Click here to go

Back to dive reports

Dive Report: 16/04/98

Dee Why Ferry - off Long Reef, Sydney and Buddy Inspiration.


20 mins at 48m and 45min run time using Heliox and setpoint of 1. Diver: Scott Leimroth.

Dived my Topgun on the Dee Why ferry his morning. First dive in a 6 weeks, due to weather and commitments, but the breather worked perfectly. I'm getting much more relaxed with it now, maybe entering the confidence danger zone that Rich says can happen (was it 20 - 40 hrs?). I still can't get used to how clear headed the heliox makes you. I'll probably pass out from narcosis if I ever have to experience it again ;) A great dive with lots of fish and penetration in the wreck.

After the dive I tried out one of the two Inspirations that have arrived in this country, the only two yet. The Inspiration was very comfortable to wear. It held the setpoint at .7 well but the PO2 spiked after each add, probably because of the placement of the addition to the sensors. I turned the O2 off and breathed it down to .4 and the warning displayed but I couldn't hear any alarm. It did go off after the dive when I removed the scrubber lid. Maybe i'm just going deaf from too much loud music ;)

The breathing bags on it were large and for my lung volume were about three times too big. They would be good for extra bouyancy. The dump valve was not adequate but then again I am used to the intuitive advantage of dumping through the nose. Martin Parker has since informed me it's not intended to dump automatically during the ascent and it only dumps on the exhale - unless you're running the c/lungs too full. The unit does breathe slightly better than my homebuilt and I think this is due to my breathing bag material being slightly stiffer.

A very neat, easy to dive experience with the solenoid. I still had to check my PO2 regularly but didnt have to manually add anything. If anything, there would be a temptation to become complacent in checking your guages, as everytime you look they are where they are supposed to be.

I found the unit very easy to dive and wonder about unit specific courses. Perhaps a generic course with specialty in the unit you own, or are presently diving, would be good enough for all CCRs. After all, how different can they be? Of course everyone wanting to dive a CIS Lunar would have to do a PIN number specialty course just to turn the unit on ;)

Scott

Ask the A.A.R.G.