Some daft Dive gear questions

[Chris W]

Hi,

In the New Year I'm going to get my own set of kit!!! I'm diving enough to warrant it now and I want to do more!!

I've got a couple of daft questions I need a little help with .........


1. I'm planning doing my Nitrox in the future........ from what I understand I will need O2 clean regs and cylinder - can I get these O2 cleaned then use them with air as well?


2. The Drysuit I learned in and hire has a cuff dump...... should I get a shoulder dump or does it really matter? I don't really know the difference TBH........


As I said daft questions but any help appreciated!!!

[sean0801]

1. if you get clean air from a double filtered compressor

2. why not get both?

[Chris W]

Hi Sean,

Thanks for replying.

Are double filtered compressors common (don't know anything about compressors)?

Get both? what advantages would that have?

[recurve]

Anywhere that can supply Nitrox should be able to supply you with double filtered, or 'clean' air. Theoretically, if you run any non-clean air through O2 clean components they lose their O2 clean status. I would hazard a guess that this is not always strictly adhered to in practice.

HTH, Phil

[big_si]

Originally Posted by Chris W

Hi Sean,

Thanks for replying.

Are double filtered compressors common (don't know anything about compressors)?

Get both? what advantages would that have?

Hi Chris,

Anywhere that sells Nitrox will sell "clean air" which will be the double filtered stuff. Some places you have to specify that you want "clean air" rather than just normal air.

Can't really comment on the cuff Vs shoulder dump one though. I've only ever used a shoulder dump. Find it very easy to just be finning along, tilt my body so my left shoulder becomes highest point and air bubbles out. Very minimal movement required, piece of cake

HTH

Si

[Tony Jay]

Originally Posted by Chris W

Hi,


1. I'm planning doing my Nitrox in the future........ from what I understand I will need O2 clean regs and cylinder - can I get these O2 cleaned then use them with air as well?


2. The Drysuit I learned in and hire has a cuff dump...... should I get a shoulder dump or does it really matter? I don't really know the difference TBH........

1. We normally only clean kit which is exposed to >40% Nitrox (but always check with manufacturers recommendation as titanium is not o2 friendly etc)

To use must be in service = compatible + clean

Most kit you buy will be compatible

so.
a.Any reg should do, and would not require cleaning
b.Virtually any cylinder can be cleaned (may require a couple of quid of parts the first time if not compatible, but generally all cyclinders are compatible)

So, my advice, if you are not using nitrox now, buy kit that is compatible don't worry about where it is filled. When you come to use nitrox, get the cylinder cleaned and then start worrying about where it get filled !

2. Drysuit. Personal preference really. Cuff dumps used to be fitted to many suits as they were cheap. I've only dived with shoulder dumps which generally look after themselves as they can be set to different pressures where as cuff dumps are more binary.

Tony

[Eoin]

As for the drysuit dumps, I have used both types, but I prefer the shoulder dumps. There's less to do to get rid of the air as I can just raise my shoulder slightly to dump. Down to personal preference really...

[nigelH]

Originally Posted by Chris W

1. I'm planning doing my Nitrox in the future........ from what I understand I will need O2 clean regs and cylinder - can I get these O2 cleaned then use them with air as well?

Get regs that say 40% on them. Actually almost all regs can do 40% straight from the box except the 'Titanium' ones but some manufacturers would prefer to stay out of reach of legal 'land sharks'. The tank must be true pure oxygen service and be kept 'clean' but that's hardly a problem these days as virtually everywhere can pump nitrox.

2. The Drysuit I learned in and hire has a cuff dump...... should I get a shoulder dump or does it really matter? I don't really know the difference TBH........

Go for the auto (shoulder) dump. Within a couple of dives you will discover that auto is auto (well unless you are habitually over weighted).

[Chris W]

Thanks Everyone!!!

That's been really helpful.

I just want to make sure I don't shell out loads of cash on kit which won't meet my needs in 6 months to a year!!

[big_si]

Originally Posted by Chris W

Thanks Everyone!!!

That's been really helpful.

I just want to make sure I don't shell out loads of cash on kit which won't meet my needs in 6 months to a year!!

Welcome to my world... sigh...

Still loved every minute of it though!