Review Diving the Avelo System

[teksimple]

I suspect (but don’t know) that it is a marketing of an ecosystem built off two widgets: 1. the buoyancy control technology which is rather complicated as it has batteries and a pump, and the the game changer in my mind: 2. the 100cf 4,350psi tank which is probably the half the weight or less of the equivalent capacity aluminum tank. Then the Avelo dealer (value added reseller) needs to buy or lease the compressor that can actually pump up those tanks to that extraordinary pressure, and then service all that equipment so has to have the Avelo workbench and maintenance equipment. Must have been quite an exclusive preview at DEMA. Correct me if am wrong.

 

[Cthippo]

That may be extraordinary for SCUBA, but the fire service has been running 4500 and 5500 PSI systems for decades. Lots of compressors on the market for these pressures.

 

[Still Kicking]

For shops that don't have a 4500 psi capable compressor, a booster would be a cheaper solution than buying a new compressor.

 

[CT-Rich]

just getting around to this thread. I read some of the more recent comments about down currents and the initial description.

To really be adopted by the dive community, equipment needs to have a killer app. or some significant advantages over existing technology (Nitrox, integrated weights, SPGs, dive computers and LP inflators all had big advantages over what came before). I might be missing something, but I don't really see any major advantages over the existing BCD options. Traditional BCD are stupid simple in concept, which make their operation close to bullet proof at a relatively low price point. LP inflators and dump valves are very reliable, and require no batteries. This system seems to add expense and complexity with minimal benefit.

Salt water and Batteries are a bad combo. I have had computers and lights flood, batteries die mid-dive. So i consider any thing battery powered a failure point and should either have a redundant back -up (like a light) or not be essential for my safe ascent to the surface (like a computer within the NDL). Relying on a battery to control buoyancy seems unnecessary.

From the description, it seems like this equipment only has utility in warm water environs. Cold water divers will have to significantly change their configuration while on vacation with limited advantages. +2 lbs on the surface at the start of dive doesn't do much more than a spritz from the LP hose. Properly weighted, you aren't going to be adding or venting a lot of air on a typical warm water dive, regardless of most depth changes. And you are still essentially diving open circuit.

A rebreather, like the Dive Talk Go, what ever you may think about it, provides much more utility, extended dive time and better no exhaust bubbles for what I would imagine to be a similar price point. Being a CCR, it would also give some of the benefits as far buoyancy and trim are concerned as this system. They both require expense and additional training, but I can see the justification more clearly in a system that does not require the dive shop from investing in a 300 bar compressor. I may be wrong, but this system sounds like a dead end.

 

[lowwall]

just getting around to this thread. I read some of the more recent comments about down currents and the initial description.

To really be adopted by the dive community, equipment needs to have a killer app. or some significant advantages over existing technology (Nitrox, integrated weights, SPGs, dive computers and LP inflators all had big advantages over what came before). I might be missing something, but I don't really see any major advantages over the existing BCD options. Traditional BCD are stupid simple in concept, which make their operation close to bullet proof at a relatively low price point. LP inflators and dump valves are very reliable, and require no batteries. This system seems to add expense and complexity with minimal benefit.

Salt water and Batteries are a bad combo. I have had computers and lights flood, batteries die mid-dive. So i consider any thing battery powered a failure point and should either have a redundant back -up (like a light) or not be essential for my safe ascent to the surface (like a computer within the NDL). Relying on a battery to control buoyancy seems unnecessary.

From the description, it seems like this equipment only has utility in warm water environs. Cold water divers will have to significantly change their configuration while on vacation with limited advantages. +2 lbs on the surface at the start of dive doesn't do much more than a spritz from the LP hose. Properly weighted, you aren't going to be adding or venting a lot of air on a typical warm water dive, regardless of most depth changes. And you are still essentially diving open circuit.

A rebreather, like the Dive Talk Go, what ever you may think about it, provides much more utility, extended dive time and better no exhaust bubbles for what I would imagine to be a similar price point. Being a CCR, it would also give some of the benefits as far buoyancy and trim are concerned as this system. They both require expense and additional training, but I can see the justification more clearly in a system that does not require the dive shop from investing in a 300 bar compressor. I may be wrong, but this system sounds like a dead end.

I agree with all the advice, except I will note that you don't need the battery to ascend even if you could somehow make yourself overweight with this system. To dump the water ballast, you manually open a valve and the gas pressure inside the bladder forces it to expand which pushes the ballast water out of the tank. In general the failure modes are well thought out.

