I just got back (late last night) from Cozumel and it will be a few days before I can catch up, but here are a few advance comments on the new DSV design.
The DSV function work better than expected. The closing feature had a perfect seal and kept the hose loop and regulator perfectly dry.
I took three Argonauts to Cozumel that were used by many divers and at the end of the 10 days of diving the inside of all three was drier than I have ever seen any double hose in this conditions.
The mouthpiece bite and amount of weight needed seems like it may become a bit of a personal choice. We will expand more on this later and I do have some general recommendations, but some of this (human interface) is always a bit of a personal choice. We all know that the MP bite is a personal preference, but the optimal amount of hose weight and balance may also become somewhat of a personal preference.
The flow diverter is going to be the big subject and big performance improvement.
The simplest explanation of the flow diverter is that it will allow to take advantage of the highest venturi flow provided by the Argonaut.
The Argonaut has the design potential of providing much higher venturi flow than any other DH regulator, but this excess venturi flow could not be used with a standard mouthpiece. Those who have blocked too much of the bleed air ports on the second stage know what I am talking about. With a conventional mouthpiece, when you induce too much venturi flow (by blocking the side vent holes of the second stage) you get such a strong flow that during inhalation a lot of the air blows-by the mouthpiece and goes out the exhaust.
The flow diverter allows maximum venturi assist without any blow-by, wasted air.
The flow diverter does not create an over pressure or positive pressure breathing regulator. It also does not behave like the strong venturi found in some of the single hose regulators (like the Poseidon Extreme) that feels like it is force feeding you air. The venturi jet is in the back does not shoot an air stream down your throat. The flow diverter creates a very natural breathing regulator that feels comfortable to most.
Once the flow is initiated the vacuum required to maintain flow is minimal. This vacuum stays extremely low at any flow rate. Several divers have tried hard to over breath it and they could not. They did not notice any flow resistance once the flow is imitated.
It also works well at any depth. I tested it last week at 145 ft.
At first impression, most of the experienced double hose divers that tried it last week felt it was a very good performance, but nothing superlative. “It felt good, but normal” was the feedback I got. I am not surplice , because it feels like normal breathing. It really shines when you work hard a need extra flow.
During normal breathing, it performers better than any DH I have ever tried, but the difference is more subtle.
The more important feedback I received was from the single hose divers that have never tried a double hose and some were relatively new to diving. They all felt it was a very good breathing regulator, some tried it more than once and at least one of them would like to get one. I don’t normally get such a positive feedback from this type of diver. Double hose regulator diving seem to be an acquired taste.
There is a lot more to the design that I will explain when I have more time.
The week before I left for Cozumel I had a small disaster (involving blown in insulation) in my house and although most of it has been cleaned (by a subcontractor), I still have a lot of work reorganizing, etc. I will post some pictures on a separate thread. Here is the thread:
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