Spg, AI, both

[stuartv]

My friend @stuartv

We have known each other for a long time. We know each other pretty well, I'm sorry we still haven't had the opportunity to dive together. I don't think my description can easily be misconstrued. I haven't carried a backup transmitter with me on trips, that can be easily remedied. I dive with a setup that I am comfortable with, I'm sure that is true for you too.

Likewise! You know that I do enjoy discussing this topic. But, in the end, no matter how, umm, passionate I may wax about it, I'm not going to give you grief (to your face or behind your back) about it. Use a transmitter. Use a HP hose with it. Use an SPG. Use 2 of each. Use a J valve. I do NOT care.

I really hope we'll get to dive together someday soon.

I really do think the data you are able to share about your specifics is awesome.

In the meantime, Ima shut up.

 

[scubadada]

Likewise! You know that I do enjoy discussing this topic. But, in the end, no matter how, umm, passionate I may wax about it, I'm not going to give you grief (to your face or behind your back) about it. Use a transmitter. Use a HP hose with it. Use an SPG. Use 2 of each. Use a J valve. I do NOT care.

I really hope we'll get to dive together someday soon.

I really do think the data you are able to share about your specifics is awesome.

In the meantime, Ima shut up.

Your invitation to join me in Florida is forever open my friend. Someday we will be able to do it.

 

[L13]

The ports on my first stage mean a directly attached transmitter would easily be mistaken and used as a handle. Hence it’s on a 15in hose with a quick release.

I have no issues, or ask you to change your configuration to replicate mine. So why are you so adamant I change to the way you do things. With over 2k dives I’ll continue to configure my kit as I see fit.

Why the quick release?

 

[mcohen1021]

Both. If my transmitter fails I don't have to end my dive.

 

[stuartv]

Ok, I’ve seen a couple of references to people leaving their transmitters at home or in the car. I leave mine permanently on my first stage. Is there a reason to disconnect? I assume it goes to sleep once pressure is disconnected, and this is confirmed by long battery life.

The only reason I can think of is if you share the same transmitter between different reg sets. E.g. move it between a single tank reg set and a set of regs for doubles.

I use transmitters in single tank, doubles, and sidemount - so, 4, total, for OC diving. But, I am very fortunate to be able to get them at dealer cost and to be able to afford to have ones dedicated to each of those different reg sets. So, I never remove my transmitters from the 1st stages I use them on. And, that also makes for a very convenient set of ready spares at hand. When I am attempting to travel "light", I still throw a spare 1st stage with a transmitter and 2nd stage into my luggage somewhere.

Yes, they do go to sleep once you depressurize the 1st stage to which it is connected.

 

[gmerick]

I look at this as a valid reason to have both: I dive sidemount. If the situation comes up where I might donate a tank, it would be nice for the tank to have a pressure gauge. Agreed, if that situation does come up, the dive is ending anyway. Even so, the tank should be within 500psi of the one I keep, and it should have an adequate remaining pressure to do a safety stop and surface. The gauge is there to take care of that one bit of stress in an already stressful situation.

 

[stuartv]

I look at this as a valid reason to have both: I dive sidemount. If the situation comes up where I might donate a tank, it would be nice for the tank to have a pressure gauge. Agreed, if that situation does come up, the dive is ending anyway. Even so, the tank should be within 500psi of the one I keep, and it should have an adequate remaining pressure to do a safety stop and surface. The gauge is there to take care of that one bit of stress in an already stressful situation.

Do you also weight yourself so that you will not lose control of your buoyancy after you donate a tank, and your remaining tank is nearly empty?

I dive sidemount sometimes. I will never be donating my tank to anyone. They will get my long hose, if they need it.

I'm FAR from an expert in sidemount, but I don't think I have ever heard of sidemount training that included donating one of your primary cylinders (i.e. not a deco/bail out/stage cylinder) to someone else.

 

[SlugLife]

This topic has come up a number of times, and you can probably find several 90-page threads on this topic.

Technically speaking I have both, but practically speaking, I'm "AI Only," because I don't have a SPG for redundancy purposes. The reason I have a SPG is for checking tank-pressure without using my dive-watch. For that, you can either use a button-SPG, or get a short HP hose.

edit: I did have my watch-battery die once without noticing until I was in the water. It was a 30ft near-shore dive, so it was convenient then, because it saved me from having to get back on the boat, swap the battery, etc. (I do sidemount, which is how I was able to see the pressure)

 

[SlugLife]

Do you also weight yourself so that you will not lose control of your buoyancy after you donate a tank, and your remaining tank is nearly empty?

I dive sidemount sometimes. I will never be donating my tank to anyone. They will get my long hose, if they need it.

I'm FAR from an expert in sidemount, but I don't think I have ever heard of sidemount training that included donating one of your primary cylinders (i.e. not a deco/bail out/stage cylinder) to someone else.

IMO, that would only be a potential issue with Steel tanks.

Being able to donate a tank, is different from whether you would donate a tank. Use-cases for actually donating a tank would be rare, but not impossible. For example, a diver who is unable to surface (entangled, trapped in debris, etc). These kinds of use-cases would probably be 1% of air-share use-cases.

edit: I do have experience diving sidemount with "odd" configurations offset, including 80cu AL + 19cu AL. It's really not bad, even without offsetting weight to the right-side, and I'm used to it by now and barely.

I did once dive 100cu Steel + 6cu AL, and that was REALLY annoying, because I kept tilting to the left a hard 35 to 40 degrees, and even if I corrected myself, it took a mere moment for me to be back to lopsided-fish trim. It wasn't dangerous, but it was annoying.

 

[Scared Silly]

A diver with AI knows how much gas they have. A diver with AI and an SPG is is never sure.