Is it difficult to fly with the required co2 tanks?
I was told that TSA will let you fly with around 6 co2 cylinders.
phil
The newest model Freedivers Recovery Vest Mark II-S (Slippery) is a lot more compact and streamlined than its predecessor the Mark II, by about as much as the Mark II was an improvement over the Mark I.
One aspect of it concerns me. What if I penetrate a shallow wreck, the inflation time is set to 2.5 minutes, I get caught up inside the wreck and am struggling to free myself. While it's not likely that I can hold my breath for over 2.5 minutes, there's still some chance. But if the vest inflates inside the wreck it's all over.
I thought about that too Dan. But I would guess Terry has too.
I've seen Jake go into holes and disappear and thought what would happen if it inflated in there. I would guess it's nothing a sharp knife point couldn't take care of if needed.
Isn't there a manual inflate over ride on the vest? I thought that you could press a button so that it does not inflate in case you pass your settings and want to continue.
There isn't an override. As Terry says you set it when you're smart before you dive, when you see a big fish you can become a little stupid, so lack of an override removes this temptation.
I guess you need to weigh up which is more likely - getting trapped in a wreck or blacking out with no overhead obstacles. Given most blackouts are near the surface on ascent, I think that your overall risk profile would decrease wearing the FRV even considering the potential for your scenario.
Lots of safety devices are the same - you can die if left hanging in a fall arrest harness but it is less likely than dying from falling from a great height without one.
I thought the vest specifically warned against wreck or cave diving with it on. Looks like one of those things where will it will be good for allot of applications it will not be good for all.
Just received the first new model FRV Mark II-S. It's very compact and streamlined, much more so than the recent Mark II, there's no comparison. You can't feel it on you at all even out of the water. Not even the actuator on the back that used to poke through the vest material a little with the previous model. Also gone is the crotch strap that was used to secure the unit from riding up on your back when inverted. The remote actuator lends itself even more easily to be rerouted and secured directly on the vest to eliminate the arm band (Terry warns against this but I like it). I thought I wasn't going to keep one for myself what with the tedious oiling/rust prevention procedure for the actuator seals. But the new way easier access to the actuator through the inside zipper alleviated this concern. I really can't see it getting better than this, Terry did an outstanding job with the new vest design.
Thanks for the review Dan. I'm glad I waited and didn't get the first model.
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