Really stupid question... Why dive thirds with doubles?

[SkimFisher]

Good thread guys. Even with it getting a little uncomfortable in here. Lots to take in. I'm finishing out my Cavern course right now and see Cave in my future. Please, continue...

 

[ucfdiver]

You are partially missing the point. If you are diving to thirds on back gas in a low flow cave already, the option is to increase the reserve with a stage, or to design your own custom larger-than-life tanks.

Now, as the dives get longer and become true stage dives, I agree with you completely, I'll breathe the stage and keep the larger reserve in the back gas.

No, I don't believe I am, but I'm only 22 (figured I'd throw that out there, since being under 40 loses points with you). Take 77 cu ft of your backgas and pretend it doesn't exist, then dive 1/3 of what's left. Breathe half the buddy/pony bottle in, half out. Now you have that gas in the back of the cave, where you're most likely to need it. The bottle most likely to fail or get stolen is now not really needed. I'm pretty sure you do this stage diving, why completely change the logic on reserves for a backgas dive?

 

[DA Aquamaster]

Even if someone did sneak one in, I wouldn't mention or complain about scooters in Madison or Peacock unless you NEVER want to be able to use them there....there's lots of amazing cave in Madison that the operating hours and DPV rule will prevent most of us from ever seeing, and it would just be plain fun to scooter the Pothole Tunnel in Peacock (not to mention time saving-- you could see 2-3 places a day compared to taking 2 hours to swim there now.).

Simmer down...Bob's talking about a class that smoked the cave not a scooter.
They were actually a rebreather cave class, not an Intro class, just for the record.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Even if someone did sneak one in, I wouldn't mention or complain about scooters in Madison or Peacock unless you NEVER want to be able to use them there....there's lots of amazing cave in Madison that the operating hours and DPV rule will prevent most of us from ever seeing, and it would just be plain fun to scooter the Pothole Tunnel in Peacock (not to mention time saving-- you could see 2-3 places a day compared to taking 2 hours to swim there now.).

No scooters ... just a class that had the cave so silted up you couldn't see your hand in front of you. They seemed to be following us around most of the week ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[ucfdiver]

Simmer down...Bob's talking about a class that smoked the cave not a scooter.
They were actually a rebreather cave class, not an Intro class, just for the record.

My bad, I misread that.

I bet I can guess the rebreather unit and instructor. But if it's who I think it is, he's an old timer, so it's OK.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

My bad, I misread that.

I bet I can guess the rebreather unit and instructor. But if it's who I think it is, he's an old timer, so it's OK.

... and a very well-known old-timer at that. Frankly, it surprised me.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[DA Aquamaster]

why completely change the logic on reserves for a backgas dive?

Logistics. A single stage lasts numerous dives without the need to top it off if it is just along for the ride. And we all agree that catastrophic failures are extremely remote, so why go to the bother of hauling two stages along for two dives as safety bottles when they are not going to be needed 999 times out of a 1000.

If I am going to actually going to use the gas then absolutely, I'll refigure the reserve for the entire gas supply and carry it in the back gas.

I tmay not make sense to you but it's just a matter of different priorities. It takes little effort to bring a safety bottle along but provides additional gas and addiitonal options. From my perspective, it makes sense. And I'm not mandating anyone else do it that way.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

... and a very well-known old-timer at that. Frankly, it surprised me.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

It surprised me too...

 

[ucfdiver]

... and a very well-known old-timer at that. Frankly, it surprised me.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Not me, his classes always silt out Peacock. It's no secret, everyone's seen or heard about it. If he was younger or from out of town it would be a big deal, but his name is on a few maps so it's all cool.

 

[LiteHedded]

Not me, his classes always silt out Peacock. It's no secret, everyone's seen or heard about it.

yep.