Redundant System Geek?

[MikeFerrara]

Im not picking on you but this statment brings about a good point. You spent the cash for an air integrated computer only to revert back to a SPG. Personaly I wish I could do my diving career over agan. At this point I would probly have an extra $1,000 in my pocket due better gear choices.

I would have save WAY more than $1000
I have at least 4 computers that I don't use and instead use a $120 bottom timer.

I have bc's that I don't use

I have fins that I don't use

And a host of other odds and ends left over from having three divers in the family and listening to people who don't know sheet from shinola.

I've managed to sell a few things and give away a little more but most just sits.

I could have saved an even more impressive sum on classes that I never would have taken.

When I started diving my only source of information was the guy at the LDS who I thought was an expert. Oh well.

 

[salty]

When I started diving my only source of information was the guy at the LDS who I thought was an expert. Oh well.

We all knew that guy in the begining

 

[mossym]

The stand alone octo . . .

why bother with the octo on your inflator? presumably if something goes wrong with your main reg you are going to switch to the standalone octo as well as giving it to your buddy in an out of air situation...when would you ever use the octo on your inflator? i don't know about the others here, but i see a difference between redundant and useless....and like some others have said, just another thing that can go wrong...

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Although I can't be confused with a totally DIR zealot, I must say that one of the best sayings they have is,"If you don't need it, don't take it with you." Each piece of "redundant" gear you have mentioned is also a potential failure point. By having three options to breathe from out of a single tank you have introduced several O-rings into the system. This is a case of "less is more". I believe you will get more enjoyment from your dives by streamlining rather than becoming a floating dive shop.

 

[SamDiver14]

Perhaps a definition of "redundancy" as applies to recreational SCUBA (all non commercial or military) would be helpful????

 

[mossym]

becoming a floating dive shop.

like the way you put that max!!

 

[Scuba_Vixen]

Do any of you have problems diving with buddies that carry redundant systems?

I point to myself as the redundancy geek. I dive with a computer but also carry a SPG and DI as back up. I have a combo octo/inflator for my BC but also carry a safe second.

I must admit that I've gotten strange looks from other divers and I'm certain it was because of the number of hoses they saw coming from my 1st stage.

Not that it matters, I'm not going to change my ways, but would YOU dive with me?

You have all that crap on one 1st stage, if you have a significant air loss failure of any second stage, you'll be SOL on all of them, since the IP will drop too low for any of them to work. This is one of those times where "something else to fail" can definately be a bummer. If it's true redundancy you're seeking, keep the primary and AirII as is, and put the octo on a pony. You could still share air and not use the pony. It would remain truely redundant to main tank failure.

As far as rec diving goes, I doubt anyone has serious issues with a console and computer both, especially if it's an AI computer. Personally, I like having the compass at the end of the console, as my arms are too short to read it clearly when wrist mounted and my AirZNitrox AI computer stops reading tank data when scootering, so I have the spg as needed backup.

But the real issue is "Are we using a band aid approach" (minimal reduncy) to try to make dives that should be done on more advanced gear configurations, doable with rec configurations with at least some semblance of risk management. Why would one "need" redundancy at a depth where they could ESA from ....... And alternatively, Why would anyone accept partial or minimal redundancy at depths they can't hope to ESA from!

Accident statistics show that equipment is seldom the cause of an incident .. it's usually: A) lack of experience (especially recent experience) and/or B) lack of training / skills appropriate for the dive (which includes knowing what gear to do the dive in)

There is a growing feeling among experienced divers that if you feel you need a redundant gas system for safety, then you really need to be diving doubles, and not just a pony. I think there's 2 sides to that argument (specifically in the 80' to 130' range) ..... BUT 3 second stages on 1 first stage is a clusterf*ck in anyone's book.

BTW ... You didn't mention a redundant mask, but it's at the top of the list of things Murphy will spring on you.

Whether I'd dive with you isn't so much a matter of what you wear, but the mindset that brought about your choices and your ability to manage it all safely.

dive safe,

Darlene

 

[adder70]

However, I don't have a redundant depth indicator (assuming that's what DI means) instead relying on the buddies depth guage.
-Rob

Here is where I admit the most embarrassing "What was I thinking?!" moment I have had. Remember, this was probably my 25th dive. I had great redundancy using my old computer along with the new. Then on the second dive I realized as I hit the bottom that they were both sitting on the boat! :11: I figured, well I'll use the buddy's depth gauge and go tables for the day. Then we were going back, my buddy was leading, and I got caught in a current she wasn't in. (I was trying to stay above her for conservatism, but that put me in the current.) We had turned because I was getting low on air (~1000 psi, with a flag and about 50 yards from the boat, I would guess.) I was sucking down the air trying to keep up, and finally gave up at 400psi. I then stopped and thought for just a moment to gather my wits, and watched the bubbles for an ascent rate, and took a nice conservative safety stop at somewhere between 10 and 20 feet. Of course, my buddy was freaking out and asking about me as she got on the boat, and even a bit in tears realizing she had left me. She was very relieved when she realized I was OK, so I would definitely dive with her again. I would guess she probably STILL thinks about that every time she begins a dive.

SO using the buddy's gauge only works if you thumb the dive, IMHO, and that your buddy knows to stay really close. I wonder if a Sausage with markings on the line for every 5 feet could be a crude backup for depth indication? Hmm...

 

[String]

I wonder if a Sausage with markings on the line for every 5 feet could be a crude backup for depth indication? Hmm...

In no current situations its fine. In a high current where the angle of the line can be anything from 30 to 70 degrees its not a lot of use.

 

[adder70]

In no current situations its fine. In a high current where the angle of the line can be anything from 30 to 70 degrees its not a lot of use.

Yes, but I am an engineer. I can approximate the vertical distance based on the angle and the length traveled on the angle. Of course, in low vis I would have to determine true vertical. I guess I would have to design a little enclosed weight on a line to establish the direction of gravity. What? Me? a Geek? Never!!