[Spike Jackson]

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I currently use a cuff dump on my Otter suit but I'm thinking of changing it for an auto dump.
Any suggestions as to which dump to use?
Is this a DIY job or something best left to the professionals? How much would they charge? Who should I use? I'm based in Portsmouth so not worth driving up to Otter!

 

[MATTBIN]

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Si-Tech or Apex original, the low profile one is 'fragile'. Both are about £45 new and can be fitted by user. Alternatively get a second hand one from E-bay. Si-Tech's are difficult to source, I tried for weeks to get hold of one and all the stockists were unavailable to supply.

As for fitting yourself, others on here have done it, I had mine done professionaly.

HTH
Matt

 

[jasondrake]

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Depends on your local lds. Most folk use the apeks low profile jobs, or a copy. See prvious threads on various pro's and cons of various dumps - needless to say opinions vary but none of them are that bad. As far as fitting it that involves removing the cuff dump and patching the hole. On a menbrane thats easy - I use bicycle repair kit stuff on membranes and glue a circular patch inside and out about a cm proud of the hole. Then you need to cut a hole for the autodump - positioning it is fairly crucial so think about it first and put the suit on with normal undersuit and mark the area with crayon - look at other folks suits for an idea. Then cut the circular hole to match the diameter of the sticky-through bit of your new dump. Need to glue a rubber backing disc around the outside of the hole. Then screw in the dump. It's a bit tricky on neoprene regarding glue and stuff and patching is difficult. All in all, it will probably not be worth the hassle depending on how much a shop will charge to do it.

 

[MATTBIN]

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Sorry Jason cant agree about the Apex low profile (or copy) they're crap, they leak after a short while and break very easily when removed or replaced and they are overpriced rubbish in my opinion.

Matt

 

[Sean]

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Quote[/b] (MATTBIN @ Oct. 29 2003,15:46)]Sorry Jason cant agree about the Apex low profile (or copy) they're crap, they leak after a short while and break very easily when removed or replaced and they are overpriced rubbish in my opinion.

Matt

Been using the Apex  low profile one for a few years now and never had a problem. Never leaked providing there looked after washed out after a days diving cant see a problem.

 

[MATTBIN]

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Sean
as I said 'my opinion' but the one I had on my Oceanic, so it was a copy, dry suit, broke as soon as I tried to remove it to clean it out. Admittedly I didnt push down and twist as per the instructions on the replacement.

Matt

 

[Spike Jackson]

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I was actually just going to leave the cuff dump on - don't see any advantage in removing it?

 

[nickjb]

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I have a cuff AND auto dump.  It gives a couple of dumping options and doesn't cause any problems.

Never had any trouble with my Apeks low profile auto dump (touch wood)

HTH
Nick

 

[Mark Chase]

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I have a cuff dump and an auto dump.

There are two complaints with the Apex Low profile

1: It doesn’t work

2: It leaks

My first one on my old Otter suit didn’t work

My second one on my 03 suit works but leaks. So I have had personal experience of both of the standard reported problems with Apex Low Profile units.

I fitted a Sitech to my Otter, which worked great and didn’t leak. So as a result I am firmly in the Sitech camp

As for cuff dumps they always leek but its nice to have redundancy

ATB

Mark Chase

 

[Lou]

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Just for balance, thus far (about 50 dives) my low profile Apeks doesn't leak, and does work.  However it doesn't work as well as it could.  The dump rate can be a bit slower than I would like.  It is a good job I do slow ascents as I wouldn't like to see it cope with a 10m/min....

 

[Dominic]

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My Apeks started out OK, but on my last dive I was shaking my arm all over the place trying to get the fecking thing to actually dump the air bubble I could feel right under it.

Will be replacing it with a SiTech as soon as I get my lazy arse into gear..

 

[Lou]

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I had a "non-optimal"

ascent in Canada because I couldn't get it to dump.  After some forensic undressing we found that my undersuit had been formced intot he scalloped holes around the inside edge of the valve.  I assume that this was during the descent where, because of the strong current we had to pull ourselves down against, I didn't add air until about 12m.

As we then descended further I had no need to dump until much later in the dive, when I tried to dump to compensate for the lightening tank and couldn't manage it very well.  

Luckily I could ascend up to about 9m using rocks and kelp to keep me down whilst I got as much air out as possible.  I then did as slow an ascent as I could with much flaring of arms and legs etc.

Although it felt fast to me a check on the computer showed that I did manage to take a minute to get to the surface and I had done 3 mins at 9m (thanks to the kelp!) so on this occasion thingsb worked out ok.  I sat quietly on the boat for a while after but no ill effects.  I guess that I was lucky but in cold analysis it was only what we did in OW diving.

The moral of the story though is check your undersuit/dump area if you get a suit squeeze on the way down, to ensure that it isn't blocked.

Lou

 

[Dominic]

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But was that DIR?

I've considered having a second autodump fitted to my right arm, as a redundancy thing for if the left one jams. Haven't bothered yet, but may do if my club starts the deep dives mentioned at the AGM on Tuesday..

 

[MATTBIN]

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Good point DOm, we have redundancy for almost everything, but not for the dump, now there's a thought.
Talking of DIR (not having a go here) but isnt the mantra, if you need it take two, if you dont, leave it on the boat.
What's their take on dumps.

Matt

 

[nickjb]

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As I said earlier, I have two dumps (as I think it is a good idea).  When I've mentioned it before on other forums a few people have said you don't need it as you can open the neck a little or clench your fist to let air out at the wrist.  They didn't change my mind and I didn't change theirs.

Nick

 

[Dominic]

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I know somebody in my club with no dump at all - he uses the clenched-fist method.

Mind you, he's probably been diving longer than I've been alive

 

[Lou]

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I can 100% guarantee that clenching my lady's fist will never let even the tiniest bubble out past my latex seal!

As for pulling the neck I did consider that, but only briefly.  I can't actually get to the edge of the seal with hood in place and kevlar weave fingers on my gloves would make grabbing it very hard.  By the time I had got any air out it would have been too late anyway.

I am considering replacing the dump, but also using a bit of tube bandage or similar to bind down the undersuit beneath the valve.

Lou

 

[John Gulliver]

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People who've had both say SiTech dumps air much faster than Apeks but I wouldn't know, because I've only ever had SiTech. My SiTech dump valve is now on its third drysuit. I've had it many years and done hundreds of dives with it and never had a problem. SiTech for ever!!!

 

[Simon A]

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WHere do you get the SiTech Dumps from?
Everywhere I look seems to be advertising the Apeks one, but I cant find a SiTech one anywhere.

Simon A

----Edit----
oops, found them at Deep Blue Dive. Does anyone know if this is a direct swap for the Apeks or is it different?

 

[John Gulliver]

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Quote[/b] (Simon A @ Oct. 30 2003,13:09)]WHere do you get the SiTech Dumps from?
Everywhere I look seems to be advertising the Apeks one, but I cant find a SiTech one anywhere.

Simon A

----Edit----
oops, found them at Deep Blue Dive. Does anyone know if this is a direct swap for the Apeks or is it different?

The valves are interchangeable.