To 15' down

[Shantyman]

In the December Edition of Yachts and Yachting they described diving kit that was suitable for yachtsmen. This was light weight (you could take it on a plane), was suitable down to 15', with dives of 30 min duration, and qualification took two 3 hour sessions rather than a week because of the shallower depth than standard training. Unfortunately they did not give helpful internet directions.
Nor did they give any details of what compressor equiptment was required.
Can anybody supply the missing bits to this jigsaw.

[Tony Dwyer]

In the December Edition of Yachts and Yachting they described diving kit that was suitable for yachtsmen. This was light weight (you could take it on a plane), was suitable down to 15', with dives of 30 min duration, and qualification took two 3 hour sessions rather than a week because of the shallower depth than standard training. Unfortunately they did not give helpful internet directions.
Nor did they give any details of what compressor equiptment was required.
Can anybody supply the missing bits to this jigsaw.


I suspect it may have been this;

http://www.mini-b.com

Dive kit in a bag or case.

[TrevorB]

Its only an overgrown Pony in a bag with a bladder
Love the idea of a 9 cert (would like to see the rules)
would prefer my weights not to be in the bag
If the bladders fails I might want to ditch them but keep the air
I notice people in the film have weight belts

[ChristianG]

It's yet another variation on a theme and, at best, a compromise.

At best.

What non divers fail to realise is that in some ways the 0-33' sector of any dive might be the most dangerous in that this is the depth area where the greatest imbalance of pressure occurs. This can easily lead, amongst the unwary/naive/innocent, to barotrauma including complete hearing/balance loss and the risk of "blowing up" your lungs, inter alia.

[Tony Dwyer]

It's yet another variation on a theme and, at best, a compromise.

At best.

What non divers fail to realise is that in some ways the 0-33' sector of any dive might be the most dangerous in that this is the depth area where the greatest imbalance of pressure occurs. This can easily lead, amongst the unwary/naive/innocent, to barotrauma including complete hearing/balance loss and the risk of "blowing up" your lungs, inter alia.

Well, if there's anyone on this forum that didn't already know that, you've done us a service. :)

Seriously though, the world is full of people who attempt various activities without researching and understanding the risks involved. Such behaviour should be regarded as Darwinian and likely to improve the overall gene pool.

I have been asked several times to teach people to dive, but leave out the theory stuff, as they just want to go diving. The stupids are in the majority.

[John Bantin]

As I understand it, Rob Hart's course for the Mini-B is HSE approved. He told me he was abandoning the diving market and concentrating on the massive (worldwide) boat-owner market and had developed a course to address those people.

[Richard Whitcombe]

Its only an overgrown Pony in a bag with a bladder
Love the idea of a 9 cert (would like to see the rules)
would prefer my weights not to be in the bag
If the bladders fails I might want to ditch them but keep the air
I notice people in the film have weight belts

Aluminium tanks so floaty. Plus even with a failed bladder there is no way any remotely healthy human being cant swim that lot up with ease.
Ditchable weight causes more problems than it solves in lots of situations. It isn't always needed.

There is a MASSIVE market in the US and Caribbean alone for boat cleaning and so forth.

Then again, im sure you'll get some people decide to take it for a dive and run out of gas as well.

[TrevorB]

It’s interesting because this is still a scuba kit but in a rug sack
Yes there are still barotrauma problems at 9m but probably DCI
could be managed with something simple like two dives a day max 30 min total
I don’t know so it would be interesting to read the training required

The reason I was interested was I had a new diver last year who was really keen and was in tears when he had medical problems that stopped him diving

He was on epilepsy medication that brings on DCI not sure if this would
solve his problem, he is already a very keen snorkeler

All other points taken I think I would prefer a proper stab jacket, then the USP has gone and with it the market

[Richard Whitcombe]

All other points taken I think I would prefer a proper stab jacket, then the USP has gone and with it the market

Ugh a stab jacket?! Wings all the way! Id rather stab my own eyes out than dive in a BCD again!

OK on a serious note you're thinking this from the angle of a diver in that you want a jacket, regs and so on.

Its marketed to people who (i) aren't divers and (ii) don't want to be. Its a tool sold to clean and maintain your boat. They dont care about BCs and regs. They want an all in one bag they can get something out, do the job then get back onboard.

The training im sure is adequate for that (mainly involves "dont hold your breath, look at this gauge for air and no deeper than this"). As i said though im sure some people will "drop down for a look" and run out of air with these.

[TrevorB]

Thanks Richard
you are probably right, might add how to clear your ears
to the training, would love to see the syllabus any yes although its nothing new I suspect that it will sell

Only had a wing on once it was back to ABLJ days and a crotch strap
although I think most people leave that off, the buddy one looks nice.

I have a back probelm so twin sets might not be a good idea

[Richard Whitcombe]

90%+ of my diving is in a single (ie work, teaching) and i wear a single wing.

The buddy wing isnt a real one. Non standard plate, non-standard harness and non-standard wing.

This boat fixing course is going to be similar syllabus to scuba diver type level i suspect and in reality diving to those shallow depths isnt hard. It doesnt need a massive course. Most of the stuff you teach to DSDs in half hour.