Quick Disconnect Dive Computers

[divinh]

I currently dive with a Cressi Giotto and an SPG.

When I did a liveaboard, I dove with two Cressi Giotto's for redundancy.

I've noticed that some people do SPG, dive computer, and dive computer with air integration for full redundancy.

I have a Sherwood Vision on order for full redundancy. It's not going to be as elegant as having a dive computer with a transmitter, as I will likely have the Vision replace where my current SPG is connected. The Vision will be on my left side and the SPG will need to be relocated over onto the right, to use the other HP port on the first stage.

Given how much gear gets tossed around when in dive bags, should I /only/ be connecting the Vision to the first stage when my gear is all setup and then disconnecting it at the end of the dive day, before putting the gear into a dive bag? How much do I need to baby the Vision? It doesn't have the thick rubber bumpers of most analog gauges.

Also, does the quick disconnect hose self-seal, i.e. if there's no computer attached, the reg can still be used to dive with?

 

[JackD342]

I currently dive with a Cressi Giotto and an SPG.

When I did a liveaboard, I dove with two Cressi Giotto's for redundancy.

I've noticed that some people do SPG, dive computer, and dive computer with air integration for full redundancy.

I have a Sherwood Vision on order for full redundancy. It's not going to be as elegant as having a dive computer with a transmitter, as I will likely have the Vision replace where my current SPG is connected. The Vision will be on my left side and the SPG will need to be relocated over onto the right, to use the other HP port on the first stage.

Given how much gear gets tossed around when in dive bags, should I /only/ be connecting the Vision to the first stage when my gear is all setup and then disconnecting it at the end of the dive day, before putting the gear into a dive bag? How much do I need to baby the Vision? It doesn't have the thick rubber bumpers of most analog gauges.

Also, does the quick disconnect hose self-seal, i.e. if there's no computer attached, the reg can still be used to dive with?

Ha! I was just talking through hose connection options with a customer regarding her Aeris A300AI, which is the original version of the Vision before Aeris tanked. So I am very up to speed.

First, that HP hose does have a shutoff when disconnected. I just tested it to be sure with my own hose from my old Aeris. But that does NOT mean it is intended to dive without something attached. I know I for sure would not do that myself. Also, my Aeris A300AI has shows some wear and tear, but nothing is broken or damaged. Has held up well. (again, that is the same as the Sherwood Vision, except for the dual algorithm on mine.)

I think you are the first person I have heard using two HP hoses on the same 1st stage. (Excepting use of a short HP hose for an AI transmitter) Doesn't mean you can't or shouldn't, just wondering what your reason is.

I use my console computer as a back up to my hoseless AI when diving. However, when using that regulator set in a pool, I have an analog SPG with an extra QD nipple attached, so I can just pop that on in place of the computer. Does that suggest any other options to you?

 

[Scared Silly]

As noted above a HP quick disconnect (QD) does seal when not in use. It seals in a similar fashion as a presta-valve. As for gear in a bag. I have always had my computers on QDs. That said, one can get padded sleeves that will give adequate protection in most cases.

 

[scubadada]

My family has had a number of Oceanic Pro Pluses, and Pro Plus 2s staring in about 2002. All have been on quick disconnects and all have been 100% trouble free. We take them off the gear at the end of the day. We transport them in padded sleeves.

 

[divinh]

Ha! I was just talking through hose connection options with a customer regarding her Aeris A300AI, which is the original version of the Vision before Aeris tanked. So I am very up to speed.

Ha, awesome!

First, that HP hose does have a shutoff when disconnected. I just tested it to be sure with my own hose from my old Aeris. But that does NOT mean it is intended to dive without something attached. I know I for sure would not do that myself. Also, my Aeris A300AI has shows some wear and tear, but nothing is broken or damaged. Has held up well. (again, that is the same as the Sherwood Vision, except for the dual algorithm on mine.)

Has the wear and tear from being in a dive bag? Or have you been disconnecting whenever it's to be in a dive bag?

From what I've read, the Sherwood Vision, Aeris A300AI and Subgear XP-Air are all the same, made by Pelagic Pressure Systems, though the Aeris A300AI has the advantage of a 3D compass.

I think you are the first person I have heard using two HP hoses on the same 1st stage. (Excepting use of a short HP hose for an AI transmitter) Doesn't mean you can't or shouldn't, just wondering what your reason is.

I use my console computer as a back up to my hoseless AI when diving. However, when using that regulator set in a pool, I have an analog SPG with an extra QD nipple attached, so I can just pop that on in place of the computer. Does that suggest any other options to you?

The Vision will serve as the primary pressure gauge and the SPG will be the backup. The idea is to have two means of measuring gas.

From what I've read, it seems people have an AI dive computer, SPG, and backup computer for when traveling in remote locations. I'll be roughly doing the same, but a Vision in place of an AI dive computer.

