Atomic SS1 experience

[davehicks]

I didn't employ any scare tactics or say anything at all about safety. (others did however)

My objection is to an expensive and over complicated LDS upsell with dubious value and long-term inconveniences. Every diver gets to pick and choose their gear configuration which leads to lots of questions, inquiries, and adjustment over time. Hopefully the debate assists in this process.

 

[PDodson]

It's good you have a backup 2nd, but if the Air2 starts to free flow or has some other major failure what will you do then?

• Disconnect it
  • Now you don't have a BC inflator
• Replace with a backup generic inflator
  • Can't connect it to the special high flow LP inflator hose
  • Do you have a standard BC LP inflator hose?
  • The BC dump hose itself won't fit a standard inflator
  • Do you have a spare BC?

Depends, I do know how to adjust it so that would be the first try. But if it was a "major failure" are we talking pre-dive or during?

Pre-dive, I'd swap to my normal inflator that the BC came with and the standard LP hose. The standard inflator and Air2 both fit on the dump hose. From what I've seen it has been years since they made the BC dump hose attachments different for standard inflators vs octo inflators, that was bad design.

During, I'd disconnect it (I've had to do this on a standard inflator when the BC was filling continually). Then I'd just manually inflate when needed (typically just the end of the dive). Sure, you lose the back up second stage at that point if it's something where you couldn't just reconnect it, but if I have any major failure underwater I'm probably headed to the surface anyways.

But I will consider your thoughts as I might be able to convince my wife I need a 2nd BC now and it's about time I start dabbling in a BPW setup.