Long but shallow profile, what kind of training do I need

[eelnoraa]

wow, thanks for the information. I am overloaded at this moment. I better do some more research about the dive profile, probably also talk to local DIR divers. One thing about GUE R3 that doesn't make sense to me is the 32% deco gas. If I go through the trouble of carrying a deco bottle, why not use 50% or 100%. Maybe also ask Beto about this.

 

[Adobo]

wow, thanks for the information. I am overloaded at this moment. I better do some more research about the dive profile, probably also talk to local DIR divers. One thing about GUE R3 that doesn't make sense to me is the 32% deco gas. If I go through the trouble of carrying a deco bottle, why not use 50% or 100%. Maybe also ask Beto about this.

Aaron,

There are 3 GUE instructors in your area; one being a Tech 1 instructor.

Part of the decision making process in terms of what class to take is to actually look at the dive sites and associated dive profiles that you want to dive. I am not sure where you are thinking of doing 60 minutes in Monterey/Carmel. You've only provided information on what the profile is but not where you will want to do this kind of dive.

I mention the 3 local instructors as they can help you think through whether or not the dive you have in mind is even worth the trouble. I can tell you that for example, there isn't 60 minutes worth of diving to do at Beto's reef. Talking to our local T1 instructor might lead you to conclude that you actually don't need any more training for the dive sites you want to visit. Or lead you to understand what sensible dive profiles you can execute on the common local sites (from which, you can determine what additional training might be appropriate).

 

[decompression]

wow, thanks for the information. I am overloaded at this moment. I better do some more research about the dive profile, probably also talk to local DIR divers. One thing about GUE R3 that doesn't make sense to me is the 32% deco gas. If I go through the trouble of carrying a deco bottle, why not use 50% or 100%. Maybe also ask Beto about this.

That just doesn't sound right, did you see 32% deco gas somewhere?

 

[Adobo]

That just doesn't sound right, did you see 32% deco gas somewhere?

GUE R3 does specify the use of 32% as an ascent gas. I don't know if they use that language (ascent gas) but 32% is what an R3 diver switches to at 70ft. Note that this ascent gas differs from GUE's standard deco gases as it is not at 1.6 PPO2 when you switch to it as an R3 diver.

I'm sure a GUE instructor can elaborate on all of this but personally, I think it has to do with the level that an R3 diver is trained to. As an example, R3 being from GUE's recreational curriculum, does not ask the diver to be able to perform tasks to the same level of proficiency as they would in a T1 class. Meaning, bouyancy windows are bigger. Also, the R3 diver is not asked to solve multiple cascading failures during class. I think its one failure per dive only. Not having the R3 diver to solve multiple problems and manage resources accordingly, the R3 diver is therefore only *allowed* to incur a comparitively smaller deco obligation.

So yeah, R3 uses 32% as the ascent gas (not *deco* gas). The depth limit is shallower than T1 and the less deco obligation is *permitted*.

R3 is actually very useful in a lot of the diving in Monterey. For example, one of our best dive spots is a place called Pt. Lobos. There, an R3 diver can do a shore dive to 130ft, linger at that depth for say 10 minutes and then head back following the bottom and visiting progressively shallower sites. When the diver hits 70ft, he can switch to 32% which has less inert gas than 21/35 (and also a bunch cheaper) and continue the dive at 70ft and shallower.

We also have several pinnacles that can be dived in the same manner. Plenty to see between 130ft and 50ft.

 

[eelnoraa]

Nevermind!

---------- Post Merged at 05:12 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 04:59 PM ----------

thank you Ted. I also realize I need to review my dive profile a bit more.

For the last couple of dives at Pt Lobo, I turned because of MDL time, not depth, not gas. That is why I want to be able to dive for longer. Not necessary 60 min at 100ft, but something longer than MDL would be nice.

Aaron,

There are 3 GUE instructors in your area; one being a Tech 1 instructor.

Part of the decision making process in terms of what class to take is to actually look at the dive sites and associated dive profiles that you want to dive. I am not sure where you are thinking of doing 60 minutes in Monterey/Carmel. You've only provided information on what the profile is but not where you will want to do this kind of dive.

I mention the 3 local instructors as they can help you think through whether or not the dive you have in mind is even worth the trouble. I can tell you that for example, there isn't 60 minutes worth of diving to do at Beto's reef. Talking to our local T1 instructor might lead you to conclude that you actually don't need any more training for the dive sites you want to visit. Or lead you to understand what sensible dive profiles you can execute on the common local sites (from which, you can determine what additional training might be appropriate).

 

[PfcAJ]

If using just one deco gas GIII used to recommend to go to a deco gas at 70' as opposed to waiting until O2 at 20 ft because if things went south from 70' and you can't spend a lot of time at 20', you've already done a substantial amount of your deco before things went wrong. I like that thinking so that is what I used to do for single deco gas dives. However I believe that JJ liked O2 for single deco gas dives for the reasons that PfcJ gives.

For ~130-160' dives with a single deco gas, I think 50% is better than 100%. Shallower than that, I'd go with just 100%. Deeper than ~160 or with deco times past about 30mins, I lean toward two gases.

Its tough to get more than 30-40mins of o2 time for 30/30 or 32% dives (not saying it can't be done, though )

 

[Ben_ca]

Aaron,
Get a scooter... Fast forward thru the non-interesting spots and spend more quality time at the more interesting ones.



Ben

 

[eelnoraa]

I love to have one, but need approval from CFO on such a big item. hahah

I am glad that you understand why I want to stay for longer. After suiting up, lugging heavy gears down the boat ramp, long surface swim out to sand channel, I want to fully enjoy after all the hardwork. Longer bottom time is the main reason I went to double, I much rather do one long dive than two short one

Aaron,
Get a scooter... Fast forward thru the non-interesting spots and spend more quality time at the more interesting ones.



Ben

 

[Adobo]

I love to have one, but need approval from CFO on such a big item. hahah

I am glad that you understand why I want to stay for longer. After suiting up, lugging heavy gears down the boat ramp, long surface swim out to sand channel, I want to fully enjoy after all the hardwork. Longer bottom time is the main reason I went to double, I much rather do one long dive than two short one

For what its worth, team bunny regularly does 2+ hour dives in Pt. Lobos. They do the dive with only 32% and stay within MDL.

 

[LiteHedded]

For ~130-160' dives with a single deco gas, I think 50% is better than 100%. Shallower than that, I'd go with just 100%. Deeper than ~160 or with deco times past about 30mins, I lean toward two gases.

Its tough to get more than 30-40mins of o2 time for 30/30 or 32% dives (not saying it can't be done, though )

you really have to work for it.