Graham\’s Dive\’s and Rants

Why i like the VR3?

Why do I like the VR3?

Firstly I will start this off by saying I have attended some really good deco lectures, training for Ratio Deco and run these profiles next to a computer tables, (v Planner +2, deco planner and Decochek) with similar results, I am also doing a research paper with Manchester open university on the effects of gasses in the diver so I understand RD, as for the programs I use, well when cutting tables I use two programs and I will say these are very good deco software programs for example

V Planner (allows air breaks and used by a lot of divers on YD)

Deco planner 3 GUE deco software (standard Gases)

Decochek (Mark Elliot’s software which is based on actual dives and profiles)

My progression to the standard I am at now follows the normal route a diver would take PADI tables and then when I had the money cheap Aladdin Tec to start, dives to 25m etc etc, this was followed by courses with TDI, IANTD and DDRC, so I moved to deeper diving with this came tables again and the Tec become a bottom timer, to go with Ratio Deco (RD) now I did this not because I wanted to become a RD guru but because I didn’t have enough money for a computer for my diving which was the VR3,

I had a few occasions where RD is fine with the standard gasses but sometimes I didn’t get the fill I wanted, various excuses with no top pressure, not enough helium etc etc, however I still charged on with the dives, until the day I got bent just a small bend left arm, caused by a number of circumstances that added together put me in the chamber,

1.       A fall with a twin set off the lift where I hit my shoulder  a week before

2.       Wrong fill I wanted 18/45 I got 19/25 (they didn’t have an analyzer neither did I) only a Nitrox one so we only tested for the O2 content

3.       Lifting twin 18’s from the dive boat to the car

4.       Longer bottom time due to a slight problem

Little things that happen that you think it will be ok but it wasn’t and I paid the price for it, a chamber visit and the permanent loss of sensation in my finger tip of my left hand, I had padded the deco out but after running through the computer with the extra exertion and time I was 7 minutes under on “0” conservatism so I got there it was I got the bends I was upset and didn’t want anyone to know, but as time moves on the jokes and digs seam insignificant compared to stopping someone else getting bent and going through what I did, as a solo diver you don’t have somebody there that understand what you are going through. But I now do most of my deeper diving with Gary (Warmwaterdiver) and I trust him without question, not only has he been a good friend and buddy to dive with he has also pulled me back to reality when I book 85 -90 meter dives.

So that’s how I got to the VR3 now allot of people slag this expensive piece of kit off, why if you don’t like it don’t buy it or go diving with it, it’s your choice but it gives me a versatility for which there is no second

1.       if I get a wrong fill I can change the gasses, and run the deco through the VR3 planner and write tables,

2.       It give diver on a rope so I have the ability to fly the curve if I need to

3.       I can set a conservatism to the plan before the dive, some people don’t like this but I do if the sea is rough I add 10% so it gives me that cushion

4.       If the shit hits the fan and I ascend fast with a problem (hand caught in SMB and I have seen divers pass me with this) the VR3 will create tables on screen taking into account what you have just  done

5.       Gives me a Time To Surface constantly changing with the dive and profile,

6.       It gives me a deco plan based on the profile, now I know that they say start at the deepest part of the dive and finish shallow but what if your in the deck ready to leave and you see that piece of spidge on the sea bed you descend get it and an extra 7 minutes are added to the deco planning.

7.       It gives me multiple gas switches so I could loose gas or get a drop tank and just change the gas on the computer no problems,

8.       If I was diving as a team and had to bring a casualty to the surface I could do this easy with just myself as whilst holding them I can see the computer calculating the stops and I’ll deco on back gas until I am near the surface, (you could always loose the third man and bring the casualty up alone do you plan for that?)

9.       It has games for deco, not a big thing but it is a laugh as well as the books for it

There is so much more with the VR3 that I haven’t mentioned and if you have never owned one don’t knock it, I have a few extras now the gas mixing software the updated software including the deep stops colour screen etc. the beauty of the VR3 is that you can change it with the diving and advances in deco plans very easy, yes it costs but what’s your life worth!! And if you are doing these sorts of dives shouldn’t you have the best kit for the job?

OK if you are not doing the deep stuff get the VR2 another brilliant piece of kit and worth the money

In fact as a solo diver (sometimes) I have brought 2 and I still have the Aladdin 2G in the pocket as backup with my pre-cut tables I now leave nothing to chance, Gary also has 2 so if we dive together there’s 4 VR3’s between us this kills the breakdown theory dead. However if a 4 break me and Gary are taking up Ludo J

Now I know there are people out there “dive gods” etc who will say that there method is better and get in to the argument of profiles, good for you this works for me and in the end it’s me diving with it so I couldn’t give a rats arse I’m not changing this for nothing

Thanks for taking the time to read this

Graham

December 14th, 2006 Posted by grahammills | Uncategorized | no comments

Lundy Dives

So this is the Lundy Island dive, weather is crap the rain hasn’t stopped falling but today the weather is good enough to get out there, so i sponge a lift from on of the charters that takes people out for bird watching and pile my kit on to the disgust of the twitchers,

The plan is to drop in the water and the Skipper will go off and drop the party and then come back and pick me up run time agreed, the weather has dropped to a force 4 but there is good shelter in the bay, i drop in negative and drop down i slow the decent and come up on the first sight for the Bottom of Jenny’s cove a granite formation with good wildlife and crustaceans.

The dive is good vis isn’t to bad and there is plenty to see, i have a quick look for some crabs that would want to come back with me, but they elude me, i notice the current picking up and a change in the silt movement and the vis starts to close down. The reason for this is the winds have changed and now this side is getting the worst of the winter weather, i decide to finish the dive there and surface at 3 meters the current is throwing you around and i hit the surface in a swell that the perfect storm would be proud of.

i Look around and see no sign of the boat i then look back at my watch and notice i have surfaced a good 10 minutes before he is due here, due to the current i am getting pulled around and further away from the bay, and still no boat, even on the top of the swell i still cant see the boat, another look at the watch, mmmm OK i am drifting further away so quick compass heading for the bay and dump the air from my wing again back down to the bed.

 Once on the bottom i check the bearing and move off against the current for the bay i use the bottom to move faster than swimming and the breathing is slowed by using the rocks to move along, after about 8 minutes i look at the watch and and push it out for a few more minutes i want the boat there when i surface, depth has slowly been getting shallower so i know i am heading for the bay, at about the 13/14 minutes i leave the bottom and gently come to the surface,

the swell is really bad but there is the boat he starts to come over, but i can see him signalling for me to swim out and parallel to the bay, (later find this was due to the current in that point and he didnt want the boat caught in it). so i swim towards the boat really hard work in the kit, only one thing for it ditch the kit attach a spool and swim for the boat, with out the kit the swim is easier and i make it to the boat, i pass the spool to the skipper and climb up the ladder, once on board i pull in the gear nothing lost great tie it down and we head off for the red lion at clovelly.

 In all a good day diving i sacked the second dive, Knackered from the swimming but the pub beckons and so does the lobster lunch. one down side there were no seals today properly taking shelter from the weather

Graham

December 9th, 2006 Posted by grahammills | Uncategorized | one comment