Mares Air Lock

[pasley]

Lau8 once bubbled...
May be that is why the scuba industry is still backward as compare to other industry (like aerospace). What is wrong with having something that make your equipment setup easier and faster or more efficient. ...

The case against
1. Added failure points
2. You are adding a small bladder of air, ergo, you will also have to add some quanity of lead to compensate if your are currently diving properly weighted to be neutral.
3. Lots of stuff that can poke a hole in the band out there. I do a lot of shore diving and my tank gets banged up. Often I don't realize that I have banged into somthing on the entry or exit, but the proof is on my tank. If the band is an air bladder I would have to question how it would have survived.
4. A slow leak and your tank is loose and you can't fix it under water (because the problem is a leak).
5. It is expensive.

The case for.
1. Easy to use (but so is the cam buckle).
2.For a diver with an inpairment (tennis elbow, amputee etc). who is otherwise fit to dive it could make them more self sufficent and able to dive.

And the final analysis is....... This is a solution looking for a problem. Not worth the monty to most divers. But hey, if you like it and it works for you, go for it.

 

[jonnythan]

pasley once bubbled...


The case against
1. Added failure points
2. You are adding a small bladder of air, ergo, you will also have to add some quanity of lead to compensate if your are currently diving properly weighted to be neutral.
3. Lots of stuff that can poke a hole in the band out there. I do a lot of shore diving and my tank gets banged up. Often I don't realize that I have banged into somthing on the entry or exit, but the proof is on my tank. If the band is an air bladder I would have to question how it would have survived.
4. A slow leak and your tank is loose and you can't fix it under water (because the problem is a leak).
5. It is expensive.

The case for.
1. Easy to use (but so is the cam buckle).
2.For a diver with an inpairment (tennis elbow, amputee etc). who is otherwise fit to dive it could make them more self sufficent and able to dive.

And the final analysis is....... This is a solution looking for a problem. Not worth the monty to most divers. But hey, if you like it and it works for you, go for it.

LOL

Not only have you never seen the device, you did no research whatsoever on it. You have no idea whatsoever what the AirLock does, and that amuses me greatly.

 

[ew1usnr]

jonnythan once bubbled...
Not only have you never seen the device, you did no research whatsoever on it. You have no idea whatsoever what the AirLock does.

It desn't look like an air bladder that would leak or create lift (see photo).

"An exclusive design patent of Mares, allows you to fasten the BCD to the tank with very little effort, safely and easily. Simply pre-tension the tank retaining band slightly - an easy maneuver, thanks to the new buckle. Then, by operating the special control, the tank strap will be pulled tight by the air pressure. A check valve and an automatic mechanical clamping system ensure a stable and secure connection. "

 

[Northeastwrecks]

Lau8 once bubbled...
May be that is why the scuba industry is still backward as compare to other industry (like aerospace). What is wrong with having something that make your equipment setup easier and faster or more efficient. Especially if it's a young diver or is handicap. Embrace the technology. Otherwise we will still be driving a model T, and using smoke signal instead of cell phone or GPS.

I'm not interested in your opinion if you haven't even use it at all.

We had a referral come to us for AOW. He had one on his rig. I played with it on the shore.

IMHO, its a terrible idea. As O-ring, suggest, it solves a non-existent problem.

Moreover, it creates a series of potential problems when it fails and your tank loosens. That said, I can't remember if there was some type of ratchet system that would prevent loosening.

Finally, I saw no real benefit to it because (1) its not that hard to attach a tank; and (2) I prefer two straps. The system did not make the setup any faster or more efficient. Rather, it complicated the system and introduced additional failure points.

IMHO, if a diver is too weak to tighten the cam bands, the diver should take up needlepoint or get to a gym. If a diver can't adjust them for different tanks without difficulty, then the diver should proceed as far away as possible from any body of water deeper than a puddle.

Mares would be better off if they stopped trying to be the Gadget Shack of the scuba world and tried to produce gear that has appeal beyond the once a year Coz Commando. After all, some of their regs are actually functional. Their wetsuits are great. As for the rest, well.....

 

[O-ring]

jonnythan once bubbled...


LOL

Not only have you never seen the device, you did no research whatsoever on it. You have no idea whatsoever what the AirLock does, and that amuses me greatly.

Put his head in there instead of the tank and attach the inflator hose...hand him the manual and don't turn off the gas until he finishes the manual.

 

[cstreu1026]

My wife bought one of those contraptions and it was nothing but a PITA. It was dificult to get adjust properly initially and the thing would not hold pressure. We promptly took the thing back and got her money back. the $50 I spent on stainless steel buckle from dive right were a much much much better investment.

 

[ScubaRon]

Someone on my dive boat had a HUB and got the whole demonstration and tried it myself too.

The airlock works extremey well and is very simple to use. It can be used on any BC with a removable 2" cam strap.

The issues posted by Pasley are non-relevant: he has clearly never seen an air-lock. The "unlock" mechanism is well positioned and IMO it is no more likely to accidentally unlock a cam strap than it is to accidentally unlock the air-lock. As for added failure points I don't really see where these would be. The system is designed so that if the hose would fail, it still stays tight.

With great regularity I see divers with slipping tanks and if air-lock can help minimize this (from what i have seen there is no way that a tank would slip out of an air-lock!!) it is a valuable and safety-enhancing device.

The only issue IMO is the price. For me it is not worth the $90 or so that it is priced at. But if they can get it down to $35 or so, I'll be in line to add this convenience/safety feature.
ScubaRon

 

[E-Boat]

I agree with scubaron. There many people slip there tank event they are a experience diver. My teahcer did it once at 80 going to 120 feets. If it happen to be i would be crazy. Be he took care it by use his leg hold the tank and and buckle it. Now he tell he want the air lock. 20 year of his diving, I dont think he could be worng with the idea. One question can i hook it up wiht my ranger? People going to laught at me i sure they do.

 

[Boogie711]

Why don't you just use two cambands??????

 

[ElectricZombie]

Sorry, but if you can't operate a regular cam band, you probably should not be diving.