Freedivers safety vest in development

[trux]

Each time I hear about a freediver death (just like in the recent thread about Will Hedlund), I ask myself if the life could not have been saved if he used the freediving safety vest.

Chip / Terry, how is it going with the vest? Can we expect seeing the product available any soon?

PS: R.I.P. Will!

[IanF]

For a newbie spearo - this thread makes very interesting reading.

Crossing over from twenty years of skydiving, I can see some striking similarities between this and a computerized automatic deployment device now in current usage. The functions are reversed, the intent the same.

Falling too fast due to being knocked unconscious or losing altitude awareness - at a set height, your canopy deploys.

A major breakthrough in size and efficiency over previous AADs, the 'Cypres' cost a LOT of money. The cool and groovy high profilers started to use them - soon every newbie budgeted an extra couple thousand dollars to equip their rig with this device.

Lives started to be saved, reports of occasional early activations - but on the whole, more good things than bad.

Soon parachuting clubs started to insist on these items being used - or you could no longer jump on their dropzone. The national body in the UK insisted that they were used for anyone considering display jumping.

Regular servicing of the unit was mandatory to ensure warranted performance - and this could only be provided by licensed centres, at a cost. Out of the service period and the dropzone operator would not allow you to jump.

So, here we are today. A patented niche product for a niche market - guaranteed income stream for the manufacturer from the servicing requirement. Almost 100% takeup due to pressure from national body or jump site. The company has made a lot of money.

The similarities are clear - what is not the same is that in spearing it is still the individual who decides where and when he/she wishes to hunt. With no regulated environment restricting hunting without such a device, I fancy take-up may be be limited.

I think it is a great idea and will certainly be looking at purchase when they hit the shelves.

Rgds Ian

[azapa]

random question Ian: what does the device cost? and what does it cost as a % of the whole "skydivers KIT"?

I ask because unbelievably, as you probably know "free" divers kit can cost between 500 to 1000 US$ if you use carbon fins. I personally would spen 1000 more on this device.

[IanF]

Originally Posted by azapa

random question Ian: what does the device cost? and what does it cost as a % of the whole "skydivers KIT"?

I ask because unbelievably, as you probably know "free" divers kit can cost between 500 to 1000 US$ if you use carbon fins. I personally would spen 1000 more on this device.

Azapa

By comparison, the 'free' diver spends nothing on his sport!

Now bear in mind I am seven years out of date with prices - but would consider the percentages remain similar.

Parachutes (main+reserve) & Harness $5,400....+ ... AAD $1400!

Then add in carbon fibre helmet & jump suit appropriate to your discipline, altimeter,goggles, gloves.

I'm guessing the AAD runs to about 20% of the cost of the total kit.

Each jump in the UK @ $36 - for a little less than one minute in freefall.

You don't even get to eat fish afterwards!!

Rgds Ian

[azapa]

BUMP on the vest. Still waiting for it out here. How is the development going?

http://www.oceanicss.com/

[tmaas]

Azapa,
We are currently bench testing our first set of wrist unit prototype circuit boards. The prototype wrist units are finished and awaiting installation of the circuit boards. The design of the actual wearable vest is complete and we hope to have the prototype inflation unit within a month or so. We hope to have a working prototype for Sheri Daye's Florida Dive show in February and for the Boston Sea Rovers show in March. I'll make a post soon with new pictures and advances in software design.
Thanks for your interest.
Terry Maas

[Oldsarge]

Super! We'll be looking for those photos.