Wreck Diving with a Choptima?

[Wibble]

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.

The general recommendation is to get one of the common rebreathers -- the ChOptima is fine -- and dive the backside out of it for a good 200 hours or more. The simple progression is then to do MOD2 (normoxic trimix to 60m/200ft or 70m/230ft), then dive the backside out of that.

Progressing beyond that requires a lot of dedication, practice and skill, as per the MOD3 course (circa 100m/330ft, hypoxic mixes, etc.)

Back to the early days; diving CCR is a lot more involved than open circuit. Specifically there's a lot more prep and planning, plus a ton of different skills to constantly master including bailouts, flushes, failures and more failures. The hard skills are doing ascents in open water and keeping your buoyancy spot on at your decompression stops -- the 6m/20ft stop is surprisingly hard until one day it all clicks into place.

Diving a rebreather is really pleasant and worth all the extra effort for the freedom it brings.

 

[PEDiver]

Maybe we can convince each other to buy matching back units later lol.

Rebreathers have a funny way of multiplying so it’s not inconceivable…

 

[Mike VonDebag]

The general recommendation is to get one of the common rebreathers -- the ChOptima is fine -- and dive the backside out of it for a good 200 hours or more. The simple progression is then to do MOD2 (normoxic trimix to 60m/200ft or 70m/230ft), then dive the backside out of that.

Progressing beyond that requires a lot of dedication, practice and skill, as per the MOD3 course (circa 100m/330ft, hypoxic mixes, etc.)

Back to the early days; diving CCR is a lot more involved than open circuit. Specifically there's a lot more prep and planning, plus a ton of different skills to constantly master including bailouts, flushes, failures and more failures. The hard skills are doing ascents in open water and keeping your buoyancy spot on at your decompression stops -- the 6m/20ft stop is surprisingly hard until one day it all clicks into place.

Diving a rebreather is really pleasant and worth all the extra effort for the freedom it brings.

Doubtful I'll go beyond 200' honestly. Deepest wreck I can think of, one I can dive regularly, is the Oriskany. So I'll probably call shops around Pensacola and see what units they're teaching on as well. However I am looking into the choptima because I know my local dive buddy has one (he taught my extended range course) and is willing to dive the ****** TX waters with me for practice dives. Until the better trips come along lol. I know it's good to have a dive buddy with the same unit. So buying the Choptima will allow me to get dives in more regularly.

I was just wondering if anyone else had experience with using the choptima for vacation wreck diving in the 100'-150' range. From my research there are a ton of wrecks in that depth range off the coast of FL and that how I want to spend my vacations lol

 

[broncobowsher]

Talk with Ben @DiveTucson
Loves his Choptima, teaches others as well.
Does caves and wrecks. I know he wants to do the Oriskany (tried in the bast but bad weather)
Mainly find him in Florida and Mexico caves. But I have been with Ben in plenty of wrecks as well.

There are a lot of Choptima fans out there. I just never drank that flavor of Kool-aid. I dive a rEvo and it fits my needs just fine.

 

[mr_v]

I was just wondering if anyone else had experience with using the choptima for vacation wreck diving in the 100'-150' range.

Chest mounted units are hot now and there are many divers who use them for all sorts of adventures. Choptima will serve you well, don't sweat it.

 

[Michael Greenberg Manfish]

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.

It would be a good idea to also mention your Chop certification.. Some people think you can go to those depths on a recreational air dil certification.

 

[LFMarm]

It would be a good idea to also mention your Chop certification.. Some people think you can go to those depths on a recreational air dil certification.

I assume that everyone diving to a certain depth on CCR is certified for it. Much easier to kill yourself on CCR without training than OC, at any depth. I am very skeptical of people trying friends units shallow without instructor supervision. Plenty of documented fatalities in less than 10m. Going deep off course requires even more experience and preparation.