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Hi babybubbles,
Like you, I too can get 2 1-hr shallow dives out of an hp80. My SAC rate is consistently under 0.3cfm. When I started my cave training in lp72s, my instructor told me that eventually I would limit myself on available buddies who considered that insufficient gas. So I did my training in lp85s, which was great. LPs with a cave-fill will give about 30% more gas over its rated pressure. As a shorty, I thought shorter tanks were better, but I discovered that longer tanks balanced out my trim better and I was less head heavy from the weight of regs, manifold, & valves. I dive double Al80s here in the Keys warmer waters in a shorty wetsuit. I always add 4lbs tail weight off the bottom bolt so Im not faceplanting all the time. I once dove lp85s in a 7mm wetsuit and felt overwhelmed with the weight, not so much in my drysuit.
. I was just chatting last night with a gf of similar height. When she started cave diving, she bought hp80 for size and then was talked into diving lp85s which she she purchased and uses exclusively now. I recommend test diving you options before committing money.
Happy Diving!
Elena
Like you, I too can get 2 1-hr shallow dives out of an hp80. My SAC rate is consistently under 0.3cfm. When I started my cave training in lp72s, my instructor told me that eventually I would limit myself on available buddies who considered that insufficient gas. So I did my training in lp85s, which was great. LPs with a cave-fill will give about 30% more gas over its rated pressure. As a shorty, I thought shorter tanks were better, but I discovered that longer tanks balanced out my trim better and I was less head heavy from the weight of regs, manifold, & valves. I dive double Al80s here in the Keys warmer waters in a shorty wetsuit. I always add 4lbs tail weight off the bottom bolt so Im not faceplanting all the time. I once dove lp85s in a 7mm wetsuit and felt overwhelmed with the weight, not so much in my drysuit.
. I was just chatting last night with a gf of similar height. When she started cave diving, she bought hp80 for size and then was talked into diving lp85s which she she purchased and uses exclusively now. I recommend test diving you options before committing money.
Happy Diving!
Elena
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