That said, my opinion hasn't changed since we've learned how this system really works. It still appears to me to be a complex and expensive solution to a problem that can be largely resolved through the use of existing alternatives. A minimalist BCD or BP/W in combination with an HP100 tank and proper weighting gives you nearly all of the advantages of this system and none of the drawbacks.

 

[CT-Rich]

I agree with all the advice, except I will note that you don't need the battery to ascend even if you could somehow make yourself overweight with this system. To dump the water ballast, you manually open a valve and the gas pressure inside the bladder forces it to expand which pushes the ballast water out of the tank. In general the failure modes are well thought out.

That said, my opinion hasn't changed since we've learned how this system really works. It still appears to me to be a complex and expensive solution to a problem that can be largely resolved through the use of existing alternatives. A minimalist BCD or BP/W in combination with an HP100 tank and proper weighting gives you nearly all of the advantages of this system and none of the drawbacks.

I saw where you the OP went on an excursion and brought 4 extra battery pack. A bad connection to the battery could result in the loss of the dive, the battery and the unit until it can be serviced/repaired. In water drag while diving in the tropics has not been a issue I have felt strongly about. I wear far less gear in Belize than I do in Rhode Island, so being even more streamlined isn't something I aspire to improve on. Swapping batteries on sandy beach seems like an opportunity to accidentally get sand where it will get up to no good. Good training and end experience will supersede most of the benefits of this set up.

 

[scubadada]

Hi @CT-Rich

I am the OP. I reported my Avelo training and initial dives in the first post of this thread on January 2. I gave follow up in a post on November 17.

I have rented Avelo gear from Dive Friends Bonaire on 3 days for 9 independent dives. Rental gear consists of the Jetpack, 3 Hydrotanks, 2 batteries, weight you need, and 300 bar DIN regulator if you need it. I do not pump the system very much, generally just twice during my dives, and am pretty sure I could do 3 dives off one battery but have not tried it yet. To be sure, I switched the battery out for the 3rd dive each day. The battery exchange is easy, quick, and secure.

 

[Still Kicking]

One possible market I see for Avelo is at high-end resorts, where it might be offered as an "automatic dive system" (a bit of a stretch but ...marketing) for Discover Scuba classes and new divers.

I would expect there to be a premium for Avelo diving, to cover the more expensive equipment.

Kind of a niche within a niche.

 

[CT-Rich]

Hi @CT-Rich

I am the OP. I reported my Avelo training and initial dives in the first post of this thread on January 2. I gave follow up in a post on November 17.

I have rented Avelo gear from Dive Friends Bonaire on 3 days for 9 independent dives. Rental gear consists of the Jetpack, 3 cylinders, 2 batteries, weight you need, and 300 bar DIN regulator if you need it. I do not pump the system very much during my dives and am pretty sure I could do 3 dives off one battery but have not tried it yet. To be sure, I switched the battery out for the 3rd dive each day. The battery exchange is easy, quick, and secure.

I absolutely have a half arsed opinion, because I have not had this system in the water. It is pretty common in diving to poo-poo the new. Not having tried it, that may well be what I am doing. My opinion is based only what I’ve read here.

 

[scubadada]

Hi @CT-Rich

I started this thread to report my personal experience with the Avelo System. Most divers commenting in the thread have not had the opportunity to dive Avelo gear. Like many divers on ScubaBoard, I am reasonably experienced and already had good buoyancy and gas consumption.

As I said in my November 17 follow up post, Avelo makes it simple to attain and maintain depth independent neutral buoyancy. It saves me about 15 lbs. of equipment weight for my warm water diving in Bonaire. My gas consumption was unchanged

Review Post in thread 'Diving the Avelo System'

Nov 17, 2024

This is a follow up to the initial review I posted on Jan 2, 2024

Review - Diving the Avelo System

The Avelo System is innovative diving equipment that allows you to dive differently than with traditional gear. The Avelo System consists of the Jetpack and the Hydrotank. The Jetpack is a backplate, harness, battery, and pump. The Hydrotank consists of a flexible bladder holding the gas and a...

scubaboard.com

My wife and I returned to Bonaire for two weeks, October 16-October 30. I rented Avelo gear for 2 days and did 6 more dives. I have somewhat limited mobility of my right shoulder and had some difficulty reaching the pump button on the Jetpack. Avelo supplied me with a modified Jetpack that was very easy for me to use. It moved the button about 4 1/2 inches to the side and about 1 1/2 inches higher. I downloaded the Avelo Mode to my Shearwater...

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I will likely have further experience with Avelo to report in the future. The majority of my diving will continue to be with traditional equipment.