Re: Isolation manifolds & modern DH extended range diving
Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2017 2:40 pm
the lola valves are certainly an option, just a bloody expensive one.
the question becomes whether you need isolation and why. If you are diving solo doubles, then you always take a bailout bottle as a truly independent source of gas. The argument becomes whether you really need to have the doubles for anything other than volume. Is the isolation manifold something that you really and truly need and does it justify the complexity and hassle to incorporate something that we do just fine without in sidemount?
The lola valves are fairly popular in a small segment of the rebreather market, but their cost makes it quite annoying. Valves are $120 each, crossover is $80, and unsure what the WMD bit is, but likely at least $100. Makes it prohibitive. Functional, but prohibitive. Again though, what does it gain vs. a large single unless you really need that backgas capacity? What it doesn't address is how to use the double hose for different gases. In this instance you still have to come off of the loop for decompression.
In terms of how we go about this. It is a point of contention between the DIR community, and those of us that try to think for ourselves. The DIR configuration is phenomenal for what it was designed for. LONG cave penetrations in Florida. It doesn't work as well in different cave environments, open water, or where configuration adaptations are required. The actual WKPP guys will adapt when they have to, but will default back to the DIR config and a lot of the people who talk about it, don't really understand it. I.e. those that refuse to put tank boots on doubles when diving off of a boat because of a realistically nonexistent entanglement hazard vs. damaging the boat itself.
I think Luis has the adaptability portion ironed out with mix mount. Strap on a single AL80 to mount the double hose and secure it, then be able to plumb in offboard cylinders. The concerns here are the acceptance of the pneumatic lock for decompression gases without shutting the valve off to the main tank. That to me is the real key to make this work.
the question becomes whether you need isolation and why. If you are diving solo doubles, then you always take a bailout bottle as a truly independent source of gas. The argument becomes whether you really need to have the doubles for anything other than volume. Is the isolation manifold something that you really and truly need and does it justify the complexity and hassle to incorporate something that we do just fine without in sidemount?
The lola valves are fairly popular in a small segment of the rebreather market, but their cost makes it quite annoying. Valves are $120 each, crossover is $80, and unsure what the WMD bit is, but likely at least $100. Makes it prohibitive. Functional, but prohibitive. Again though, what does it gain vs. a large single unless you really need that backgas capacity? What it doesn't address is how to use the double hose for different gases. In this instance you still have to come off of the loop for decompression.
In terms of how we go about this. It is a point of contention between the DIR community, and those of us that try to think for ourselves. The DIR configuration is phenomenal for what it was designed for. LONG cave penetrations in Florida. It doesn't work as well in different cave environments, open water, or where configuration adaptations are required. The actual WKPP guys will adapt when they have to, but will default back to the DIR config and a lot of the people who talk about it, don't really understand it. I.e. those that refuse to put tank boots on doubles when diving off of a boat because of a realistically nonexistent entanglement hazard vs. damaging the boat itself.
I think Luis has the adaptability portion ironed out with mix mount. Strap on a single AL80 to mount the double hose and secure it, then be able to plumb in offboard cylinders. The concerns here are the acceptance of the pneumatic lock for decompression gases without shutting the valve off to the main tank. That to me is the real key to make this work.