The Nomad XT is the sidemount expedition rig for guys like me who want to make sure they can adapt to anything regardless of where they travel.  Since the SuperFabric wing, butt plate and harness are separate you can customize it anyway you want and even cannibalize it if needed and swap out parts.

Soon we’ll have a Nomad sidemount system with less lift for aluminum tanks. Ideal for warm water divers or those who travel. Stay tuned.

Lamar

The new EZ shutoff is a culmination of ideas from some O2ptima divers using various components to reposition the shutoff near the manual addition valve. The idea was sound, but available components added to many parts. Our manifold, which feeds the solenoid, puts everything together in a very streamlined package. It also allows for easy connection of an off board oxygen source. Only one hose leaves the oxygen cylinder and plugs into the manifold mounted to the oxygen addition.

I have been diving it for a couple of months now and find it for more convenient and useful than the original rear mounted inline shutoff valve. It can re retro fitted to any O2ptima.

Pics are forthcoming on our website. For now you can see it in the RBW video here:  Rebreather World O2ptima Video

Lamar

Scott and I have been diving prototypes since late fall. Neither of us can tell you’re wearing the plate – it’s that well conformed to the rig. Keep in mind it is to be used when sidemounting, not backmount.

Lamar

Nomad Weight Plate

The class allowed me to see how people are using equipment and I always learn from what other people are doing. With so much going on in sidemount these days, it’s easy for the new sidemount diver to get lost in contradictory information. We’re working on some new articles and videos that can help with that.

The IUCCR class was a good group of divers. Special thanks to Wendell Nope for assisting me with the class.

Lamar

*** The IUCRR – International Underwater Cave Recovery & Rescue group are a nonprofit organization of cave divers that make their training and services available to law enforcement around the globe for cave rescue and recovery efforts. Lamar Hires is the Training Chairman of the organization.

We try to build as many products in the USA as possible. That’s not to say that every product that is manufactured overseas is a problem. Take gauges, for example. These come out of Italy and are excellent. However, when we get products overseas we scrutinize the production process and make sure our vendor adheres to our quality control standards. In some cases, we even ship proprietary parts overseas rather than accept knock-offs. This means the external look of some of our gear might look like another overseas brand, but internally it’s not. We’ve got our OEM parts inside. We’ve tried off-the-shelf products years ago and learned quickly that the extra investment is worth it. You won’t find a Dive Rite product distributed in the original box it was shipped to us in either. We personally inspect and QC our products, whether it be from the USA or overseas.

The reason I bring this up in my blog is that Dive Rite is receiving more and more customer emails from dissatisfied customers of these boutique brands. They’ve found a good deal on the Internet and when the product fails, they aren’t getting the support they need. Thankfully, they turn to us and we’re able to help them.

This isn’t to say that all boutique brands are bad. Do your research and ask questions. A busted hose or delaminated wing isn’t worth the savings when your safety is at stake.

Lamar

The cartridge is designed to scrub 240 liters of CO2 and since you metabolize 1 liter of oxygen for every .92 liters of CO2 its basically liter for liter. So it’s easy to look at your oxygen gauge and calculate duration based on oxygen use. We did a rebreather dive two weeks ago at Peacock Springs, swimming from Orange Grove sink to Peacock Springs and back. The swim took 150 minutes and the team average was 30 bar of oxygen to do it.  The quick math for usage is 240 liters (cartridge rating) divided by the bottle size ( in liters).  I was using a steel 27 LP (4 liter), so 240 divided by 4 equals 60 bar. Using this math I only used half of the cartridge duration, so I actually had a 5 hour cartridge duration for that particular dive.

This is very important because canister duration is really about workload and the amount of oxygen you use (or CO2 you produce). Using the cartridge gives me peace of mind for scrubber packing and repeatability for doing the calculations for canister duration. My point is any canister time quoted by someone is based on a set rate of CO2 production and oxygen usage that may not be matched with how you dive. The cartridge testing is done based on 1.35 liters per minute, I know CE is 1.6 liters per minute, but I challenge anybody in reasonably good physical shape to maintain that rate. I know I can’t and people tell me I swim fast.  More advantages later.

** tests based on MicroPore testing at 40m at a 1.35 liter CO2 production.

Lamar

As the week progressed, I made time to take the guys through our equipment line and gave them a taste of sidemount and the O2ptima. By the end of their class, they not only became certified Full Cave divers, but also found that they liked diving rebreathers.

This is what I enjoy about teaching and making gear. I don’t just teach the class, but give my students the advantage of experimenting with gear so they find what works best for them.

Lamar

It has been a good 25 years of business and personal growth and we aren’t stopping. As we debut our new logo this month it tells me there are new ideas on the horizon and we aren’t settled into old habits. Look for more first ideas and cutting edge diving from Dive Rite in the years to come.

Lamar

The NiTek X transfer cable is in stock. A low profile USB cable that plugs into the Fischer connection also used for 4th cell integration. The Nitek X Workbench is a web based program you install on your desktop to access the features of the program that include 1) Nitek Control – On this panel you can program gases and other features accessed under the “SET” menu on the computer. If you don’t like to push buttons all set up can be done here 2) Dive Log – down load up to 15 hours of dive time with programmed gases and dive profile. The download records the serial number of the computer so multiple computers can be downloaded 3) Dive Planner – This tab includes dive planning, gases and blender including mixing and top off function. Dive tables that match the X parameters can be generated from this tab for back up. 4) The dive log will always display PO2 when using 4th cell integration – this will show up as blue dots on the graph – I find this very valuable information for loop management 5) The program is now set up for offline use, after you install the program and upload the your X the first time the program will set up for offline use. Now you can use the program without an internet connection but remember program updates only happen when you have an internet connection. 6) Easy installation on both Mac and PC – you must have administrator rights when installing on a networked computer.

Right now we have special pricing on the NiTek X and/or the Transfer Cable. Ask your dealer for details, it’s only until supplies last or Nov 21st.

Lamar

I like to use every class as an opportunity to grow and observe as an instructor. I am very active in my personal diving, so watching students deal with tasks helps me formulate alternatives and safer practices. This was the case in Australia as well, as I was teaching the O2ptima rebreather course.

During the course, we discussed bailout options and gas management options and actually implemented some new techniques for bailout. The students found them easier and from my perspective they are much safer. In the absence of a BOV, position the second stage of the bottom gas bailout around your neck on a necklace as if you were on open circuit. We found this to be more efficient when having to bailout than going for a regulator secured to the neck of a sling bottle.

Training has always been a key part of what we offer at Dive Rite. We have four instructors on staff teaching all levels of diving. We offer this for our personal enjoyment as well as to support our dive shops who don’t have a full time instructor, yet wish to build their tech diving business. You can read more about our instructors in the TRAINING section of our website.

Congratulations to all the Australia students and in particular Chris Bojarski for becoming an O2ptima instructor.

Lamar