Info on Dragger Ray please?

[Rogbear]

Hi,

Having just been diagnosed with MS and wishing to continue to dive within its restrictions I have been thinking of changing the way I dive completely and hope that the Ray is the way to go.

I am looking at max depth 20m at the highest NITROX mix possible for that depth (38%) as I read the tables.

Can the Ray be set-up to deliver this level of mix please?

Any other info or thoughts from buddies would be very welcome.

Roger

[onthetrain]

sorry know nothin about theray, but a 48% mix at 20M gives you a PP02 of 1.44

[Rogbear]

Originally Posted by onthetrain

sorry know nothin about theray, but a 48% mix at 20M gives you a PP02 of 1.44

Thanks, yes I agree with that the main thing is that I'll be diving on air tables and the NITROX mix will give the extreme safety margin I require. My NITROX qual is to 40% so I'm going to stay within that.

After over 40 years of normal sports diving to 55 meters this is going to take some doing but there's still plenty to see and do in the shallow range and at least I'll be keeping wet.

[Ken]

Originally Posted by Rogbear

Hi,

Having just been diagnosed with MS and wishing to continue to dive within its restrictions I have been thinking of changing the way I dive completely and hope that the Ray is the way to go.

I am looking at max depth 20m at the highest NITROX mix possible for that depth (38%) as I read the tables.

Can the Ray be set-up to deliver this level of mix please?

Any other info or thoughts from buddies would be very welcome.

Roger

I have heard that many consider the Ray a bag of @%t. Having seen one up close I felt that it was an accurate description. Sorry. It's dumpy, swims funny and breathes poorly. That being considered there are other units which fit, swim and breathe better. If weight and functionality are concerns a Sport KISS CCR might be a more capable unit to use? The downside (which I feel are minor) would be additional time to train and added cost. However, the benefits may override the upfront time and money issues.

[Odin]

Why not just get a 10l cylinder - 40% mix.
or...
A Draeger Dolphin.
But are you just adding complications to your diving - when you should be reducing the task loading?

[Freeflow]

Originally Posted by Ken

I have heard that many consider the Ray a bag of @%t. Having seen one up close I felt that it was an accurate description. Sorry. It's dumpy, swims funny and breathes poorly. That being considered there are other units which fit, swim and breathe better. If weight and functionality are concerns a Sport KISS CCR might be a more capable unit to use? The downside (which I feel are minor) would be additional time to train and added cost. However, the benefits may override the upfront time and money issues.

...cos my mate Geoff will have you!

I dive a Dolphin, and it might be more suitable for the original question, the Ray has only 2 jets to choose from to the Dolphins 4 for sorting an ideal gas mix. It is also more difficult to clean and has a far shorter scrubber time.

I dive a Dolph and I find it far less aggro than a CCR and not an awful lot longer than OC to set up. The drawbacks are sterilising the kit after every day or two of diving and the poxy design of cylinder and first stage connector.

To be honest I would look at OC diving unless you are already SCR trained, if you are and can't afford a new Dolph [£2500 ish] then a second hand one is the way to go.

Have a look and ask on

http://www.smartgroups.com/group/group.cfm?GID=257650

and a peek at my Dolphin site:

http://dolphindiaries.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/

If you want a look at the Dolph and we can meet up I'll bring it along, and if you have any questiosn drop me a PM or email.

[NotDeadYet]

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis.

Anyway, on to your questions...

The way SCRs work, the ppO2 of the gas you are breathing is normally lower than what the ppO2 of the gas driving the RB would be were you breathing it on normal OC equipment. While EAN48 at 20m would indeed give you 1.44bar if you were breathing it through a regulator, in the loop of a SCR it would be lower. It all depends on flow rates and breathing rate but would be in the region of 1.4 or less.

I've used Ray components in my homebuilt rebreathers, like most Draeger parts they are very well made. I've got a Ray scrubber sitting in my garage ready to become my bail out rebreather when I can be bothered. I've used a complete Ray once, can't say it was an especially bad feeling but it wasn't great either.

As someone says above, why not just dive on nitrox on OC kit? Rebreathers, even simple ones, require a lot more preparation and post dive TLC than OC kit does. You have to be fairly certain that your MS is going to leave you in a position to do this. On the other hand I can appreciate you are also looking for something to keep up your interest if your diving is being limited. Bear in mind not cleaning your regs properly for a few dives is unlikely to do you any harm, this is not the case with a rebreather. Similarly, you can't afford to cut any corners in your prep as you can with a normal set up. You pretty much need to get it right each time.

RB diving is brilliant and definitely the way forward! I'd suggest paying a little more and look at the Dolphin. There were a couple on e-bay the other day.

[narked at 90]

I'd go with not dead yet and David the ray is no good as a standard unit, The dolphin would be a more versatile unit......but think why you want to go rebreather? for this diving
i think Stuart is right it will give you a new kick in your diving, all new skills to learn and the like, b ut don't bother with the ray unless you want to convert it to CCR.
kindest regards john routley
www.narkedat90.co.uk

Originally Posted by NotDeadYet

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis.

Anyway, on to your questions...

The way SCRs work, the ppO2 of the gas you are breathing is normally lower than what the ppO2 of the gas driving the RB would be were you breathing it on normal OC equipment. While EAN48 at 20m would indeed give you 1.44bar if you were breathing it through a regulator, in the loop of a SCR it would be lower. It all depends on flow rates and breathing rate but would be in the region of 1.4 or less.

I've used Ray components in my homebuilt rebreathers, like most Draeger parts they are very well made. I've got a Ray scrubber sitting in my garage ready to become my bail out rebreather when I can be bothered. I've used a complete Ray once, can't say it was an especially bad feeling but it wasn't great either.

As someone says above, why not just dive on nitrox on OC kit? Rebreathers, even simple ones, require a lot more preparation and post dive TLC than OC kit does. You have to be fairly certain that your MS is going to leave you in a position to do this. On the other hand I can appreciate you are also looking for something to keep up your interest if your diving is being limited. Bear in mind not cleaning your regs properly for a few dives is unlikely to do you any harm, this is not the case with a rebreather. Similarly, you can't afford to cut any corners in your prep as you can with a normal set up. You pretty much need to get it right each time.

RB diving is brilliant and definitely the way forward! I'd suggest paying a little more and look at the Dolphin. There were a couple on e-bay the other day.

[Ken]

Originally Posted by Freeflow

...cos my mate Geoff will have you!


If you want a look at the Dolph and we can meet up I'll bring it along, and if you have any questiosn drop me a PM or email.

How big is Geoff? If he dives a Ray...he must be a little fellow.

Just teasing and very afraid of the Glasgow Kiss!

[Freeflow]

Originally Posted by Ken

How big is Geoff? If he dives a Ray...he must be a little fellow.

Just teasing and very afraid of the Glasgow Kiss!

Geoff is about 5'10, why should he be small of he dives a Ray? I haven't tried it out [to quote Geoff: 'why do you need to clean the couterlungs?']

And I'm half Glaswegian, so now you have upset me may I enquire if your mother is proficient in the art of needlework??

Well stitch that Jimmy