Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual is up

[tmaas]

Fellow divers,
After 6 years in development, we are close to shipping the first Freedivers Recovery Vests, due in late March. To better acquaint the freediving community with this new product, I have posted the 43-page draft user manual on the FRV website. Here is the link: www.oceanicss.com
The manual also asks the user to view the entire accompanying DVD prior to removing the FRV from its package. I would appreciate any comment you have regarding the clarity of the descriptions found in the manual. Also, I am about 3 weeks away from completing the accompanying DVD. For feedback on the manual, or to request a copy of the training DVD, please contact me at: freedive.vest@gmail.com
Terry Maas, Founder, Oceanic Safety Systems LLC

 

[uberman]

Thanks Terry. I for one would dive with one but as of the moment it's a tad too high. One of the things I am curious about is if you would give discounts if purchased in bulk, say, like 5-10 at a time for a freediving class or something like that. At any rate, I am on board for one when I find a means, as there are no spearos where I live besides myself and my son in the zodiac (he does not dive-just follows as a dry safety). Port Angeles, Wa.

 

[tmaas]

Thanks Terry. I for one would dive with one but as of the moment it's a tad too high. One of the things I am curious about is if you would give discounts if purchased in bulk, say, like 5-10 at a time for a freediving class or something like that. At any rate, I am on board for one when I find a means, as there are no spearos where I live besides myself and my son in the zodiac (he does not dive-just follows as a dry safety). Port Angeles, Wa.

Uberman,
Thank you for your supportive words. I wish I could offer discounts, but unfortunately, the price is already discounted for the benefit of our sport. The parts are simply the best, made from the finest materials and thus very pricey. For example, just the connectors cost us $250. And there is no portion of the sales price that helps to repay the substantial, 6-years development costs of the FRV. So far, I'm going to eat that. I'm looking forward to sending you a FRV in the future.
Terry

 

[Don Paul]

When I can afford one, this vest will be the best money I have ever spent, I owe it to my family. Thank you again Terry and all the others the brought this dream come true.

Cheers, Don

 

[uberman]

Thanks for the response, Terry. I will be getting one within the next 4-6 months if not earlier.

 

[Bill McIntyre]

I was fortunate to get a ride on Terry's boat today and try the vest out. After reading the manual, I wondered if I was really smart enough to use this thing, but it turned out to be within my capability after all. Once you get it set up, there really isn't much to it. Just dive and wait for it to do its thing if required.

I was afraid that it might seem bulky in the water, but after a couple of dives I didn't even notice it.

Terry got me to inflate it three different ways- an emergency diver-initiated inflation by pushing the buttons, exceeding the trigger depth, and exceeding the trigger time. It worked great each time, but with just one minor problem. On the trigger depth effort, I had forgotten to reconnect the air bottle to the inflation bag after it was refilled. It fired just as it was supposed to, but all the air blew into the water and I had to swim up. After I get one of these things of my own, I hope that will serve as a great lesson.

USE THE DAMN CHECKLIST

A has-been jet pilot should have known better.

 

[Don Paul]

roflthat's why we need them Bill.

Cheers, Don

 

[Bill McIntyre]

roflthat's why we need them Bill.

Cheers, Don

Exactly.

In the same vein, I like the fact that you can't change trigger depth or time after you initiate the dive. You can change them between each dive if you want to, but once you are down there, a big white sea bass a few feet deeper or just out of range can't tempt you to try to override the values just when your judgement is at its worst. If you exceed either number, you are going to get a glorious ride to the surface and be rolled onto your back to stare at the sky and contemplate the error of your ways.

 

[tmaas]

Thanks for the kind words Bill. But it was I who forgot to connect the inflation hose to the vest. I need to read my own damn cheklist! I enjoyed our dive together and sharing pilot stories.

 

[Bill McIntyre]

This is the sort of thing I did yesterday, but Colleen looks a lot better than I did doing it.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcKABOr9U9Q]YouTube - Freedivers Recovery Vest (FRV) Training DVD: Introductory Dives[/ame]

 

[efattah]

Congratulations on finishing the product !!

In the end, what is the depth rating?

 

[tmaas]

Eric,
The maximum service depth is 150 feet, where the FRV develops 18-pounds of lift. The components are pressure tested to 300+ feet.
Terry