Atomic SS1 experience

[johndiver999]

Funny you should ask this now. I live on the Big Island of Hawai’i and use the Atomic SS1. I rescued another diver this week on a dive when her octo hose failed. The regulator blew off and the hose drained her tank.

I shared air with her, gave her my primary and I used the SS1. It is a bit awkward because my primary air hose is short - and her octo hose was shooting air directly into my face.

I needed to get the air out of my wing in order to achieve a slow ascent. That entailed taking the SS1 out of my mouth (admittedly it took me a second to realize my deflater was in my mouth!). When I went to breath again I sucked in water. I didn't realize that if the SS1 is being used as an air source, and is removed from your mouth, it must be purged before you start breathing again.

I called Atomic Aquatics and told them what happened with sucking in water and the tech confirmed needing to purge the regulator to get the water out. Something to remember during an emergency/rescue.

This is really a surprising situation. EVERY conscientious and competent diver who uses an Air2/SS1 etc. has practiced the use of it many, many times.

It is so easy to practice, just take the primary out and use the device during a normal ascent. For someone to say they didnt know how to use it and furthermore, decided to call the manufacturer to let them know that when a second stage is removed from the mouth, it is necessary to clear the water from it before inhaling, is demonstrating a critical deficit in understanding of the most rudimentary skills. I bet they were talking about that phone call for weeks at the water cooler.

If someone is going to use that type of device, it is critical that they understand how it works and also to PRACTICE using it.

I've used those types of inflators for years and they seem to work well for me, although I think I may have used one only a few times during actual emergency sharing air ascents. To be honest, I also (less frequently use a normal BC inflator), so I don't have a clear recollection of what I used to ascend in those situations - probably because it wasn't a big deal regardless of what regulator I used for the ascent.

Obviously it is more convenient to have a separate shoulder pull dump on the BC when an Air2 is used, but removing the regulator from your mouth to dump air from the BC during an ascent is not a big deal.

 

[davehicks]

This is really a surprising situation. EVERY conscientious and competent diver who uses an Air2/SS1 etc. has practiced the use of it many, many times.

Ha!! This is quite a statement. Emphasis on the EVERY that excludes 95% of divers using an Air2/SS1. To rephrase taking into account the real world we live in:

"5% of divers who use an Air2/SS1 etc. have practiced the use of it many, many times."

 

[johndiver999]

Ha!! This is quite a statement. Emphasis on the EVERY that excludes 95% of divers using an Air2/SS1. To rephrase taking into account the real world we live in:

"5% of divers who use an Air2/SS1 etc. have practiced the use of it many, many times."

Perhaps, it actually scares me when I see (or hear) about people using these devices and being completely unaware of how they work.

I don't get to dive with many tourists or typical recreational divers, so it would be hard for me to estimate what the percentages are.

Anyone who uses an Air2 and does not explicitly warn their prospective buddy (before the dive) that the presence of the air2 dictates "primary donate" probably has never really used or practiced use of the device.

When diving with a new buddy, I am all too often floored by their reaction, when I tell them about primary donate. They seem to be surprised, amused and/or dismissive of my "public service message", when in fact they should expect it and hopefully be appreciative of my concern for safety.

And some of them (the ones who actually have an air2) look at me very strangely when I tell them on the boat that I plan on taking the regulator from THEIR mouth (if I need air) and they are gonna haveto suck on THAT thing, hanging from their BC.

 

[Scared Silly]

Funny you should ask this now. I live on the Big Island of Hawai’i and use the Atomic SS1. I rescued another diver this week on a dive when her octo hose failed. The regulator blew off and the hose drained her tank.

I shared air with her, gave her my primary and I used the SS1. It is a bit awkward because my primary air hose is short - and her octo hose was shooting air directly into my face.

I needed to get the air out of my wing in order to achieve a slow ascent. That entailed taking the SS1 out of my mouth (admittedly it took me a second to realize my deflater was in my mouth!). When I went to breath again I sucked in water. I didn't realize that if the SS1 is being used as an air source, and is removed from your mouth, it must be purged before you start breathing again.

I called Atomic Aquatics and told them what happened with sucking in water and the tech confirmed needing to purge the regulator to get the water out. Something to remember during an emergency/rescue.

I am quoting the above but not some of the followup comments.

When I was playing PADI DM I had an Air2. However, I still had to have an "octo" because that is what the standards required. I practiced using both. I no longer have the Air2.

As for practicing with a octo/inflator. Yes one should practice and one should realize that when putting any regulator in one's mouth while under water it will require to be purged before breathing in.

However, when Davey Jones comes a calling it is typically a series of events that makes for an incident. So while the OP didn't realize that if the SS1 is being used as an air source, and is removed from your mouth, it must be purged before you start breathing again. I can see a situation where one might forget to purge after dumping air from the their BCD.

While Davy Jones may rarely comes a calling in my experience one wants a backup that is every bit as good as their primary. For over a decade I have given the following analogy

Octo/inflator == run flat tire
cheap octo == mini spare tire
std primary reg == full spare tire

I can be 30-40 miles in on dirt roads with another 30-40 before one finds a gas station. I'll take a full spare tire.

I can be 30-40 meters under the water with another 30-40 meters before one finds the boat. I'll take a full backup regulator.

I will also note I do a five tire rotation. That way all of my tires get used. Which is not unlike using my backup as my primary. Nothing worse than needing a spare and finding that it does not work.

 

[lexvil]

Know your equipment and how to use it…

 

[johndiver999]

Know your equipment and how to use it…

Blasphemy!

 

[Scared Silly]

Know your equipment and how to use it…

and know its limitations

 

[PDodson]

I have a backup 2nd if I want to take it, but most of my diving I just use an Air2. Air2s and SS1s can be tuned to breathe as good as most "octos". I haven't had to use it in an actual OOA emergency, but it has been fine during any training. Additionally, when I dive I make sure to specifically cover that setup during pre-dive briefings and let other divers know if I need to donate they'll get my primary. As long as people know what to expect I don't think they are as bad as the rep they tend to get.

 

[davehicks]

I have a backup 2nd if I want to take it, but most of my diving I just use an Air2. Air2s and SS1s can be tuned to breathe as good as most "octos". I haven't had to use it in an actual OOA emergency, but it has been fine during any training. Additionally, when I dive I make sure to specifically cover that setup during pre-dive briefings and let other divers know if I need to donate they'll get my primary. As long as people know what to expect I don't think they are as bad as the rep they tend to get.

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?

 

[Streydog]

I tried an SS1. What I didn't like about it is that its bigger than a normal inflator and since the hose has to be longer. It didn't seem very streamlined. What I have ended up doing is my secondary on a necklace and my primary on a 40" with an elbow routed under my right arm. It takes a little getting used to, especially remembering to take the necklace off before your remove your BC. I have sold 3 SS1s, you don't get much for them used.