Discuss: gas analyzer before second Shearwater?

[Marie13]

You're lucky DRIS is your shop. One of the easiest online shops I've ever had to deal with and where I got my analyzer.
I'm a big fan of the blender package one. It comes in a box, but the biggest pro is the DIN flow limiter. It's exceptionally high quality. I'm still trying to figure out what's different about the solo other than the plastic vs aluminum body.
BTW, Divesoft is 10 mins from my house and are exceptionally nice with exceptional service. Very similar to DRIS in that regard. Just their customer service alone should put them at anyone's top choice for analyzer

DRIS has a Solo on display and I looked it at yesterday. I realize how spoiled I am with regards to my shop.

 

[W W Meixner]

If you're not filling your own tanks what's the point? My shop has two AI analyzers. I can't see a practical reason to buy one when you should be analyzing and marking your tanks at the shop. If you don't trust your shop's anaylizer, you might be better off finding a different shop, because what else are they neglecting at the fill station?

C...

Point taken...having said that...some dive destination shops are mobbed...especially on weekends...it could be a long wait in the queue waiting your turn for the shop analyzer...

My dive destination of choice does all their filling at night after the shop has closed...there may be 50 divers at the shop when the doors open on Saturday morning...all wanting their cylinders...and all needing to analyze their mix...

I have an A-II Palm...excellent/inexpensive investment...and great time saver...

And...why two computers of the same make/model...two potential inherent flaws...two computers down instead of one...

W.W...

 

[PfcAJ]

C...

Point taken...having said that...some dive destination shops are mobbed...especially on weekends...it could be a long wait in the queue waiting your turn for the shop analyzer...

My dive destination of choice does all their filling at night after the shop has closed...there may be 50 divers at the shop when the doors open on Saturday morning...all wanting their cylinders...and all needing to analyze their mix...

I have an A-II Palm...excellent/inexpensive investment...and great time saver...

And...why two computers of the same make/model...two potential inherent flaws...two computers down instead of one...

W.W...

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Ellipses | The Punctuation Guide

 

[Wookie]

Ellipses | The Punctuation Guide

I am at risk of overusing them as my thoughts trail off...

 

[ScubaAl]

And...why two computers of the same make/model...two potential inherent flaws...two computers down instead of one...

Two is one, one is none.

 

[Jack Hammer]

. I'm still trying to figure out what's different about the solo other than the plastic vs aluminum body.

I just asked them about the difference at the Midwest conference. Basically the Solo doesn't have the advanced features like a voltmeter for checking cells, etc. It just analyzes the mix.

 

[KenGordon]

But you have lost scope of the question. We have a person who is JUST STARTING in the tech world. Not someone who has more gear than some dive shops. We are dealing with someone taking AN/DP and will be on there first set of doubles. Not someone who looses track of how many sets of couples they have. For you, yes I would expect you to have your own analyzer. But for someone who is getting there first set of doubles? And back to the other thing I keep harping on, what analyzer? A basic O2 meter doesn't compare in cost to a trimix analyzer. The question was an analyzer or a Shearwater. Being that a trimix analyzer and a Shearwater are comparable in price that is where I am setting the question at.

SO without getting into what everyone owns, go back and answer the question for the entry level tech diver who is just starting this. Basic entry level here. Not filling there own tanks at home, not pulling out a whip and transfilling on a boat (yet). Good chance the class will be just air and a rich Nitrox stage. And hopefully there will be several dives in this configuration just getting settled in. We all know the eventual answer will be both, and a lot more gear. But properly scale this to what someone taking the class can use right now.

Ask the instructor is still the best answer. Local conditions vary, maybe an analyzer really is needed as there isn't one around that can be trusted or is reasonably accessible. Maybe the instructor like to see a pair of matching computers as a better redundancy.

Remember back a few years to my AM/DP class, and thinking of my local options, I would have picked a second Shearwater. But that was my situation.

She already has a pile of cylinders.

I can also tell you about the club kit which may or may not have had labels removed or been re-analysed when used 32% is topped up with air. In that case the shop might not have an analyser, you might not be present at the fill.

Actually, that is a great example. We regularly dive in Pembrokeshire over a bank holiday weekend. The diving is usually quite shallow and it is a good opportunity to get new divers some experience. The skipper organises the fills. At the end of the day we put cylinders on a big trailer and they turn up magically filled the next day. Sometimes he can do Nitrox, sometimes not. Part of the training for Sports Diver is a nitrox dive, so taking along some cylinders of Nitrox is a good plan. Once those are used they will get an air top, overnight at the hands of the skipper. Analysing that resulting mix is best practice.

It did once happen that I was given a dil cylinder full of oxygen by this process. Fortunately I analysed it before getting on the boat and so had a chance to sort it out.

Analysers are not expensive, you don’t need to be a ‘tech’ diver to think of owning one any more than you need to be a ‘tech’ diver to plan your gas consumption.

If is important to be sure what you are breathing is what you think it is.

Gas logistic errors happen all the time. People really do die from not know8ng the mix in a cylinder.

Primary computer failure fatalities? Not so many.

Best way to spend money, 1/4 the cost on the more likely issue, or the whole cost on the unlikely issue? Hmmm tricky...

 

[Marie13]

Your not the average entry level tech student.

Haha.

 

[rddvet]

I just asked them about the difference at the Midwest conference. Basically the Solo doesn't have the advanced features like a voltmeter for checking cells, etc. It just analyzes the mix.

Thanks. I do t use any of those features anyway. But love the flow limiter in the gas blender package.

 

[tomfcrist]

The answer to me is easy... analyzer first. Honestly, I would suggest an analyzer before buying the first computer.

Dont get me wrong, computers are cool and make life a little easier, but they aren’t nessecary to begin with. You can do a sh1tload of deco diving on a bottom timer and some wet notes. I get a kick out of folks that think they “need” a backup computer. Unless they are exploring Twin Dees, I contend that they don’t need a computer at all. Save that money and spend it on actually diving. If you find a point where you have $1000 laying around that you can afford to set on fire...then buy yourself a computer...or 2.