Intro to Tech, to make a better Rec?

[stuartv]

Maybe you should just do an intro to tech class with me? You get all of the info and you don't need to drink anything you don't want to.

Actually, I have been seriously thinking of coming to you for an Adv Wreck class. I figured I might pick up some of that good trim and a little buoyancy control as a side benefit. I dived 9 different wrecks (did the Spar twice) up there in the 1000 Islands last summer and LOVED it! It is SO beautiful up there. The crow's nest on the Vickery was so cool to see the rope rigging still intact on the crow's nest. And the drift onto and off of the JB King was also a highlight. Those were some pinnacle dives for me.

 

[stuartv]

Some people like to dive (or sleep) instead of mixing gasses. It's a lot easier and quicker to fill your tank with the standard mix you want from the bank instead of mixing your "best" mix. Among other things it also means you aren't putting 100% in every tank you have.

I REALLY like my sleep. I drop my tanks off with labels for what mixes I want, and then I pick them up later. If they have something banked, then it usually is a good option for nearby diving, so I usually go with that, when it's a reasonable choice. But, it doesn't really make any difference to me in terms of ease or time.

 

[boulderjohn]

Some people like to dive (or sleep) instead of mixing gasses. It's a lot easier and quicker to fill your tank with the standard mix you want from the bank instead of mixing your "best" mix. Among other things it also means you aren't putting 100% in every tank you have.

That, of course, assumes you have a bank of standard gases. That is the origin of the whole standard gas phenomenon. Standard gases were created because they are easy to make if you live in Florida. You just put in the percentage of helium you want and then top off with banked EANx 32. Want to change gases for a new dive? Just add the right amount of helium (easy arithmetic) and top off with banked EANx 32. Want to do a recreational dive? Just fill your tank with banked EANx 32. With many shops, it is cheaper that way, because it is harder or them to do the work to make a custom blend.

If, on the other hand, you are out on the prairie with me, blending your trimix from supply bottles in the back of a van using partial pressure blending, then all blends are equally challenging, and there is no benefit to using standard gases. In fact, there are significant disadvantages, because to get to those exact numbers you have to bleed tanks down and send that expensive helium into the atmosphere instead of making the best blend you can starting with what you've got. Even in South Florida that advantage is going away--the shop where I get most of my trimix there just punches the numbers into a computer and gives you what you want--all mixes take the same amount of effort and cost whatever the price of the component gases might be.

 

[stuartv]

I just deleted a bunch of my posts. I realized that some of what I said might be really offensive to some people and I was sharing stories from other people that weren't mine to tell. I won't make excuses. I sincerely apologize to everyone involved.

 

[Lorenzoid]

In Fundies we were told another benefit of standard gases is that it enables some rules of thumb to be employed, such as the "rule of 130" and the Minimum Deco ascent. In Fundies the rec rules of thumb were based on 32%, though we were also told that since it's not always available, here's what to do if you have to dive air. We certainly used air or something between 21 and 32% on some dives in Fundies, because for doing skills at 20-30 ft. it didn't matter.

With regard to something that was said earlier, I don't buy into it being "the best" system. What appeals to me is that it IS a system, not a jumble of reasonable ideas from which one can pick and choose cafeteria style (IF one is confident they are smart enough to do that). If there were a different system that has proven to keep people safe and happy, that might have appealed to me just as much. If I were capable of switching back and forth from one system to another, that might be fine, too.

 

[Compressor]

I just deleted a bunch of my posts. I realized that some of what I said might be really offensive to some people and I was sharing stories from other people that weren't mine to tell. I won't make excuses. I sincerely apologize to everyone involved.

I have not read the posts as they were deleted but the quote above should tell you something about StuartV's character: Honorable. It should be commended.

 

[Compressor]

A bit off topic but maybe Trace can have a workshop (1 day) for ScubaBoard members. Focus: Equipment config (since this is argued all the time) and trim. I know I would go.

 

[Trace Malinowski]

A bit off topic but maybe Trace can have a workshop (1 day) for ScubaBoard members. Focus: Equipment config (since this is argued all the time) and trim. I know I would go.

Would love to! Dutch Springs or Alexandria Bay, NY?

 

[Compressor]

Alex Bay for me. Hopefully there will be more interest from SB members.

 

[Skb]

Would love to! Dutch Springs or Alexandria Bay, NY?

I'll second A Bay.