FATHOM Dive Systems Q&A

[PEDiver]

I do think the cool thing with the choptima is the ability to do sm or bm on the same unit very easily. Much like I find being able to do sm or bm on the fathom to be pretty easy to go back and forth with, though the choptima definitely makes it a little easier.

I've slowly been falling out of love with sm bailout. I'm happy I chose my fathom over something else since I can easily do either. SM bailout is great, but when you start adding multiple stages BM is easier.

I definitely enjoyed the ability with the Choptima to effortlessly change between BM and SM. However, I really just didn't enjoy the cluttered chest aspect after diving in various configurations and environments. Also, with bigger doubles (like my 85s) I just felt very "tall" in the water. I ended up selling the Choptima recently since it wasn't getting enough use to justify owning it. So now I am on the hunt for my next unit and the Fathom checks a lot of boxes.

Out of curiosity, are you cave diving your Fathom in a BM configuration with the 50s? Or primarily ocean diving with the 50s?

 

[PEDiver]

If you'd like to see either of the configs in action sometime, I'd be happy to show you the setup. There's an updated version of the "tech rig" from what I use that works REALLY REALLY well, but you lose the ability to easily convert between the two and need two cans. Still, that's not a big deal at the end of the day and it is a better way to go.

I may have to take you up on that offer soon (especially since you're not that far from me and I can always use an excuse to visit cave country). I'm in the research phase now since I just sold my Choptima and the Fathom is a really attractive unit.

 

[inquis]

In the ocean, I generally tend to convert my Fathom to what is basically the "Tech Rig" - twin LP50s with a LOLA manifold on my back with the rebreather sandwiched in the middle. This provides redundancy between DIL and bailout.

I gather the "tech" configuration is a pair of flex-manifolded LP50s for DIL/Bailout with a 3L O2 bottle piggybacked in one of the valleys next to the canister? Assuming dil redundancy is a priority and flying to an ocean destination (e.g., Truk), how does one deal with getting cylinders there since the LOLA valves & manifold aren't commonplace? Would you have to bring your own LOLA valves/manifold & swap them onto whatever cylinders you rented? Or would you have to forego the manifold and QC6-swap to the other 50 if needed? (Assume a BOV, I suppose.)

 

[CptTightPants21]

I gather the "tech" configuration is a pair of flex-manifolded LP50s for DIL/Bailout with a 3L O2 bottle piggybacked in one of the valleys next to the canister? Assuming dil redundancy is a priority and flying to an ocean destination (e.g., Truk), how does one deal with getting cylinders there since the LOLA valves & manifold aren't commonplace? Would you have to bring your own LOLA valves/manifold & swap them onto whatever cylinders you rented? Or would you have to forego the manifold and QC6-swap to the other 50 if needed? (Assume a BOV, I suppose.)

When traveling outside of a cave or GUE centric destination, Lola valves and tank hardware would need to be brought with you. 2x AL40s (with your own set of Lola valves) can take the place of the 2x LP50s. Al40s being more common worldwide than LP50s.

 

[kensuf]

When traveling outside of a cave or GUE centric destination, Lola valves and tank hardware would need to be brought with you. 2x AL40s (with your own set of Lola valves) can take the place of the 2x LP50s. Al40s being more common worldwide than LP50s.

This.

Also, as more and more people adopt this configuration on the Fathom, JJ and Liberty ("Liberty Heavy"), there is more support. I know of operators in Europe, Mexico, Bonaire and Truk that have everything a person would need to run their CCR.

 

[boriss]

I ended up selling the Choptima recently since it wasn't getting enough use to justify owning it. So now I am on the hunt for my next unit and the Fathom checks a lot of boxes.

I'm sure it went to a really good home!

Did you happen to see my thread talking about Fathom, Choptima and rEvo? Just tried 3 CCRs (Fathom, rEvo, Choptima)

I definitely recommend you take Ken up on the offer to meet up or do a demo with Charlie. I considered about a dozen different CCRs, but my use case is the opposite of yours (all deep wrecks, very few caves). Call me if you want to shoot the **** about your choices!

 

[PEDiver]

I'm sure it went to a really good home!

Did you happen to see my thread talking about Fathom, Choptima and rEvo? Just tried 3 CCRs (Fathom, rEvo, Choptima)

I definitely recommend you take Ken up on the offer to meet up or do a demo with Charlie. I considered about a dozen different CCRs, but my use case is the opposite of yours (all deep wrecks, very few caves). Call me if you want to shoot the **** about your choices!

Oh I have no doubt it went to a good home!

That is actually a very useful thread with some great info. I thought I would wait 1-2 years to buy my next unit, but here we are. I really enjoyed the Choptima and my favorite dive on it was actually on the Spiegel. I've never felt more comfortable in the water than in that moment. You'll get a lot of great use out of the unit in wreck diving!

But we should definitely shoot the **** soon, curious to hear more about some of the units you've looked into and more thoughts on the Fathom. Maybe I'll even make it down your way and we can do some wreck diving. Have always wanted to dive the Lady Luck and Hydro Atlantic.

 

[TheScubaPanda]

Oh I have no doubt it went to a good home!

That is actually a very useful thread with some great info. I thought I would wait 1-2 years to buy my next unit, but here we are. I really enjoyed the Choptima and my favorite dive on it was actually on the Spiegel. I've never felt more comfortable in the water than in that moment. You'll get a lot of great use out of the unit in wreck diving!

But we should definitely shoot the **** soon, curious to hear more about some of the units you've looked into and more thoughts on the Fathom. Maybe I'll even make it down your way and we can do some wreck diving. Have always wanted to dive the Lady Luck and Hydro Atlantic.

I am a Fathom Mk3 diver in South Miami. Feel free to ping me up for some wreck diving any time

 

[barkandlink]

For wreck diving with either hot drop or pulling down the shot line does anybody who dives with BOV have an ADV? Is this configuration possible from Fathom or would it require a different MAV with 3 ports. I saw that dive soft has BOV with built in ADV but don't know if this is good option.
Thanks

 

[grantctobin]

For wreck diving with either hot drop or pulling down the shot line does anybody who dives with BOV have an ADV? Is this configuration possible from Fathom or would it require a different MAV with 3 ports. I saw that dive soft has BOV with built in ADV but don't know if this is good option.
Thanks

You need a hand for your drysuit inflate or (for some) ears anyway, so the MAV on a hot drop isn’t an issue. That said, you can very slightly crack the BOV to get the same effect. I don’t think there are more than a few fathoms with a BOV and an ADV, as most people either go BOV or DSV+ADV and I think that’s probably a 20:1 or 30:1 ratio.

Edit: once upon a time I think @rddvet had the divesoft BOV on his or his wife’s unit and can probably chime in