Gas limitations

[Lanny]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Mark Chase @ Sep. 02 2003,17:29)]

Hi Mark,

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]Oh no not the 'I am perfict and never make a mistake aproach to diving '

Sorry, I am not perfict and do make mistakes.

I am definitely not perfect (as Tibbs and RobK will attest to!) and am preparing for a humbling experience on DIR(F) in a couple of weeks.  Diving with some seriously good people this year has really taught me what I don't know and I consider myself a complete dive pygmy at present! However, I do strongly believe that monitoring your SPG is a basic and fundamental skill that it is critical to staying alive underwater.  I stand by my view that if you can't carry out a simple task like monitoring your gas you should not be technical diving.

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]
I dont dive wreck dives on rule of thirds and neither do any of the other divers in my group. Bottom mix is generaly used up on the bottom. Redundancy is usualy carried in additional deco gas and or travel gas and drop tanks.

Granted, but surely you do not suck your backgas completely dry?  Leaving an adequate reserve to get you to your first switch depth, even if you do lose half of your gas would seem to be a reasonable course of action, accepting that you will bust your deep stops and extend your shallow ones as I mentioned before.

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]
Like I said if you are worried about it side sling it with the other stage bottles. I have never had a problem with it so i prefer to have it out of the way where it can not be confused with a stage.

I am not worried about it as I don't carry it, relying on an adequate reserve of backgas.

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]
If my buddy on the day it hits the fan turns out to be profesionisum its self I will be plesently surprised.

I love diving and dive with all sorts of people from many different backgrounds, particularly on military sports diving expeditions like Bounty Bay this year.

However, if I am diving mix or staged deco, then I will only dive with people I trust completely and have the same outlook and attitude to me.  I am not in the slightest bit surprised when my buddy has a disciplined and professional approach as that is how it should be for the more serious stuff.

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]If he /she turns out to be a jibbering wreck I will be alive to tell the tail.

If my buddy is a jibbering wreck, I thumb the dive on the boat.


Incidentally, has anyone ever dived the jibbering wreck - it sounds great?!

[Pierre Farrugia]

<font color='#0000FF'>Hello all,

I dive independents 12's (as I told you before as I am not able to reach valves due to broken shoulder) Till now I am still diving with rule of thirds but many times I see this as a waste of gas. If Sh.t happends than just ascend and start deco. I think that from a 60m, it all depends what's your tavel gas, lets say 40m so you have to travel only 20m to have gas ready. Not to mention buddy's gas sullpy as well.

Regards

Pierre Farrugia

[Mark Chase]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Lanny @ Sep. 03 2003,12:41)]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]I do strongly believe that monitoring your SPG is a basic and fundamental skill that it is critical to staying alive underwater. &nbsp;I stand by my view that if you can't carry out a simple task like monitoring your gas you should not be technical diving.

Its a basic skill yes. BUT time passes quickley on a fantastic dive and gas is used quickley on a fantastic dive. At 40m not checking your gauge for an aditional 5mins is no big deel. At 70 it can be a a major issue. That bit of a-strugle you had finning against the unexpected current as you came over the top of the wreck. You get sorted and catch your breath and then you check your gauge and think OH BUGGER that used a lot of gas. If this hasent hapend to you you havent done much deep stuff ie 60+ ANY incident can swallow 50 bar in a couple of mins no probelm.

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]Surely you do not suck your backgas completely dry? &nbsp;Leaving an adequate reserve to get you to your first switch depth, even if you do lose half of your gas would seem to be a reasonable course of action, accepting that you will bust your deep stops and extend your shallow ones as I mentioned before.

No I will try to leave more than 40 bar in the tin at first gas switch depth but it dosent always happen. I will leave the bottom on 50bar or planned bottom time which ever comes first and do 10 -20 bar on the ascent. If I HAVE to return to the shot I will plan a greater margin for error.

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]However, if I am diving mix or staged deco, then I will only dive with people I trust completely and have the same outlook and attitude to me. &nbsp;I am not in the slightest bit surprised when my buddy has a disciplined and professional approach as that is how it should be for the more serious stuff.

Trust me, you have no idea what someone will do in a life or death situation untill you have actualy seen that person in that situation. If your dive buddy is a fireman, policeman or military man/woman and you have been in the line of fire with that person I grant you may understand his/her true nature. Appart from that your playing Russian Roulett with your life.

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ] If my buddy is a jibbering wreck, I thumb the dive on the boat.

Why? Do they wear name tags? I think it was some body called GI3 who said the worst kind of stroke are the ones that walk the walk, talk the talk but run at the first sign of danger.

Mind you he does talk a load of B#lox

(sorry couldent resist that)

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]Incidentally, has anyone ever dived the jibbering wreck - it sounds great?!

I have dived loads of them. Mind you that was in my deep air days &nbsp;


ATB

Mark Chase