The New Dive Rite Optima CM - My 30 Hour Review

[Heat Miser]

I've been reading @Superlyte27's slander (lol ) of the rEvo for years now

détente

I find myself turning the ADV inline shut off on and off so much, that someteimes the LPI pops off.

I wonder if its because I have it attached to a high quality reg with high IP whether sometimes the dil slow leaks into the loop? Is that possible? I may yet swap out for the MAV but not certain I know the Chop intimately enough yet.

 

[grantctobin]

détente
I wonder if its because I have it attached to a high quality reg with high IP whether sometimes the dil slow leaks into the loop? Is that possible?

That is unlikely. If that continues to be a problem, I’d try different inflator hoses or slide a 112/DIN o-ring over the collar. Downside is increased difficulty disconnecting.

 

[stretchthepenn]

- I am not thrilled that I cannot reach my power inflator for my wing with my right hand when I have the Chop clipped on. When diving my rEvo, I often use either hand for adding gas to my wing or adding O2 or dil to my loop. With the Chop, adding dil or wing gas is a left hand-only affair. And, if I have a light on the back of my left hand, I can't use it to reach my drysuit inflator, either.

I typically dive with a light on my left hand, and I have little problem accessing the drysuit inflator with that hand. And sometimes I use my right hand for inflation. Both work for me on the Choptima.

- I got my Chop with a NERD 2 controller. It uses the Divesoft mounting system to attach it to the DSV. I wish it held the NERD lower. I bent the bracket to get the NERD as low as I could but it is still higher in my field of view than I would like - i.e. higher than the NERD on my rEvo. But, it is really nice that it holds the NERD solidly and doesn't let it shift around on the DSV like the rEvo mount allows.

@Rollin Bonz found a fellow on FB who makes a low-profile NERD mount that replaces a DSV-to-hose ring. It looks pretty sweet, and I'm thinking about ordering one.

 

[boriss]

I'm really not sure what you're trying to say there. But, I do know that they have an optional kit to change the connector on the dil ADV/MAV from a standard LPI nipple to a QC6 (which is very high flow). Of course, you have to use a hose from your dilout that has a QC6 connector on it as well. But, I don't want to change mine to QC6. That would introduce a big headache for me with all the hoses I would have to add or change on my various regs.

Yes, so I'm not talking about QC6, I mean there are different types of LPI connections and some are higher flowing than others (apparently). My instructor was telling me about something like that and it honestly went in one ear and out the other. The MAV injects so much gas so quickly I hardly see a reason to go with a QC6.

When I return to doing 100ft/min descents I may eat my words, but I just checked my Shearwater logs and so far the fastest I've done is 60ft/min descents and even then I couldn't just hold the button.... quick push for a little squirt and that's it.

At the very least try the MAV. If you dive with other Choptima divers, it takes a few minutes to swap between MAV/ADV.

 

[Heat Miser]

I want to publicly acknowledge how right @Superlyte27 was/is.

I've been diving a rEvo for 4 years. I was happy with

So @stuartv have you attached a gag strap to your chomptima?

 

[Superlyte27]

@stuartv
Next time you’re in FL, hit me up and dive my BM Optima. Breathes almost as good as the Chop and no chest clutter. I’m nearly certain you’d sell the rEvo. I did.

I still think the Chop is the absolute best for travel and wreck.

 

[stuartv]

So @stuartv have you attached a gag strap to your chomptima?

No. Not yet.

@stuartv
Next time you’re in FL, hit me up and dive my BM Optima. Breathes almost as good as the Chop and no chest clutter. I’m nearly certain you’d sell the rEvo. I did.

I still think the Chop is the absolute best for travel and wreck.

Thank you! I would love to take you up on that. And I'm still hoping to demo a Genesis at some point, too.

 

[Superlyte27]

No. Not yet.



Thank you! I would love to take you up on that. And I'm still hoping to demo a Genesis at some point, too.

I have 1 here you can borrow and 3 3.1's coming next month.

 

[addohm]

- I am not thrilled that I cannot reach my power inflator for my wing with my right hand when I have the Chop clipped on. When diving my rEvo, I often use either hand for adding gas to my wing or adding O2 or dil to my loop. With the Chop, adding dil or wing gas is a left hand-only affair. And, if I have a light on the back of my left hand, I can't use it to reach my drysuit inflator, either.

This is great input. The only thing I would add is that the power inflator should be between the Choptima and your chest, which allows you to reach it with either the left or right hand. Also, I too had the same issue with the feeling that the loop hoses were too short. But, after some time and adjustment, specifically the shoulder d-rings and bolt snaps, I find that its not an issue anymore.

I do not like how that works. Further, we were told numerous times in training that, if we were ever going to do hot drops in the ocean, we would want to change the dil connection from a LP inflator connect to a QC6. Otherwise, the dil valve would not be able to keep up with the volume requirement of a deep, fast descent.

I have the QC6 adapter for my unit. I have everything except the skid plate (its on the way) and ive learned recently, the hard way, to zip tie the adapter part so that you cannot accidentally disconnect it mid-dive.

- I do not care for diving sidemount off an ocean boat. So, to use the Chop, I would be diving it with back mounted doubles. I would much rather have a rEvo on my back and sling BO bottles on my sides than dive with a Chop on my front and double steel tanks on my back.

I get that its a preference but both involve sidemount in one way or another.

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The only thing I don't like about the Choptima, and eCCR in general, is that its very hard to predict added gas. I set my ADV\MAV down to the absolute minimum and I still have a hard time at shallower depths managing the loop volume. I've got fully manual MAV on the way and have every intention on switching them out. Otherwise, I have zero complaints. This is an amazingly versatile piece of kit. Cave, deep, wreck, whatever.

I personally wish you could see the po2 of all 4 sensors instead of just the three through the nerd\petrel.