Where can extra QD nipples be had? Also, are there QD "terminators" so that the hose can stay attached but properly terminated for diving?

 

[divinh]

As noted above a HP quick disconnect (QD) does seal when not in use. It seals in a similar fashion as a presta-valve. As for gear in a bag. I have always had my computers on QDs. That said, one can get padded sleeves that will give adequate protection in most cases.

Ah, good to know about padded sleeves and being able to leave the dive computer on. Thanks!

 

[divinh]

My family has had a number of Oceanic Pro Pluses, and Pro Plus 2s staring in about 2002. All have been on quick disconnects and all have been 100% trouble free. We take them off the gear at the end of the day. We transport them in padded sleeves.

Another mention of padded sleeves. Time to look for them.

 

[JackD342]

Ha, awesome!



Has the wear and tear from being in a dive bag? Or have you been disconnecting whenever it's to be in a dive bag?

From what I've read, the Sherwood Vision, Aeris A300AI and Subgear XP-Air are all the same, made by Pelagic Pressure Systems, though the Aeris A300AI has the advantage of a 3D compass.



The Vision will serve as the primary pressure gauge and the SPG will be the backup. The idea is to have two means of measuring gas.

From what I've read, it seems people have an AI dive computer, SPG, and backup computer for when traveling in remote locations. I'll be roughly doing the same, but a Vision in place of an AI dive computer.

Where can extra QD nipples be had? Also, are there QD "terminators" so that the hose can stay attached but properly terminated for diving?

Wear and tear is just from use, and is very minimal. I leave connected until gear is stored or packed. Sometimes the sleeve goes on, sometimes not.
QD nipple is a separate part from Sherwood, oddly it is NOT available from Aqualung, owner of Pelagic. Let me know if you want me to get you one, but first you should send me a photo of your SPG, especially where it connects to the hose. On mine, I trimmed the analog boot back a bit to make room for the AI hose connector. No, no terminators I have ever seen.

And think through your needs a bit. Do you really require back-up SPG on every dive? Or are you okay to just have a backup in your bag that week on the very outside chance your AI console craps out?
I think I went 15 years with just an AI console before I added redundancy, and that still wasn’t because anything failed.

 

[divinh]

Wear and tear is just from use, and is very minimal. I leave connected until gear is stored or packed. Sometimes the sleeve goes on, sometimes not.
QD nipple is a separate part from Sherwood, oddly it is NOT available from Aqualung, owner of Pelagic. Let me know if you want me to get you one, but first you should send me a photo of your SPG, especially where it connects to the hose. On mine, I trimmed the analog boot back a bit to make room for the AI hose connector. No, no terminators I have ever seen.

And think through your needs a bit. Do you really require back-up SPG on every dive? Or are you okay to just have a backup in your bag that week on the very outside chance your AI console craps out?
I think I went 15 years with just an AI console before I added redundancy, and that still wasn’t because anything failed.

My SPG is bare bones, no boot, just brass and glass. It's a Deep6 one:

Deep 6 BAR (Metric) SPG

The whole redundancy part is from doing a liveaboard and in that research, redundancy was called for, as there would be no dive shop to source replacements from. A backup computer is needed for sure, just so if the primary fails, the trip isn't ruined. For gas, depending on an AI console and having an SPG in the travel bag would be fine, though if the AI console fails, it would be good to have the SPG already connected.

Liveaboard config: AI console, SPG, wrist dive computer
Normal config: AI console only or AI console and wrist dive computer or SPG and wrist dive computer are possibilities

It's great to know you've gotten such reliability from the AI console!

 

[Hoag]

On my last LOB (the Aquacat in Oct 2017), my dive computer, an Oceanic PP3 AI hosed DC, failed 108' on the first dive of the day. I did not have any redundancy so I signaled to my buddy that I was OK but my DC was toast and I was headed back to the boat. (It was right above us.) I was able to borrow a DC from the boat. They had it hooked up on my first stage before people started surfacing from the dive I aborted. I was aware that this new computer did not have my dive history for the week and therefore did not have an indication of any residual N2 in my body, but since the failure happened at the start of the 1st dive of the day and I hadn't dove since the afternoon before (I skipped the night dive), I used it at "face value" and dove pretty conservatively for the rest of the day (including again, skipping the night dive).

After I got home, I took my PP3 into my LDS to have it repaired if possible & look for a redundant system so that I will never have to be reliant on the boat for anything other than a wrench to swap out parts.

Unfortunately, I have not had a chance to get diving since that trip, but when the dust settled, I had the redundancy I was looking for. My current set-up is this:
My primary DC is my (repaired) Oceanic ProPlus 3 hosed AI DC;
A (new) Oceanic Geo2 wrist (non-AI) DC as a backup that I will take on every dive; and if my PP# fails, I will swap it out for
A Deep6 SPG.

I can dive using my PP3 as my primary and if it craps out on me I simply swap it out for the SPG and keep diving but now using my Geo2 as my DC.