Private Boat - Emergency O2

[Ana]

I just want to add my 2 cents about O2 on board.

You HAVE TO HAVE IT!
I bought a DAN kit when I bought the boat and part of me felt it was a waste. Then over 10 years later, after refreshing that O2 many times, one day when we least expected one of us got bent, doing the same silly dive we did (and continue to do) for several decades. Having the O2 on board made a difference ....if not a real medical difference because it took little over an hour to the chamber, at least it was a mental difference, knowing you are already breathing pure oxygen so at least the tingling and potential pain is gone.

There's no "undeserved hit" if you go diving you have a ticket for the Get Bent Lottery. You can get extra tickets with your actions, but if you get in the water at least one ticket is yours for sure.

 

[InWay2Deep]

Personally I would never hookah my O2. I'd have an AL40 slung or at the least (1 or 2) hanging on the mooring line, pressurized but off. There's nobody going to stop you from doing something non standard but I'd want my safety equipment all with me, not rolling around on an unattended boat. This is of course with a DAN o2 kit onboard. I keep one in my truck 100% of the time, it gets setup at the dive site before everything else, on a boat i'd leave it in the box.

 

[PfcAJ]

a full face mask should be worn when breathing 100%.

well that’s baloney.

 

[tursiops]

well that’s baloney.

Well, maybe Kielbasa, if not baloney. It depends on the depth and the situation. For IWR deeper than 20 ft, with an attendant, Yes, FFM is good. Otherwise, the benefits are negligible.

 

[johndiver999]

I got the impression they are doing deep aggressive dives from an unattended boat in the ocean. Is that correct?

If so. That has the stupid meter pegged in my mind. However if that is the scenario than hanging a second stage just doesn’t have that many negatives. Of course the OP knows he might not make it back to the boat or have a heart attack or might have trouble climbing back on board if he’s injured and has no help. Of course it is safer to carry a stage bottle of deco gas!!!

It sounds like they want the freedom to dive the way they want and simply want to cut themselves some slack here and there where it is practical, inexpensive and not particularly bothersome.

People dive with hand fed tiger sharks that are biting peoples fins,and nobody raises an eyebrow and then on this thread, others go off on tangents about heart attacks, and purity of oxygen and full face masks. It’s surprising to me.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

The OP said they limit their dives to double digit depths, non-deco, and breathing 32%. On what planet would those be considered deep aggressive dives? There is no need for in-water O2 for these types of dives. We make similar dives on our boat and keep a DAN O2 kit onboard.

 

[Fishhy]

For a recreational diver going on their own or buddy's boat, something like this might be good to have as an all-in-one emergency backup:

Rapid Oxygen R15 Emergency Oxygen Delivery System ROR15

The RAPID OXYGEN: R15 Emergency Oxygen Delivery System is a revolutionary delivery system providing 100% humidified oxygen to victims in emergencies who are having trouble breathing and require 911 assistance. Unlike oxygen cylinders (compr

mdmaxx.com

 

[Ana]

For a recreational diver going on their own or buddy's boat, something like this might be good to have as an all-in-one emergency backup:

Rapid Oxygen R15 Emergency Oxygen Delivery System ROR15

The RAPID OXYGEN: R15 Emergency Oxygen Delivery System is a revolutionary delivery system providing 100% humidified oxygen to victims in emergencies who are having trouble breathing and require 911 assistance. Unlike oxygen cylinders (compr

mdmaxx.com

First impression is great, but it may not be so great for a boat. Reading the specs leaves you wanting, it only provides 15minutes, may be perfect when emergency people shows up right away.

You can get a real O2 kit for about the same money, maybe less if paying attention to sales and such.
Once you have the kit, adding a bottle or ten is really easy. Like any piece of dive gear, you leave one in the garage and they multiply when you're not looking.

 

[tbone1004]

For a recreational diver going on their own or buddy's boat, something like this might be good to have as an all-in-one emergency backup:

Rapid Oxygen R15 Emergency Oxygen Delivery System ROR15

The RAPID OXYGEN: R15 Emergency Oxygen Delivery System is a revolutionary delivery system providing 100% humidified oxygen to victims in emergencies who are having trouble breathing and require 911 assistance. Unlike oxygen cylinders (compr

mdmaxx.com

pretty much useless for diving applications. Get an AL80 or better yet an LP72 for $100, find a deco bottle regulator set for a couple hundred bucks, and get a RescuEAN for $100 and you have an infinitely more useful and versatile system.

 

[Wibble]

Could go through a ton of caveats and warnings, but you're living the life...

Get yourself a clean half-decent cylinder - steel's good; maybe even give it a clean coat of Hammerite so it doesn't rot. Get it cleaned and tested, then filled with oxygen to a decent pressure -- someone with a booster. Have a DIN regulator that's cleaned, i.e. works, then make sure it's kept available, probably around the cabin.

Breathing from a scuba reg means oxygen's not wasted. Breathing from a medical bag -- with a limited flow adapter -- is more wasteful.

If it's of a reasonable size it could be tied to a rope and used for in-water recompression.

Will last for a long time if it's kept in reasonable condition, i.e. doesn't rot/rust.

JFDI. A lot cheaper than dedicated medical kits.