolphin about a dozen times I came to the conclusion that the BCD that Drager designed really had much to desired.......... I got an stainless adapter from a guy in Union NJ that makes the drager shell adaptable to any back-plate. It seemed OK in theory and the piece was built well but it function it failed. It placed the shell on the middle of my back thus making the breathing hose chokingly tight around my neck!........ I had the same issue.....went to, I think, the same guy in Union and like you was impressed with the build quality! I found that getting the adapter to work was useless in SCR mode on the Dolphin. There doesn't sem to be enough room for the bags to inflate fully, so it causes the demand valve to kick in a lot. Maybe if you were converting the Dolphin to CCR, the adapter would work. Want my opinion, stop trying to modify the Dolphin to be comfortable, sell it, buy a Sport Kiss from Jetsam, http://www.jetsam.ca/ and enjoy the hell out of the underwater realm. If you decide to do what I'm suggesting, I know a couple of excellent instructors in NJ. Last edited by kiam : 3rd December 2005 at 13:43.
(Offline)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode