Blacktip is Cave Ready.

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

It took me about 10 cave dives to finally get this Blacktip Tec DPV cave ready in terms of rigging, trim and buoyancy.

• Nose Cone weighs 6.22 pounds
• Tube without batteries weighs 6.8 pounds
• Tube with batteries weighs 11 pounds
• Tail section weighs 11.5 pounds
• Total Weight is 28.72 pounds.

In the cave, in fresh water the DPV is trimmed slightly nose down and slightly negatively buoyant.

The rigging was changed as seen in the below images:

Blacktip Review

 

[Whitrzac]

What depth? They change buoyancy depending on depth

 

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

I notice no significant buoyancy change between the surface and 100 ffw.

 

[L13]

What is the purpose off the blue straps/connecting strap with rings? I haven't seen that tow line configuration before, what are the advantages/disadvantages?

 

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

What is the purpose off the blue straps/connecting strap with rings? I haven't seen that tow line configuration before, what are the advantages/disadvantages?

The rigging on the tube is for swimming with the scooter through restrictions when you cannot be on the trigger giving you something to hold on to. Ergonomically much better than the stock strap which is 180 degrees off.

The tow strap blue line is knotted to allow different tow line lengths by simply moving the double ender to a different knot. The scooter can be tied to your harness waist belt D-Ring with this same strap while the nose cone strap can be clipped to a shoulder D-Ring on the harness. Or Vice-Versa if you want to better protect the shroud while carrying the scooter through longer restrictions or anytime for a longer swim if you don't want to tie it to your butt D-Ring and bang around the cave damaging the cave and the scooter.

The stock strap just did not work well for me or my DPV cave students.

 

[happy-diver]

I thought you said jock strap ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

Magnificent!

I am saying the job on the scooter is, Magnificent!

 

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

UPDATE: I have been using this DPV for cave diving for over a year now. Since I live less than 15 minutes away from Ginnie Springs, I dive it a lot.

Rode 2400 feet into a high flow cave yesterday (Devils' Eye). Mostly was on setting four and five. Rode out on setting three, two or one. Mostly two. The battery icon after surfacing was at "Medium".​

 

[34109411]

so after all would you recommend to buy blacktip dpv ? Is it a go or not ?

seeking advice (read some horrible stories about BT)

Le me know

 

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

so after all would you recommend to buy blacktip dpv ?

It is not a top-of-the-line cave dpv. I would not suggest it as a primary cave dpv. It does not have the run-time AND reserve power for doing long cave runs.

If you are happy making 2000-2500 cave penetrations as a max, then it will do.

 

[34109411]

It is not a top-of-the-line cave dpv. I would not suggest it as a primary cave dpv. It does not have the run-time AND reserve power for doing long cave runs.

If you are happy making 2000-2500 cave penetrations as a max, then it will do.

i will only use it in open water no cave in a 2000 miles radius. No worries.