Make-shift Dive rig for Bottom Cleaning

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by zstine

I just don't want to die

Then take the advice given here.

This kinda thing is a recurring question, comes up at least once a year. All those who try to reinvent the wheel seem to miss the basic concept.

Most everyone here has a sincere wish for your safety.

[zstine]

A dive bell or even a bag of air for underwater use is hardly reinventing the wheel. I would say that breathing off a bag of air and exhaling into the water is much safer than SCUBA with valves, hoses, regulatos, etc to fail or get caught on things
Now rebreathing i acknowledge adds some risk.. but more than SCUBA?. I think not at this point.

[a64pilot]

Be very concerned with CO2. It will kill you just as quick as CO but for different reasons of course. Best thing that can happen is a headache.
Heck even a cheap compressor and an open hose will work just act like a Weeki Wachi mermaid


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[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by zstine

A dive bell or even a bag of air for underwater use is hardly reinventing the wheel. I would say that breathing off a bag of air and exhaling into the water is much safer than SCUBA with valves, hoses, regulatos, etc to fail or get caught on things
Now rebreathing i acknowledge adds some risk.. but more than SCUBA?. I think not at this point.

OK, folks have expressed concerns for your safety, a well know local (SF) diver has made qualitative suggestions that point out the flaws in your proposed ideas, and the laws of physics seems to be indicators that it would not be prudent.

Look, it's simple: you asked. We responded.

One of the most difficult issue on internet forums of all sorts is when the OP asks, gets answers he doesn't like and keeps arguing with folks who are honestly trying to help.

It's a dumb idea.

There, I feel better.

If it was such a great idea, dontcha think everybody would be using it, all the time and all over the world?

Have you heard anyone here say "Yes, it's great I've been doing it for 23 years! Fail-safe, no issues. Always works. Simple, great, cheap, never had an issue."

Guess not.

Look: Go try it and see if it works. If it does, report back here, right away.

If it doesn't, you already know why.

Good luck anyway.

[zstine]

Yes, CO2 is a serious concern. To eliminate that, I could exhale into the water. To mitigate risk of CO2 when rebreathing, I'll practice in a pool. Knowing CO2 in your blood is what makes you feel like you are suffocating. Once I get a feel for it, it will be like holding your breath your body tells you when to surface.

[zstine]

Sounds like a plan. I will report back my findings post test.... nobody said the light bulb was a good idea either!

[a64pilot]

Lots of divers "skip breathe" in an attempt to save air. The slight build up of CO2 causes headaches. I know, I was one of those divers
So you purge yourself of CO2 so that you can stay down longer before air hunger kicks in, and you may have what is called shallow water blackout.
Google it. Inexpensive 12V air compressor and an open hose is as inexpensive as I can think of.
A breathing quality hose is another issue though


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[Joel E Felt]

Agree with Mark Stillwell, been a certified diver for 35 years. You wouldn't rig some "rube goldberg" apparatus for your boat. Why do it to your self? This is one place where cutting corners to save $$ is like making your point the hard way in Vegas.
The odds are not good that somwething will go WRONG.

[Pete7]

This thread reads along the lines, "I have a spare Genoa, can I make a parachute?"

The solution is a basic diving course and a dive cylinder. I have a regulator made by a firm called Jacques Cousteau, must be 60 years old and still works, why re-invent the wheel. Dive kit is simple, reliable and cheap second hand.

Pete

[mariner36bob]

http://www.scuba.com/US/scuba-gear-3...FYePHwodT4kH0g

^ this



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[Pete7]

Originally Posted by mariner36bob

Buy Submersible systems spare air 300PKYEL with reviews at scuba.com

^ this
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Sat quietly at the bottom of a swimming pool I used to make an air bouyancy life jacket (ABLJ) cylinder last about 15 minutes by breathing off the jackket and topping it up occasionally. Now try that in the sea and working by cleaning and the thing is going to be empty in a couple of minutes. Plus needs a dive cylinder to fill it. Surely it would be better to breath from the dive cylinder.

[mariner36bob]

I agree pete, but it's better than an upturned 5 gallon bucket right?


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[denverd0n]

What we have here is yet another poster who had--quite obviously--already made up his mind what he was going to do, before he asked his question. He didn't want real answers. He just was hoping that someone would tell him, "No, this is not an incredibly stupid and dangerous idea. I think it's brilliant."

Of course, no one told him that, because it is--in fact--an incredibly stupid and dangerous idea. So he chose to ignore the reasonable, concerned responses that he got.

Well, not a big surprise. Happens pretty regularly on any internet forum. You routinely see people ask a question, and then argue with every answer they get, because they had already made up their mind and really only wanted to have people tell them what a brilliant idea it was.

We've done our part. Now we'll just have to wait to read the obituary.

And to the OP... Good luck. You're going to need it.

[Dsanduril]

Originally Posted by zstine

.... when I dive my keel holding my breath (7.3 draft), I haev only a few seconds of work time before I need to surface. having a bag with 7 breaths would really help. I just don't want to die

If none of the other comments here convince, then answer this one for yourself; how long will it take for me to exhale outside the bucket (so I don't build up CO2), put my head in the bucket, take 1 breath (so I can actually get the 7 breaths I calculated before I have to take the bucket up for fresh air), get my head out of the bucket, get back to work (where I only have a few seconds - per own statement) and then start the trip all over again?


I suspect you'll find it to be a losing battle, it will take more time sticking your head up in the bucket (and remember, with each breath you'll have to go further into the bucket) and getting back out than you can possibly gain. But give it a try and let us all know.

[keepondancin]

When you die, do you want them to say, "what a great way to go", or, "that was a really bad idea".