Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] PSUB Fatalities...and safety

["Vikking" <vikking@mindspring.com>]

good morning Pat

I am totally in accord whith you about carryng scuba equipment on a psub,
inherent within your discussion there is point that needs to be brought to
the surface, it is on my view , the skills of the operator, I am here taking
about the average psubs builder,  --_scuba gear IS part of a psub, it is
essential equipment.
but for a safety plan to work all the variables need to be considered,
starting whith the design
.
There is some people like yourself, who had achieved a high level of all the
related disciplines that form part of a psub endeavour, and who are willing
to share the knowledge, but also there is a lot of people in an earlier
stage, I do not want to give the impression of everithing is going to be all
right because i carried safety gear on board  syndrome), to know how to use
scuba IS not the same as exiting a sunken vessel and reaching the surface on
one piece, this forum is an execellent way to  improve the posibilities,
thanks again from your input.

Gabriel Feldman
---- Original Message -----
From: Captain Nemo <vulcania@interpac.net>
To: <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
Sent: Sunday, March 05, 2000 5:19 PM
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] PSUB Fatalities...


>
> Gabriel,
>
> In almost 40 years of diving, I've used a lift bag or two.  When they
don't
> fail, they do take time to inflate; during which I like to breathe.  SCUBA
> enables me to do this.
>
> A two ton sub could need a 62.5 cubic foot bag to float neutral at the
> surface; that same bag requires 125 cubic feet of air at a 33-foot depth;
> 187.5 at 66; 250 at 99; and so forth.  I can't hold my breath as long as
it
> will take to transfer that much air into the bag, arrest the descent,
return
> to the surface, exit the hull, and get back up to where I can breathe, so
> I'll take SCUBA.
>
> I realize the forces I'll encounter if a window breaks will be extreme,
and
> I won't be able to exit against the incoming water pressure.  But  if the
> stricken subs rate of descent exceeds a lift-devices rate of inflation,
> she's going to the bottom, bag or no bag.  In any event, I'd choose being
> able to breathe over not having that option.
>
> And if, say,  the boat gets a slow leak that causes us to go negatively
> buoyant; or the ballast system fails and the sub bottoms out with the
> pressure hull intact; I'm going to need to open the flood valves, equalize
> pressure,  and escape.  That's going to take time; and then there's the
swim
> to the surface.  Again, I'll take SCUBA.
>
> With further consideration, I can visualize several other instances where
> onboard SCUBA might be vital, and none where it would be undesirable.
> Therefore, I don't see any reason not to carry it.
>
> Personally, I apply the same logic to diving and submarines that I used
> while skydiving and flying; I never tell myself I'm "safe".  I always
expect
> the worst.  When seconds count, that preparedness decreases reaction time;
> and the availability of survival equipment can mean the difference between
> life or death.  I wouldn't climb into an experimental aircraft without a
> parachute, or make a jump without a reserve; or dive without a "safe
second"
> on my rig and a buddy beside me.   By the same token, I won't operate a
> homebuilt submarine without SCUBA onboard.
>
> In the interest of safety, we restrict the operation of our experimental
> homebuilt submarine to sites where maximum depth does not exceed
> recreational diving limits; we always have support divers in the water;
> emergency plans in readiness; and we carry SCUBA for all those instances
> where doing so might save lives.
>
> I've gone down in professionally built submarines without SCUBA, but the
> engineering and construction of those boats is up to a standard that most
> homebuilts do not approach.  It's the difference between a 747 and a
> SONNERAI: I don't wear a parachute on an airliner, either; but we're
talking
> about two entirely different levels of risk when we compare commercial
> vehicles to experimental homebuilts.
>
> I respect everyone elses right to live their lives, and operate their own
> homebuilt submarines in the manner they feel safest with.  But personally,
> if there isn't SCUBA aboard their homebuilt sub, I wouldn't want to be
their
> passenger.
>
> Very best regards,
>
> Pat Regan
> vulcania@interpac.net
>
>
>
>
>
>