More Prism Talk

[jptrealty]

Lets clear some of this up:

1- the secondary display replacement (4 times) was NOT DONE AT MY EXPENSE.
2- This is MY opinion only, and 3 other divers that I know of in the northeast. That doesn’t mean that they have had ALL of the problems I have.
3- Yes people were taking bets to see how long my dives would last on SEVERAL dive boats out here, and it was a joke for a while, several operators were concerned for my safety because I always dive alone. I was asked to leave my Prism on shore and show up with doubles (tanks). I didn’t listen, instead I showed up with another RB.
4- I know I can be an obnoxious *******, I’m certainly not going to apologize for it, but I don’t think this is one of those times. Its ok, people the sun will rise tomorrow.
5- I’ll tell you what I will apologize for: speaking very highly of the prism, influencing the decisions people made with respect to purchasing a RB (several people I know bought prism’s or tried to----delivery issues). So, I’m sorry.
6- I was asked to keep my opinions to myself, have you lost your mind???? Opinions are what fuel these forums!!!!! All of this is just MY opinion, although there is some fact here. As far as credibility goes that’s for reader to determine, do your homework, see if there are others that feel the same way as I do. I know they are out there.

As far as my diving experience goes, you be the judge. I became an advanced open water diver when I was 9 years old (I lied about my age, please don’t tell on me, SSI was the certifying agency, check it out). My first dive to over 200 feet was at the age of 14, I was diving trimix and nitrox YEARS before there was such a thing as a course to take. We were mixing gas in garages (I wasn’t, I still don’t mix my own gas), it was being done for me, as a favor. For my age of 34, I have more experience than most, but I don’t have that experience with rebreathers. After all of those years I still haven’t logged a single dive.

I was also asked why I jump around so much with respect to my gear. I guess I have commitment issues. Much like my women, I change flavors often.

Yes to the email I received from Canada, I was the guy that threw the Hotel party with all of the “dancers” at the thousand Islands, and your welcome, we all had fun. We’ll do it again this year (more than once).

I will say this, with every rebreather I have been on and bought I was given a list of potential problems to look out for (yes people saying there product WASN’T PERFECT). I couldn’t believe it either. You know what is even stranger; I never had a single problem with any of those units. Go figure. My first dive on the Buddy (at the time many were calling it the reaper) I took the unit to 186’ two days after having my eyes lazered (I am aware that this was stupid if there was a problem I might not have come back), I was in the water for hours, what a great problem free dive I had.

If anyone has any specific questions I’d be happy to answer them, if you just want to slam me, that’s fine too I enjoyed reading them.

IN MY OPINION DON’T BUY A PRISM, THERE ARE BETTER UNITS FOR THE SAME OR LESS MONEY: MEG, KISS, BUDDY, THE OPTIMA SOUNDS GOOD ALSO. That’s not in any particular order.

With respect to the optima, the MFG. Told me not to send them money because I had to many questions and to wait for the production run first. They were honest, so I am buying one and sending them my money ….. now.

 

[silent running]

Hello jptrealty, I have a few comments/questions for you:
1-They replaced your secondary 4 times at their cost? That's very curious, to the point of being almost incredible. I have a hard time believing it as it might constitute an admission of guilt, or maybe just an amazing benefit of the doubt being given to you.
2-Who are these other NE divers and why have they not expressed themselves the way you have? Are NE divers so much more demanding and hardcore than everyone else? I think not. My Insructor, who also happens to be the guy who trained you, dives his Prism regularly here in the NE and has had none of the same issues as you. Nor have the vast majority of Prism owners. If he trusts his rig doing many, many deco dives on the Andrea Doria, I would too. Not to mention those guys in Australia who are now in contention for the world record longest cave dive.
3-This is America, nobody wants you to apologize for having an opinion. As long as that's all it is. An opinion is usually not expressed as an emphatic plea to do this or that. By your own admission, SMI replaced your secondary gauge 4 times. That's very generous in my book. So why spend so much effort trying to tell everyone of your bad experience when you are so definitely in the minority, and SMI were so reasonable? They have far more happy customers than not. At the very least, I would say it all adds up to a difference of design philosophy, after the fact. You got most of your money back when you sold it, right? What's the big deal? There are many more complaints about the YBOD which are all of the 'I don't think the design is very good' nature, but I have not seen anybody devote so much time and energy to trashing it, as you have to the Prism. What gives? I and many, many other people think the YBOD is very flawed but it obviously works well enough to keep most of it's users happy most of the time. That's a fact, not an opinion, whether I like it or not. You obviously don't appreciate the way the Prism is designed, even though you supposedly got rid of your YBOD besause it has the(very expensive)battery in the loop, something the Prism does not. No comprende. Why are you picking on a small company like SMI? I would understand better if it were a big faceless company, who cut corners to make a big buck, but that's not a description of SMI. The fact is you seem very petty and angry as far as your statements about SMI are concerned. If it was just a 'lemon' why try to impugn the company? What really happened?
I would never try so hard to influence a group of impressionable people, many of whom are just getting aquainted with a new technology, with something as limited as my own singular experience or opinion. I was recently on an all CCR liveaboard where a well known manufacturer was testing out a new CCR. There were many problems. If I was of a mind to do it, I could probably spend a lot of time ragging on the company and it's design philosophy/manufacturing...but why would I? I might not agree with their approach, but it works well enough and who cares so much what I think? They have plenty of customers who agree with their way of doing things and have bought their product with happy results. I would be one petty SOB to voice such an opinion just because I could. I'm sure they will work out the kinks in their product just fine, without my input. It's a simple matter of weighing the benefit to the majority against you getting something off your chest. Good luck with your malignant case of buyers remorse-Andy

 

[mike smith]

Jesus christ! jptrealty,where are you really from? NE or MOUNT ST. HELENS?? You got a flaming head and getting very personal with PRISM. Why don't you get your life back and enjoy diving.If PRISM are really that bad as you claim to be,then why baldie stefan and many others still alive and kicking well after many dives.

Mike

 

[jptrealty]

God bless them, I'm happy there safe.

If your going to beat someone up, do it with style and humor and thats what you managed to do. Well done. I have taken your advise and moved on. Good luck.

For the record i havn't blamed a single death on ANY unit made. I think its diver error, some units make error more probable, but I DID NOT accuse PRISM of that. That decission has to be made by the individual.

Jesus christ! jptrealty,where are you really from? NE or MOUNT ST. HELENS?? You got a flaming head and getting very personal with PRISM. Why don't you get your life back and enjoy diving.If PRISM are really that bad as you claim to be,then why baldie stefan and many others still alive and kicking well after many dives.

Mike