New PADI Specialty Course

[Ian T]

Gents,

Who is interested in doing the course with me ? I could get my speciality instructor rating for it to certify you if you desire...

"On the training front, we have various courses scheduled this month.  This coming Sunday 11 January we're running a Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) Diver Specialty course.  This is a new course introduced by PADI and in our opinion, one of the most necessary training courses available.  Those of you who have done your Advanced course or higher certification with us, knows that we recommend carrying an SMB on every dive.  If you're interested in improving your own safety while diving, then you can't get a better course than this.  There are still a few spots left on the course and the only certification requirement is Open Water diver.  Please call the shop or book on-line. "

From a dive club email list i get.
IT

[Craig]

Next thing you know they'll be running a Diver Life Raft (DLR) Course...oh...hang on that'd be a gooey course...

[Ian T]

Wouldnt a PADI Rescue course be a better course to improve your own safety ? they say that you cant get a better course than the SMB diver course to improve your safety....

[ph]

Next thing you know they'll be running a Diver Life Raft (DLR) Course...oh...hang on that'd be a gooey course...

what about a dry suit inflation sytem course and the use of argon...by the way a recent study showed that the difference between argon and air was eff all, another wank from 'Gooey town'

[Gooey]

actually ph, we use the inflator bottle because we generally have trimix as a back gas........the difference between he and air/ argon is pretty substantual... but of course you already knew this.... right?

[ph]

actually ph, we use the inflator bottle because we generally have trimix as a back gas........the difference between he and air/ argon is pretty substantual... but of course you already knew this.... right?

yes I am aware that He has a thermal problem hence the use of another gas, but I have read somewhere I think in an article by Simon mitchell that the thermal difference between air and argon for use a an inflation gas is fuck all and not worth it,  I will try and track it down as I only brerased over the article

I can only assume that you have been told that argon is the gas to use so you use it!!!!!!!!

[JD]

As much as I am scaring myself, I have read the article PH refers to, and the difference between the two gases is minimal. They used a rectal thermometer to gather the data on core body temp in water which was (from memory) about 10 degrees C. They had 2 groups of 10 divers doing 2 dives of 1 hour static, and neither group knew what gas they had. Different gas for each dive was used, and the subjects were asked a questionaire afterwards.
End result was a very very slight difference in body temp (0.2 of a degree?), so although it was a limited test with a small sample group, the findings were 'Don't bother'.

Now after saying that, I think a push dive in Wukulla for 20 odd hours in cold water it would make me use it, if only for placebo effect. 1 hour in pines or 90 mins in Kilsbys? No.

JD

[Gooey]

ive never used argon... neither has rick, but we both have suit inflator bottles maybe its COS WE ARE using trimix...... so where has this stab come from, surely one would have realized 3 GUE divers diving the subs would be diving mix, and drysuits, therefore would be using a suit inflation system.... did i see them marked as ARGON DO NOT BREATHE??

[JD]

Sorry Karl, no problem with suit inflation being an external cylinder whilst using trimix (I use one myself as you probably already know), the issue is with what gas to put into the little cylinder. The study I am referring to says air is just as good as argon. If you guys are not happy enough to breath 21%, you might as well use it for something!

JD

[JD]

actually ph, we use the inflator bottle because we generally have trimix as a back gas........the difference between he and air/ argon is pretty substantual... but of course you already knew this.... right?

Whoops, Sorry Rick. I just re read your post. Yes, the difference between helium and air/argon is pretty big. I read it as the difference between air and argon is substantual (sic). This is the point PH and I were arguing, which as it turns out is not what you said. Sorry mate.

JD

PS: Rick, it's spelt substantial!

[Ian T]

I think this is analgous to nitrogen in car tyres. If you're diving a V8 supercar around bathurst for 8 hrs, nitrogen might be really good in car tyres. I'll just use my special 79% Nitrogen, 20.8% O2, and other gas mix in my car tyres for the driving I do.

If you're doing serious exploration stuff, with lots of depth / deco etc, then argon would probably be very effective. Bear in mind the effect of cold on the body, circulation affect, and DCI risk.

However, argon would make stuff all if you're diving a 10 yr old undergarment with no loft left in it. The quality of the undergarment is the key, rather than the gas surrounding it. If you want cheap drysuit inflation, just eat cabbage. V'iola !

[Craig]

Well if we're suddenly going to get anal about our beloved language:

Ian, it's Voilà not V'iola (OK technically not our language as it's French)

JD, "...happy enough to breath 21%..." I presume you mean breathe (as in Prodigy - Breathe, not Berlin - Take my breath away)