Super Snorkel DD1H4.OXL advice

[Bilgewater]

I was going for a walk this morning and stopped to talk to a guy with a nice Pacific SeaCraft which he had purchased last year. As we were talking he told me he wanted to remove the Super Snorkel case the previous owner had mounted on his fordeck. I told him I had been contemplating purchasing an electric one for many years and I would be interested in it. So we opened it up and it looks as if it has never been used, not even once. So anyway, he called me back later and told me he would let it go for $800. New they cost $2,171 for just the unit but this one has a deck case with SS mounting bracket, innertube float, two lines/regulators and the rest of the gear. It has can support 2 divers at 30' or 1 diver at 60'.

I want to use it mainly for cleaning my boat, changing zincs, releasing fouled anchor etc. and mucking about on the ocean floor a bit but only on an occasional basis.

So anyhow...Does anyone have this model and if so, how do you feel about it. Even if you don't...any opinions?

Also...If I were to purchase it online, before ordering it, this is the text that appears: I have satisfactorily completed a basic course in skin and scuba diving, and I fully understand the precautions which must be taken when breathing compressed air underwater. I further understand that Innovative Designs Inc. assumes no liability arising from the use or misuse of this equipment. So, obviously it's important to go through a scuba coarse but is it really necessary or is this just a liability thing. I've done lots of snorkeling etc. (and I have on many occasions considered taking a scuba course) but as a newbie to this underwater stuff, is it advisable for me to go through a scuba course for casual use of this devise? Any and all input appreciated.

This is the unit
Super Snorkel

Here's the photo of the unit I took this morning
[IMG][/IMG]

[Faster]

We have a guy in our club who uses one of these devices on a pretty regular basis - but he is a certified diver in any case.

If all I was going to do was scrub the bottom and change some zincs I might give it a go anyhow, but I suppose if you're going deeper the training would be a good idea. They do come in handy and this looks like one of those unbeatable deals, doesn't it?

[Bilgewater]

Thanks Ron, Ya...that's exactly what I was thinking and maybe take a course later. I think it's a great deal and I'll jump at it if I get back some positive responses. I have a wet suite but I think all I would need is a dry suite, the rest I have.

[treilley]

It is your life. Get certified. People have died skin diving.

[delite]

I am a certified diver but dont dive regularly. The big danger is from holding your breath as you surface. The air in your lungs expands as the water pressure decreases. If you are not blowing bubbles you will rupture a lung. Never ever hold your breath when coming to the surface. Think of a balloon filled with air at the surface and taken down 30 feet. It will contract to half its size. Now if you were to put the same amount of air into the balloon when you are down 30 feet it will double in volume when it reaches the surface. If you arent exhaling that air will find another way out. Every 33 feet of water is one atmosphere of pressure.

[messer999]

Go for it! Read and follow the operating instructions exactly. Then if you are working on your boat at a max of 10-15 feet, have fun and don't forget to keep breathing in and out... don't start holding your breath.

[Bilgewater]

Thanks Delite, good info. I think I'll get the course over with pretty soon...If I purchase this, it will be a good incentive to get it done once and for all.
Steve

[Bilgewater]

Originally Posted by messer999

Go for it! Read and follow the operating instructions exactly. Then if you are working on your boat at a max of 10-15 feet, have fun and don't forget to keep breathing in and out... don't start holding your breath.

Thanks mess, that's all I really planned to do in the beginning. I appreciate the response.

[brak]

This is real scuba diving. The fact that air is pumped from surface rather than from a tank has almost no bearing on safety of this activity. As common as scuba diving is, it is a dangerous activity if you are not properly prepared. Get certified.

[davidpm]

Originally Posted by seayalatermoonglow

I have a wet suite but I think all I would need is a dry suite, the rest I have.

I hope this was a typo if not you need to ask some more questions.

1. A dry suit needs a hose from the second stage regulator. You need to check to see if the device you plan on buying supports using a dry suit.
2. Dry suits are much more expensive than wet suits, check the prices on-line.
3. Your introductory certification will not include dry suit certification. That is considered an advanced class.
4. If the water is cold but you don't expect to be deep or in it for too long a semi-dry suit may be what you are looking for.

The biggest differences in pressure are between 0 and 33 feet. You go from one atmosphere to two atmosphere's. This means the gas you are breathing is compressed double. If you go to 66 feet 3 atmosphere's it is compressed triple.

There are several things you can do to hurt yourself that the course will teach you.
1. If you breath compressed air at 33 feet and hold your breath and surface you will almost certainly cause damage as your lungs have to
2. If you spend enough time at depth and depending the person and the depth that depth can be a shallow as 30' and you surface too fast the nitrogen in your blood can bubble off and cause a serious medical condition sometimes hours after you surface.
3. You should know how to remove and replace your mask underwater.
4. You should know how to remove and replace your weights underwater.

In short you should know how to handle it if something goes wrong. What if you get tangled in mono-filament underwater? What if you stir up a lot of sediment and visibility goes to 0. What if your air is shut off.

The general idea with scuba people is to never dive alone. While finding a buddy to do a quick scrub of the bottom will probably not be doable, the first few times you are underwater having an instructor present is probably a good idea.

In short the disclaimer is not legal mumbo-jumbo. There are serious risks that a smart person would not necessarily figure out just with common sense.