Wreck Diving with a Choptima?

[Mike VonDebag]

Sadly, the only instructors around me teach the Prism 2. So I know I'll probably be able to find a location to do a try dive on that unit at some point.

However a buddy of mine has a Choptima. He sems to like it but he's mostly diving cave country with it. I'm not against going into a cave. However my main goal is dive the Oriskany as often as possible because it's a bit closer than cave country and there are other cool things to see in the Pensacola area.

My buddy hasn't done anything past 120' from what I can remember. I'll have to ask him when he gets back from the holidays.

I'm just wondering if anyone here regularly dives their Chop on FL wrecks in the 100'-150' range and how they like it?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

Not routinely but I have had my Choptima past 300 fsw off of Curacao & that same depth range at Eagles' Nest cave in Florida. Routinely 90-100 ffw in North Florida caves.

Probably been on the Spiegel Grove 30-40 times with it. The Chop is my fourth rebreather & is as good as any I have had.

 

[Mike VonDebag]

Not routinely but I have had my Choptima past 300 fsw off of Curacao & that same depth range at Eagles' Nest cave in Florida. Routinely 90-100 ffw in North Florida caves.

Probably been on the Spiegel Grove 30-40 times with it. The Chop is my fourth rebreather & is as good as any I have had.

Thanks. I plan to have at least two lol. Figured I could start on the Chop and then run the Chop as my bailout when I buy a back mount unit. Knowing the ins and outs of the future bailout unit will be beneficial. I just wish I found a back mount unit I liked based on the research alone lol

 

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

rEvo is a great backmount unit.

 

[PEDiver]

I just wish I found a back mount unit I liked based on the research alone lol

If you're willing to do your training in FL, which it sounds like you are, there are a number of good instructors on BM units like the JJ, XCCR, and Fathom, to name a few. Those are all better options than the Prism 2 IMO.

 

[Wibble]

Thanks. I plan to have at least two lol. Figured I could start on the Chop and then run the Chop as my bailout when I buy a back mount unit. Knowing the ins and outs of the future bailout unit will be beneficial. I just wish I found a back mount unit I liked based on the research alone lol

Bailout rebreathers (BoB -- BailOut 'Breathers) are much more complex to dive than standard open circuit bailouts and still require bottom bailout gas. However, they do come into their own if diving very deep or long penetrations, both where large volumes of bailout gas are impractical through cost or quantity.

In essence, a BoB needs to be continually monitored through the dive to ensure the loop gas is breathable, the oxygen levels are correct and the unit is working. It is a very complex and advanced skill.

 

[LFMarm]

I don’t think any agency has a course on bailout rebreathers. Does anybody know any instructors who teach how to dive them safely?

 

[Wibble]

By the time you're ready for a bailout rebreather, you'd be an experienced MOD3 diver with a lot of complex and challenging dives under your belt. You'd already be as good as most MOD3 instructors, so a course isn't required. Maybe some mentoring from a top-end instructor who actually uses a BoB for their dives.

 

[Mike VonDebag]

Bailout rebreathers (BoB -- BailOut 'Breathers) are much more complex to dive than standard open circuit bailouts and still require bottom bailout gas. However, they do come into their own if diving very deep or long penetrations, both where large volumes of bailout gas are impractical through cost or quantity.

In essence, a BoB needs to be continually monitored through the dive to ensure the loop gas is breathable, the oxygen levels are correct and the unit is working. It is a very complex and advanced skill.

Yea I'm a million years away from it. Just like to buy once cry once. If the Choptima can be utilized in other ways as my diving befokes more technical then great. Currently I just want to travel and hang out in the 100'-150' range for as long as possible. However I know that'll lead me to other adventures and want to make sure whatever I buy now can still be a functional part of my future kit.

The fact a buddy already dives the choptima makes it ideal. Maybe we can convince each other to buy matching back units later lol.

 

[Mike VonDebag]

I don’t think any agency has a course on bailout rebreathers. Does any body know of any instructors who teach how to dive them safely?

During my research I believe I saw Divesoft offering a bailout course with their sidemount set-up. That was while traveling down one of the many rabbit holes this type of diving seems to send people down lol