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You're very correct. I assumed that (like scuba tanks) the pressure written on the cylinder was the working pressure, not test pressure! At 170 bar, it's not really useful for anything except rinsing regulators...

Scaleo-heat is the controller I think you're referring to. It looks like it's out of stock and being replaced with a new version, which is internal to the suit.

They do, but we’ve acquired a lot of extra cylinders, when someone is selling/giving away a machine/plastic bottles, they often seem to want to give away the cylinders as well. We have something like 8 or 9 spare in a cupboard, I doubt my partner would miss one or two. Cheaper than an AL6 anyway!

Due to my partner’s Sodastream habit, I find myself with access to a lot of functionally free, within-hydro Sodastream cylinders. They’re a little longer and thinner than the typical AL6, with a service pressure of 250 bar and an internal volume of 0.6ish litres, giving them ~5 cubic feet of...

I’d be interested in other people’s opinion, but I wonder if it could have been something obstructing the lever, which was knocked loose by turning the Venturi knob. Even a piece of debris in the housing? In theory, high cracking pressure + low gas flow would point towards a problem with the...

Here’s a diagnostic question: was it a lot of effort to get any gas to come out? Or was it easy to start the flow of gas, but the volume was not sufficient?

Unscrew the reg from the end of the Airbuddy hose. Screw this into the end. Screw this into that. Attach a regulator and an inflator hose to the Y block. Attach the Airbuddy reg to the end hose, and the inflator hose to your BC. Try not to die! Again, for the record, I think freediving would be...

Yeah, that’s my understanding. Seems like a neat idea, and would have a lot of benefits of putting the counterlungs and ADV right next to each other. Actuating the switch to go between OC and CC might be a little difficult in backmount I’m guessing? But seems (to my inexperienced eyes) to be a...

FWIW, I find that freediving in my freediving suit ($400) is warmer than scuba diving in my drysuit + undersuit ($5k+) in 5C water. For what you’re describing, I think freediving is legitimately the answer. With a tiny bit of training, you’ll be able to spend 2+ minutes at 15+ meters - and in...

With all respect…it’s 2024, there are much better options available than Hughes, or any other geostationary satellite provider. Quite literally any other option (Starlink included) will be significantly better. Verizon and T-Mobile both sell home internet that’s delivered by their wireless...

Fiber is the easiest answer for connecting two separate buildings, especially in a part of the world where lightning is a little more common. Plus, it’s extremely future proof - if you’re burying something in the ground, spend a tiny bit more on the equipment to ensure you won’t have to replace...

This patent filing might shine more light on the rebreather design - assuming that the patent describes the rebreather (and the timeline/concept art do align) it seems like it's basically a double-hose reg directly connected to a counterlung/scrubber, with an optional open-circuit mode. The...

The Halo AR is definitely warmer and thicker than the Arctic. Totally subjectively, I think the Halo AR is about the same bulk as a Santi Bz200, with the insulation of a BZ400 (at least a somewhat well-used BZ400). The Arctic is basically just a very thick fleece.

I am, I wear a Lightmonkey heated shirt or a Venture Heat heated vest underneath for diving around Vancouver Island in the winter (water gets down to ~4C/39F normally). I really like it as an undersuit, easier to vent/control gas than something like a BZ400, but about the same amount of warmth.

I have had my Argonaut 2.0 for a year and a half (~150 dives) now, still really like it. No problems whatsoever with leaks, and the mobility is great. Locally, we’re almost all shore diving with rocky entrances, and a lot of people with Santi suits need to replace the boots frequently. Fourth...

In fairness, you don't have to replace the entire valve, just the E/O cord, which can be had for something like $40-50. The replacement process is a bit of a PITA though and you need some basic soldering skills. I agree with the sentiment however, which is that the E/O cord shouldn't be an...

I have a Santi Thermovalve that lasted me -60 dives before the E/O cord gave up. Even before the connector died completely, I found the connectivity to be somewhat intermittent (would turn off and on during a dive). This is despite me treating it as well as I possibly could - never wet...

I'm assuming it sounds better in Italian?

Suex has been drip-dripping information about its updated XJ/XK line since DEMA, but there's now a catalogue with specs for the new scooters (no prices yet though). There's a bunch of design changes (new tow cord attachment, new nosecone) and a focus on the navigation system, but the main...