Freedivers Recovery Vest--First look at prototype in action

[tmaas]

I’m pleased to offer the first look at the Freedivers Recovery Vest. Chip and I will be demonstrating the first unit at Sheri Daye’s Blue Wild Expo this weekend. Hope to see you there.
http://www.oceanicss.com/video/index.htm
Terry Maas

 

[trux]

Looks good, Terry! I already wanted to ask how the progress is, so am happy you posted before. Once it is ready for the market, let me know - I'd put a free advertizement on my website for it. APNEA.cz is visited by huge number of freedivers worldwide, and this device certainly deserves being well promoted.

BTW, on this video, I saw the diver kept his snorkel in the mouth. Although the inflated west kept it above the surface, I'd tell it would be safer if divers were instructed spitting out the snorkel after the immersion, and did it always automatically.

 

[Erik]

Looking good Terry. Agreed on the snorkel, a point of contention around here.

 

[Fondueset]

Excellent!

 

[azapa]

Congratulations Terry on keeping things moving forward. I agree that some consensus re snorkel in or out should be made. The back floating advantage of the vest would make snorkel out a no-brainer as the recommended technique.

- why do the bubbles continue to vent after inflation?
- you mention that excess air passes through the whistle, I couldn't hear it. Will it be loud as hell (hope so)?

Good luck and keep pushing forward.

 

[whucash]

Looks grate! I'm looking forward to the production models.. In my opinion this device can save a lot of human beings. I do like to dive alone..especially while photographing but i now the danger so usally someone is always close but thanks to this the "alone" diving would far more safer.

 

[Erik]

I would definitely buy one. I would probably push a little harder as a result too, but that's fine.

 

[Amphibious]

I like what I see! giant improvement over the Zeagle freedivers vest of a few years ago.

I look forward to following your R&D

 

[settingsteel]

GIANT step forward...great to see all those hours of prototyping starting to pay off...

I'd put a free advertizement on my website for it. APNEA.cz is visited by huge number of freedivers worldwide, and this device certainly deserves being well promoted.

and I'll put it on my blog (albeit not that many visitors- but its the intention that counts...WTG)

 

[azapa]

i'll buy one too. I told Chip that a year ago

the old debate will rage about solo freediving and I'm sure they (Terry and team) are very sensitized to the fact that it could push solo freediving further than people would otherwise take it.

to be honest, I do it today, and do it without the jacket, and I know how far to push. I'm left wondering if and how much I may push further with it. A parallel scenario: do you push more when diving with buddies? I don't as I don't really trust their asses to save mine (spearing scenario)

 

[tmaas]

- why do the bubbles continue to vent after inflation?
- you mention that excess air passes through the whistle, I couldn't hear it. Will it be loud as hell (hope so)?

Thanks for all of the positive feedback. Because the vest is designed to pull a diver out of 120-150 feet of water, there is excess air in the tank. On the surface, there is enough air (3,000 psi in a 1.7 cubic-foot bottle) to completely refill the vest 3 times. So the excess air passes by a whistle after leaving the over-pressure valve. It is very loud on the surface and can be minimally heard in the water.

Terry

 

[Jon]

Does that mean it's a one time use and you need to take it apart to refill it in the event that it goes off?

Just wondering what extra tools would be needed on a multi-day trip far from home.

Jon

 

[Erik]

Does that mean it's a one time use and you need to take it apart to refill it in the event that it goes off?

Just wondering what extra tools would be needed on a multi-day trip far from home.

Jon

Freediver's Safety Vest--faq

 

[Erik]

This is a great interactive website Terry. The scariest thing on the demo page is the boat prop above lol. http://www.oceanicss.com/Graphics/DiveDemo-008A.swf

 

[rxcnc2]

While I like the idea of such a device and I think that you have reached a good level
of design, I am a bit skeptical about the depth-triggered activation. I explain:

1) for "deep diving" such as competitions and training, it is more or less ok. Perhaps a
time-activation would be useful too. Since this kind of divers are normally accompanied
by safety, a manual button that the safety could press to send the (injured, unconscious)
diver straight up would be good. Note however that the really deep
divers might not want something which is not very hydrodynamic.

2) for spearos, I am afraid that while many would use it wisely, many others might
become wary with time of "being sent up" when they are close to a fish - and
being stuck up for quite a while as I understand. These people might end up setting
the limit depth too deep, which is not wise. I would suggest an active control: the
diver has to touch a button every 30s, otherwise the vest inflates.

3) in some extreme cases, the vest might become quite dangerous: think of a diver
which is halfway between rocks, or worse inside a cave. Normally they should not
wear the vest, but sometimes things which are not planned happen. If the vest
inflates by accident or because they are close to the limit depth in one of those
situations, the diver might become immobilized.

I know I am going to extremes... but if you do develop it commercially you have
to be careful. Keep going though it's quite interesting as a prototype.

 

[azapa]

hello RX, all those points are good, but covered in the solution and/or limitations described on the website. Have a good read on the products site, there is a lot of thought gone into how this thing will work.

 

[cdavis]

A beautiful piece of equipment, well thought out and done "right". As an aside, in addition to saving your butt, it appears to do everything my D3 does that I care about. Might help reduce the amount of stuff I wear.

Any idea how much this might cost?

Connor

 

[LunkerBuster]

I think some good points were raised in the above post, this is clearly not an angel that will save you at all times. It is however a HUGE step forward and an amazing thing you are doing guys.

I can't wait to see it at the expo and talk to you guys more about it

thanks for sharing and more importantly for this R&D

 

[Seacidal]

i'll buy one too. I told Chip that a year ago

the old debate will rage about solo freediving and I'm sure they (Terry and team) are very sensitized to the fact that it could push solo freediving further than people would otherwise take it.

to be honest, I do it today, and do it without the jacket, and I know how far to push. I'm left wondering if and how much I may push further with it. A parallel scenario: do you push more when diving with buddies? I don't as I don't really trust their asses to save mine (spearing scenario)

I remember that well!

I appreciate your (honest) statements about diving solo vs. with a buddy. Too true!

 

[e.m.p!]

Hi Terry,

I've been quite into snowboarding back in the days and there were some people sponsoring our team with a similar safety system. Thought you might be interested, (if you don't know these people already). This backpacks have been around for a while and there has been loads of development into the system. Check them out, they might be able to help:
ABS - Avalanche Airbag System

Cheers, Klaus