Dr. Lecter
Contributor
All I know is that if I have to listen to one of these things while diving, AGE from an unintended, uncontrolled ascent will be the last of that diver's worries.
Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
All I know is that if I have to listen to one of these things while diving, AGE from an unintended, uncontrolled ascent will be the last of that diver's worries.
1. Diver stopped breathing for 30 seconds:
a. DiverGuard alerts the diver and his buddy for 20 seconds using visual and audible alarms
b. If the diver or his buddy does not press the reset button to cancel the alarm:
- DiverGuard inflates the buoyancy compensator and brings the diver to the surface
2. Diver’s breathing exhibits signs of overexertion (rapid and shallow):
a. DiverGuard alerts the diver and his buddy for 2 minutes, The main purpose of the alarm is to get the diver’s and their buddy’s attention that there is a lapse in normal breathing.
b. If the diver does not press on the reset button to cancel the alarm:
- DiverGuard inflates the buoyancy compensator and brings the diver to the surface
... the real alert period is 20 seconds.
4. There are scenarios that the DiverGuard will not help you like air sharing, but we developed it for the common scenarios.
6. In case that diver has hearing problems - he can still see the visual alert, but I agree that he should consider again if he should dive with the DiverGuard.
7. In case that the diver breathe heavily the DiverGuard will probably not alert because its not like overexertion breathing. BUT even if he will breath heavily and the DiverGuard will start to alert - the diver has 2 MINUTES before the inflation will start
... the "DiverGuard" implements an UNCONTROLLED (HIGHLY) BUOYANT ASCENT, exceeding maximum safe ascent rates, as a response to several emergency scenarios.
Such a response is neither taught, nor recommended, by any scuba training agency or body.
In addition, your proposed device automatically initiates that uncontrolled buoyant ascent without demanding any user input. It removes the decision making process from the diver. It is not their action/input that implements the dangerous ascent - it is your device.
A lack of user input to abort the device in sufficient time does not signify their acceptance to conduct an uncontrolled buoyant ascent, nor to exceed safe ascent speeds.
Your device, hence your company, should thus retain entire liability for any consequences resulting from divers being subject to uncontrolled buoyant ascents which exceed mandated safe ascent rates...and, in doing so , failing to follow any training or direction given by scuba training agencies or bodies.
In short, when the diver faces a time of crisis, elevated stress and high task loading, the device further adds to that crisis by creating the need to prioritize a time-critical response (de-activate auto-inflate) in addition to/in preference to the existing emergency protocols they are already having to implement.
The scenarios listed on your website include: (1) The diver not breathing; and (2) Elevated respiration rates. Neither of these are "common" scenarios.
- No common or reasonable scenarios would dictate a fully-buoyant uncontrolled ascent to the surface.
- No agency or WRSTC approved training approves a fully buoyant uncontrolled ascent as response to any underwater emergency.
- No agency recommends/approves exceeding a safe ascent rate (9-18m/per minute) under any circumstances (including controlled buoyant emergency ascents).
Does that include temporary hearing problems? (bubble noise)
Does that include potential to confuse 'Diverguard' alarm with other alarms (dive computers) that may be functioning in the course of an emergency?
What is your calculation of overexertion breathing? Litre or Bar per minute from tank? Is that depth/ata compensated?
Why would overexertion require response by uncontrolled buoyant ascent? To what industry/agency/body approved/consensus emergency protocol are you referring?
Will your company require purchasers to sign any declaration of understanding and/or liability consent regarding uncontrolled buoyant ascents and exceeding safe ascent speeds at time of purchase and/or prior to use?
Will your company provide further liabilities/declarations with the device for subsequent completion by users other than the initial purchaser?
Will your company be holding liability insurance to defer risk of any legal actions raised by users, or other persons, should the device cause them, or contribute to, injury?
Has your company sought, or received, the approval of any scuba training, governance or research body for the conduct of uncontrolled fully-buoyant ascents and/or the resulting ascent speeds to which the diver will be subjected?
Does your device provide the diver with the option to abort the uncontrolled ascent once it has been initiated?
Does your company provide any user training, or require any such training, prior to the device being used? If so, does is that training approved by any scuba training agency?
Rapid ascent is very recommended in case that the diver isn't breathing and unconscious underwater.
My assumption is still that unconscious diver should be brought to the surface without any input from his side. till today it was just his buddy to do it, but the buddy not always aware to the diver condition.
We did many tests and 20 seconds is sufficient time to abort the device.
The DiverGuard does not replace any standard diving instruction. It is like the airbags in car, it doesn't mean that you can drive in a dangerous way.
In case that the diver is in stress and the DiverGuard alert him, it probably in case that he is in overexertion situation. in this case the diver has 2 minutes to cancel the alarm before surfacing .
when i wrote a common scenario i refer to the situation when the DiverGuard should detect an emergency, not to the situation that it should monitor.
Today any (or almost any) Medical Doctor (and we are working with several) will tell you to surface unconscious diver to the surface immediately and continue the care on surface.
The bubble noise and the bubbles themselves just help to attract the diver.
The DiverGuard sound is very different and much loud than other electronic alarm.
We ask all the users to read the manual before the use. in addition the most important point will be printed on the box.
We cant control who will pass the DiverGuard and to whom... i hope that any user will read the manual. The manual will be soon also in our website.
YES, we do have liability insurance.
We are in contact with several bodies... It will take time till one of them will change their instructions for using DiverGuard.
Pressing the reset button aborting the ascent also after it has been initiated.
We will not provide user training like regulators manufacturers does not provide training.
The bottom line is that it is not different than any BC inflator...
if it malfunction the response should be also like to any inflator's malfunctioning.