You have GOT TO BE KIDDING!- New Aqualung BC

[deepblueme]

My problem with this bcd is the non standard placement of the inflator/oral inflator/dump.

After working as a DM to "fish watchers" I have in more than one instance in dealing with "experienced" divers had to dump air as they started to rise uncontoled and freaked out.
Also more than once had to oral inflate a paniced diver that had run out of air.
Or gotten into the water under inflated and had to give them a little lift.
( I wasnt always the one that handed out the weights.)

As a DM type staff member I think having standardised gear placement is a good thing- reg over right shoulder inflator/dump left shoulder.
Everyone knows where everything is and how to find it if you need to use it.

Just my 2 cents and I could be wrong.

 

[H2Andy]

I don't need to try it to see the many problems with the idea.

i agree. regardless of the quality of the product, or how easy it is to use, which i can't comment on since i haven't even seen the darned thing, the idea of adding air to go up is not a good one

think about it. when you add air to ascend, you are initiating a potential runaway ascent.

think about how air acts when you ascend. yes, it expands. quickly. the faster you go up, the quicker it expands.

so now you have added air to your BC AND that air is now expanding ...

not a good idea

that system emphasizes bad diving practice (adding air to ascend) to achive its aim, which is to make bouyancy control simpler ... Christ, how much simpler can it be?

 

[HowardE]

So - how do you guys who don't add air to your BCD maintain buoyancy?

I believe we're all in agreement that the advertising is poorly written, but the product itself most likely functions normally

- add air, release air...

 

[H2Andy]

So - how do you guys who don't add air to your BCD maintain buoyancy?

generally by adding air as i descend and releasing air as i ascend, only enough to get me neutral at the new depth

then i fine-control bouyancy with my lungs

 

[HowardE]

generally by adding air as i descend and releasing aid as i ascend

Like I said... they've most likely written the ad geared toward the 5-10 dive a year diver (probably sport divers, not deco / cave / or otherwise technical divers). They've oversimplified the buoyancy concept. It's dummed down, and that is the biggest problem with the advertising for the BCD. Otherwise, it functions normally. I don't think it's inherently a hazard.

 

[H2Andy]

I don't think it's inherently a hazard.

when you hit the "up" button to go up, you are adding air to your bladder

i believe that is unsafe, or at the very least, not a good idea

it's even more hazardous when an unexperienced or out-of-practive diver does it. they probably will not be able to stop a runaway ascent if it starts.

those would be the exact people i woldn't want diving this thing (and they appear to be the target audience)

 

[Missdirected]

generally by adding air as i descend and releasing air as i ascend, only enough to get me neutral at the new depth

then i fine-control bouyancy with my lungs

Ditto on the lung capacity control.

 

[djanni]

Dennis made his point and I think it is right on. Thanks Dennis.

 

[HowardE]

when you hit the "up" button to go up, you are adding air to your bladder

i believe that is unsafe, or at the very least, not a good idea

it's even more hazardous when an unexperienced or out-of-practive diver does it. they probably will not be able to stop a runaway ascent if it starts.

those would be the exact people i woldn't want diving this thing

As I said. The wording is poor... I don't add air to go up either. I add air to achieve neutrality.

This does not change the way the BCD operates. Someone - obviously thought the ad campaign with the Java applet that makes the guy go up and down was a good idea, and they ran with it. Ultimately, this does not change the functionality of the BCD.

I used to dive with a similar side mounted inflate/deflate device. It worked just fine. That's all this thing is.

 

[H2Andy]

Ultimately, this does not change the functionality of the BCD.

I used to dive with a similar side mounted inflate/deflate device. It worked just fine. That's all this thing is.

ok, this is what i am missing then

as i understand it, when you pull the lever up, the BC takes you up by adding air, correct?