guyharrisonphoto wrote:OK, had it on my first dive today. Practiced with the DSV open and closed on surface swims and when removing the mouthpiece underwater, with dropping and retrieving the reg, and with leaving the DSV open, removing, and then clearing.
Got it down squarely between my shoulder blades.
Here are my comments and some questions about the breathing. It is one thing to read the material here and another to actually dive it so some feedback and suggestions on technique would be welcome.
Vertical in water, easy inhale and exhale.
Horizontal, a little more effort on the inhale, can make it easier by slightly angling upward and making sure my head is held upright. Exhale still pretty easy.
Head down, even more effort on inhale and exhale.
Swimming on my side, easy inhale.
But, when on my side with the right side down, the exhaust hose seems to fill with water (not the mouthpiece, no flooding there) so that if I turn on my side to take an easy inhale, then turn back to horizontal for the exhale, it seems like I have to clear all the water out on the exhale, a lot of effort.
If I turn left side down, same easy inhale, but, some water does leak into the supply hose and then the mouthpiece area. Not a lot but a light clear is needed. I do not notice the hard exhale (ie having to clear the hose) if I wait to turn back to horizontal for the exhale. I checked the hoses after the dive and they were snug and tightly clamped on (hand tightening on the hose clamps).
The DSV worked perfectly for surface swims on my back or removing the reg from my mouth underwater. The SPG, computer transmitter, LP inflator, wing and plate all worked perfectly.
Clearing the reg after removing the mouthpiece takes a noticeably strong blow than a single hose reg, but nothing extraordinary. Retrieving a dropped mouthpiece is easy because it floats right above your head.
Am I experiencing basically normal operation?
Thanks!
The breathing perception is natural due to the effect of the water column differential pressure on the cracking effort, but as you get used to it and learn to take advantage of the venturi assist, in time you will notice it less and less. I only notice it when I think about it, but my breathing pattern while diving has changed to take full advantage of the venturi assist.
The side benefit of taking normal full breaths is that it lower my SAC by producing better CO2 ventilation.
There should not be any leaks based on position. I have never experienced or heard about that. Like Creed mentioned, maybe you have some water in the convolutions that are not clearing well, but even that seems odd.
The mouthpiece/ DSV would not seal any different based on position, but when you are in a vertical position (or a horizontal position facing forward), the mouthpiece does have a low point that behaves like a sump. That sump allows you to breath well even if you have not fully cleared all the water out of the mouthpiece. The best way to fully clear (dry) your MP is to blow while slightly rotation your head with the exhaust (left side) low.
Leaks or hard breathing are not normal in any position, but some of the sensations could be just being over sensitive due to the new experiences. To me, it is hard to diagnose based on just one dive.
I would say just try it again and have some fun exploring it.