One SPG only..?

[Rubis]

Competence is to be preferred since it carries confindence as spare change.
Confidence by itself, on the other hand, may be flat broke when the bills come due.

Confidence in own competence

 

[Uncle Pug]

Confidence in own competence

I'm sure that is what Spectre's mystery woman meant since she is competent.

 

[Spectre]

In terms of this thread, I guess the take home message is that if you have to shut down a post and all of sudden (without your gauge) you don't have a clue how much gas you have, then you need to reevaluate how you are diving.

Not at all. It really has nothing to do with it other than confidence and focus. The bottom line is you don't -need- to know how much gas you have at that point. There is either enough gas to get to the surface, or there isn't. If there isn't what advantage is there to knowing there isn't?

It's a distraction. If you are concerned with gas reserves should you have a failure and shut down a post.... you need to re-evaluate your confidence in your pre-dive planning. The point is to remove as much unnecessary decision making and thought from the equation as possible when the brown stuff collides with the spinny thing, so you're free to act and focus on what is necessary information: Where the team is, Where the reserve gas is, and where the exit is. that's it.

Think it through a little. When donating gas; do you show them your pressure gauge or do you not? Personally I don't. Why? Because it's unnecessary information. Now if the receiver appears to be stressed, then I will... to help relax them; but I'm for damn sure gonna look at it first; and if that thing isn't showing 3 times as much gas as is needed to get out, I for damn sure aren't going to use it as a relaxation tool. If I'm with someone that's relaxed, then it doesn't matter... for the precise reason as above: You got enough to get out, or you don't; you'll know when your head breaks the surface.

 

[Spectre]

Competence is to be preferred since it carries confindence as spare change.
Confidence by itself, on the other hand, may be flat broke when the bills come due.

While you are very correct in the former, you are quite wrong in the latter. I receive these gems of wisdom not because I lack competence In fact competent divers having their confidence destroyed is pretty common these days.

 

[MASS-Diver]

Not at all. It really has nothing to do with it other than confidence and focus. The bottom line is you don't -need- to know how much gas you have at that point. There is either enough gas to get to the surface, or there isn't. If there isn't what advantage is there to knowing there isn't?

It's a distraction. If you are concerned with gas reserves should you have a failure and shut down a post.... you need to re-evaluate your confidence in your pre-dive planning. The point is to remove as much unnecessary decision making and thought from the equation as possible when the brown stuff collides with the spinny thing, so you're free to act and focus on what is necessary information: Where the team is, Where the reserve gas is, and where the exit is. that's it.

So, Jeff, in the event of an isolation - you would not even figure out (using your brain) how much gas you have? Even with proper planning - you may well not have not enough gas to make it out - your team as a whole might have enough gas - but you might not - wouldn't you want to know if you were going to go OOA? I would. I see yourpoint with a post shut down where no usable gas has been lost - but with an isolation isn't it important to how much gas you have?

Dude, I need to get me a girlfthat can teach me all this stuff......lucky SOB

 

[Spectre]

Even with proper planning - you may well not have not enough gas to make it out - your team as a whole might have enough gas - but you might not - wouldn't you want to know if you were going to go OOA? I would.

Ok I changed my mind and removed all the philosophical stuff from my response, since there isn't any convincing people of that.

Let me just go with direct, since I know you'll figure it out from this. Two questions:

1) Are you comfortable doing an s-drill... being without gas for a little bit until your buddy can donate to you?

2) If you are properly weighted... do you need your pressure guage to tell you when you are running low on gas?

 

[Albion]

Personally I have shown myself I have some ability to stop and relax. I believe it was dive #64 where I thought I was the balls, coming back from some 100+ foot wreck diving in North Carolina and heading out for some deep stuff off New York. I was down at 121, in cold dark water, when my backup reg started to bubble and I got slammed with the dark narc. I thumbed it and my buddies waved 'goodbye'. I started heading back to the line when the voice came... you know the voice.... the one in the back of your head. "You're gonna die!". On the verge of panic I stopped, checked my gas, checked my reel, checked my liftbag, checked my time. "Whatever brain-dude.. I can ascend any time I want". Got my breathing back in control and continued on. Got to the line, checked gas and time. 12 minutes, 1200 psi... which was precisely my plan limits.

ok disclaimers first, Not DIR and i only use one SPG.
Lets make tha dive take a turn for the worse. Sudden massive free flow on left post, you shut down valve and isolation manifold. How much gas do you have now??? You have a deco bottle of 80% nitrox and a lot of deco obligation (i'm ignoring you had a lot of time before). Do you stick to your plan, or head up to 30feet so you can switch to your deco gas when back gas fails. A backup gauge would be nice to have now, but i agree by now its pretty much a complete CF so whatever gets you back safely works.

just a thought

 

[Spectre]

Do you stick to your plan, or head up to 30feet so you can switch to your deco gas when back gas fails.

Where's your buddy?

 

[jonnythan]

ok disclaimers first, Not DIR and i only use one SPG.
Lets make tha dive take a turn for the worse. Sudden massive free flow on left post, you shut down valve and isolation manifold. How much gas do you have now??? You have a deco bottle of 80% nitrox and a lot of deco obligation (i'm ignoring you had a lot of time before). Do you stick to your plan, or head up to 30feet so you can switch to your deco gas when back gas fails. A backup gauge would be nice to have now, but i agree by now its pretty much a complete CF so whatever gets you back safely works.

just a thought

I'm curious, why would you shut off the manifold? If the post is freeflowing, just shut the knob and you still have access to that gas, right?

Anyway, you should have gas planned for just such an occurence and you stick to your plan exactly, immediately after you turn the dive. That's what proper gas planning is all about.

 

[Spectre]

Dude, I need to get me a girlfthat can teach me all this stuff......lucky SOB

I just let you guys think she teaches me all this stuff, so I can sucker you into reading my pontification.