Mike,

> > Of course, the Halcyon is also depth compensated.  To put it
> > basically, the deeper you go the less gas gets added each time.
> > Think about doing a 100' dive (4 ATA) - that means that you only
> > have to add 1/4 the gas you would add at the surface, so you just
> > extended your gas time by a factor of 4.  Then add to the fact
> > that it's RMV driven (i.e. it only breathes when YOU do) and
> > the gas gets extended even more.
> >
> > Carl
>
> I sure won't argue that the Halcyon is a _much_ better unit than the
> Dolphin. I would love to have one but that ain't gonna happen anytime soon.
> And I also agree with the deficiencies that you indicate with the Dolphin,
> but I think that they are all simple risks to handle if you dive the unit
> properly. I know the limitations of the unit and I dive my profiles

But, one slipup and you're dead.  I took the Atlantis course mainly out
of curiosity but it was clear that AFAIC the unit is not fit for the
water.  I guess I place a very high value on my life.  Too many people
have died diving rebreathers.  I know most of them have been on CCRs,
but, if a Nobel Laureate can succumb to one (Henry Kendall died diving
a Cis Lunar - supposedly one of the "safest" CCRs and that isn't the
ONLY
fatality ever recorded on a Cis Lunar) then I think it's perhaps time to
reevaluate things.

> consertatively so that I don't cross these limitations. I don't have a dime
> of my personal money invested in them and I would not buy one but I do like
> diving them. :-)

That can't be strictly true, can it?  YOu must have taken the
certification
course which does cost real money, right?!

I can empathize with you.  I could easily go out and rent an
Atlantis/Dolphin
and go do some cool dives.  But, I simply will NOT do that.  I'll wait
either for the time that I can purchase a Halcyon or until something
comes
along that is safer than what's out there.  I guess that's my cave
diving
aversion to risk coming out.

> Bottom line for me is that I don't work hard diving them, I purge the loop
> every so often so that I know I have a good supply of O2 in the loop, I
> monitor the Oxyguage to monitor my PO2 and I check the ole gas guage pretty
> regular. While doing all that, I enjoy the relative quiet operation and the
> warm moist air that I'm breathing. Sometimes when diving it, I dream about
> Halycon though...  :-)

For the short recreational dives that you do with the Dolphin I don't
think
the "warm moist" air aspect plays that big of a role, at least it
doesn't
for me.  Just remember, when you're dreaming of that Halcyon, make sure
you REALLY don't start dreaming (if you know what I mean -
ZZZzzzzz.....!!!!).

Carl