GrumpyOldGuy
Contributor
I too have concerns of rate of accent, however I'd rather be at the surface than on the bottom if my breathing stopped. The reason for my consideration of this device is because I'm a solo diver most of the time. I do have someone on the surface in a boat that could assist me if needed in an emergency. I've been diving for 45 years now with no real eventfull pesonal emergency. However I had a close friend electrocuted while diving a fresh water lake and if he would have had this device we probably could have found him in time to save him. So being a solo diver I will consider this device as a saftey backup just like my Spare Air system. I also believe in giving it the real world test time so any bugs might be corrected. An uncontrolled accent does not make a good day. The companies answer for this scenario is to simply quick release you low pres. BC hose. In a perfect situation this is entirey possible but you need to be quick and not hesitate has you know as you accend your rate will increase fast.
Just my thoughts, so let's give it a chance and see how it performs before condemning in. Progress comes slow but normally it will improve our sport.
I would truely appreciate any objective in use reviews in the future. I understand it will be available in Jan 2013
Cheers
I understand your position and agree, only time spent in the real work environments will tell. I am also a solo diver most of time, sometimes off a dive boat, sometimes with no one on the surface. The concept has appeal. I assume your friend was diving in a marina when he was electrocuted, this is one high risk area that might have a benefit.
There are a couple of alarm bells ringing in their cheesy marketing attempt that triggered some skeptical remarks.
1) The blatant misuse of statistics trying to make a case that since over 1/2 of dive fatalities are drowning, this could prevent them. Drowning is typically the result, not the trigger. A closer analysis still show running out of air is the leading cause and drowning the result. Since this device does nothing when you run out of air, the number of cases it could help is much lower.
2) Reliably automating buoyancy is a tough nut to crack. There is a realistic chance of a false trigger with adverse consequences.
3) BCD's are not life vest, they are not designed to insure your airway is above the water line. So you might ascend after a heart attack, but still drown being face down on the surface.
4) Even if you have someone in a boat above, are they going to be able to assist you fast enough to make a difference? Once you actually stop breathing, the time before significant brain damage is critical and a buddy next to you is going to be faster than waiting for help from a boat.