need opinions on equipment.... (SAR)

[baxter_1962]

My Fire Company has formed a dive team. We are presently beginning our training with a mix of experienced and new divers. We are moving cautiously, and are aware that we have many months of training ahead of us.

Now the question... we are looking to begin purchasing BC's Reg's and gauges. Money is an issue but the team members are dedicated to raising the funds needed. We are in Northeast Pa. and we are looking at cold fresh water dives to approx. 60 ft.
In BC's we are looking at DiveRite Backplate and Harness or Zeagle Ranger or Concept 2. Regs are either Apex ATX50 with ATX40 octo or Scubapro MK25 G250Hp with R380 octo or Aqualung Cousteau Glacia with a Glacia octo. Gauges will be analog Scubapro mini VIP3.

Opinions??

Thanks in advance. I enjoy reading the comments on this board. T

 

[Scubaroo]

...as it may affect the gear recommendations. Is this dive team a seach and rescue team, or recreational dive club type thing?

 

[baxter_1962]

Search and Rescue Team

 

[Scubaroo]

Cool.

Due to the nature of this request (SAR team equipment), could people responding to this post please identify themselves as having/not having SAR experience. I believe there are a few SAR folks around on this board. I'll tweak the thread title so it gets their attention for you.

 

[baxter_1962]

Thanks...

 

[baxter_1962]

Thanks...

 

[Waterborne]

Hey Baxter, I have a fire service backround, all aspects of special rescue and dive rescue as well. If I was going to outfit a dive team, I would want gear that adaptable as the team grows. I think you're right on in looking at the BP and wings setup. You can match the wings to the tank(s) needed, setup in minutes and the entire system can be used for all types of diving. For cold water rescue diving, I would want a diahragm first stage. As you and I know, these types of rescues don't happen in pristine warm waters but in cold, dirty, sometimes contaminated water. The Apeks DS4 or the Scuba Pro MK16 are good choices. On to second stages, I would suggest a high performance adjustable primary coupled with a not so high performance backup. Less overall chance of freeflow and complication on rescue attempts. While we're at it, what type of hose setup/routing did you have in mind? Choice of gauges sounds great IMHO. What did you have in mind for exposure protection? Another thing to bring up, have you thought about the AGA mask? I know with alot of depts it would be out of the question due to cost, I am thinking more along the lines of comms.

 

[rmediver2002]

Jeff Lane, FSU-academic Diving Program / Former US Army Engineer diver / full-face mask and surface supplied diving instructor for FSU:


Score is bringing up some great points here...

If your intent is to form a team having the capability to respond to the majority of incidents in timely manner, your going to have to work on the assumption the water is dirty. (by dirty I mean unless you have a lab analysis done treat the water as contaminated) often times the project itself will be a source of contamination that must be considered.

Just some things to think about (what direction do you want the team to go in the futute... Capabilities in the future as your teams skills and training increase...) You don't want to have to purchase and train on a completely different gear configuration down the road...


1) Dry-suit with dry hood and dry glove attachments (cuff rings..)
2) Positive pressure full-face mask (some type of air block device allowing the diver to switch to an alternate air source without removing the mask)
3) Communications (preferably hardwire as you should be diving line tended anyway)
4) For all your equipment you need to be thinking about entanglement hazards, your not going to be needing to many d-rings or bells on your equipment for slow methodical searching in low visibility water right?



Here is one reference to look through...

http://www.teamlgs.com/Pages/standards.htm

This is the Life Guard Systems main site, great reference for training and equipment questions, look through the frequently asked questions and message group archives. Anyone interested this is a decent discussion forum at times as well, the link to join is on the site also.


http://www.teamlgs.com/

 

[hunter991]

Some of my qualifications are:
Med Dive Technician, Dive Rescue Specialist II, working SAR diver.

Ok, on to my advice. I would definately try to make having an aga mask as the primary second stage a priority, they can be had new for around $400 if you shop around. An excellent idea for a team that is short on funds to raise money is to host a class with dive rescue international. You host a class at your agency and they fly in and teach it. You get so many free slots depending on the amount of paying customers that show up, then after so many more people show up you get store credit and discounted store prices. They can completely outfit a dive team from the store.

Another idea is to shop around for prices. Many manufacturers will sell at distributor cost to dive teams trying to outfit their team. Email me for certain manufacturers that do this. This is kind of a touchy subject between dive shops and manufactueres and they prefer to keep it quiet. The cost savings are significant.

As a side note my team uses poseidon first stages, AGA as our primary mask, and DUI vulcanized dry suits. I would definately use poseidon as a first, and aga as the second, no other competition to them in my mind. A vulcanized suit is a vulcanized suit, shop around, but Viking makes the best...at the highest price, although there are members on here that sell them at a good price....bob3 is one.

Hope this helps, sorry for being long winded.

Brent

Hope this helps

hunter99991@hotmail.com

 

[bill harvey]

I was a police officer, and i have more experience with dead people than i would have liked.

I would also say that hunter is right when he recomended the vulcanized drysuit, won't get contaminated like other suits, belive me you will want to be able to clean up easy after you surface a drowning victim, they have a habit of getting you dirty.

Most importantly, i sugest you guys all go out and dive whenever you can and i mean for fun also, If the only reason you put on your gear is to go pick up some dead kid you will start to not want to put on your gear.

Good luck with getting the team together and getting the funds to get your gear and I hope you never have to use your training.