Eric Willoughby
Sr. Member
- Jun 4, 2009
- 474
- 18
- Detector(s) used
- Currently Pilfered!
Ok, for those of you who have been just chomping at the bit to own an affordable dive system for your underwater hunts.
You can learn a little about Hookah style diving here: http://www.keeneengineering.com/pamphlets/howhookah.html
CHOOSING THE RIGHT SYSTEM:
These dive systems do have thier limitations they are rated as a "low pressure" system.... a single man system will take a person to a depth of 30-40 feet deep MAX
while a 2 person system will take 2 divers to 30-40 feet and a single diver to 60 feet. There are systems out there what will perform deeper, but then we are talking about more exspensive high-pressure delivery systems.
Low pressure means just that, low pressure, but it produces a high volume amount of air. The deeper you go, the more air compresses, the less volume you will need, but it needs more force to get to your lungs, this is where a high pressure system is needed.
What I am listing below are SHALLOW low-pressure dive units.
Here is what you need......
Top 3 recommended Oilless belt-driven Air Pumps:
Thomas T-80 40-50 psi pump (single person) retail: $299.00
Brown PC 875 (single person) 55-65 psi pump retail: Unknown
A great alternative to the T-80, these are said to last longer and produce 30% more air. These are oilless air pumps used in Dental Clinics to power air tools. You have to look hard for these, I havent seen many around. Hopefully you will have better luck than I have in search of these pumps.
Thomas 263 (2 person) 125 psi pump retail: $575.00
If you shop around on E-bay, Craigslist, and call several mining supply and gold dredge supply stores, you can find these pumps used and for alot less money. They pop up often and without warning, so if you can't find one available right away, be patient and keep searching, they will show up! I have seen the T-80 models on sale for $80 up to $200 depending on how much they are used. If you find one for dirt cheap that doesnt work (pay no more than $50), they are extremely easy to repair and the parts kit costs around $30
Next is the engine to drive the pump.
GreyHound 6.5hp weight, 40lbs retail: $149.00 (Harbor Frieght) $85.00 (Ebay)
This engine has more power than what is needed to run the pump, but not too much difference in price compared to the smaller engine listed below.
GreyHound 2.5hp retail: $119.00 (Harbor Frieght) Advantage with this engine is lighter weight
Next, here is something you can duplicate yourself really cheaply to float your system. All you really need is a truck inner tube and something to be used as a platform to mount the engine and pump.
Then, what you need is your delivery system.
You will need FOOD GRADE air hose, 250 psi rated, this can be obtained from any hose supplier in your area. I recently checked with a supplier in my area, and this hose is going for 50 cents a foot, if you do this, you can have a custom-length hose. The extra thing that you will need done is to have the hose couplings crimped on at a hydraulic hose shop, or you can use the press-in barbed fitting with hose clamps.... 1/4 inch male and female threaded couplings are needed.
The third choice is to buy the hose already set up and ready to go from Keene Engineering.
20 ft. $35
30 ft. $50
100 ft. $155
How to set up your hose:
Run a 6 foot lead hose (male thread on one end, female thread on the other) Male end connects to the pump,
at the other end, you attach a female coupling,
From the female coupling, you thread on a female quick-connect coupling (one end is male threaded)
At both ends of the air reserve tank, you will screw in the male quick-connects that look
like this:
(single person tank) retail $69
(2 person tank) retail: $225
(cheaper alternative version of air reserve tank, 1 or 2 person. Food grade Co2 tank from any keg supply company)
Retail: $95
Then you attach your main air line (whichever APPRORIATE length you choose) to the other end of the air reserve bottle in the same fashion as your previous connection.
Next, you attach a female threaded coupling to the hose that exactly matches the male threaded coupling that is on your 2nd Stage Adjustable Dive Regulator.
Here is Keene's illustration of the entire system:
Keene recommends using a harness for your regulator, I believe this is wrong and potentially dangerous, they are far to easy to get snagged onto things underwater, and they are a pain in the neck to put on and take off (I had used one for a year, I HATED IT). The safest way to attach the air line to you is to velcro-strap it to your upper arm.
Regulators can be found new and for good prices on Ebay and other sources online, but can also be had at real rock-bottom prices from scuba dive shops looking to sell off and replace thier older rentals. I buy mine this way, the shops are always happy to also throw in fresh new valves and springs before sending out the door, and they always work like new. You can easly have a $300 regulator for a price of $30-$50 bucks if you shop around.
If you want to really be sporting stylish and be comfortable, as well as have the ability to talk and sing to yourself while under water, go with a full face mask. All you do is cut the zip-tie that is holding on your regulator mouth piece, remove the mouth piece and plug it into the mouth of the mask and zip-tie it snug on the inside. Voila! SIMPLE, and you will absolutely love it and you will never experience jaw fatigue ever again.
Cressi Full Face Mask Retail: $75-$100
I hope this will be of use to a few of you out there!
You can learn a little about Hookah style diving here: http://www.keeneengineering.com/pamphlets/howhookah.html
CHOOSING THE RIGHT SYSTEM:
These dive systems do have thier limitations they are rated as a "low pressure" system.... a single man system will take a person to a depth of 30-40 feet deep MAX
while a 2 person system will take 2 divers to 30-40 feet and a single diver to 60 feet. There are systems out there what will perform deeper, but then we are talking about more exspensive high-pressure delivery systems.
Low pressure means just that, low pressure, but it produces a high volume amount of air. The deeper you go, the more air compresses, the less volume you will need, but it needs more force to get to your lungs, this is where a high pressure system is needed.
What I am listing below are SHALLOW low-pressure dive units.
Here is what you need......
Top 3 recommended Oilless belt-driven Air Pumps:
Thomas T-80 40-50 psi pump (single person) retail: $299.00
Brown PC 875 (single person) 55-65 psi pump retail: Unknown
A great alternative to the T-80, these are said to last longer and produce 30% more air. These are oilless air pumps used in Dental Clinics to power air tools. You have to look hard for these, I havent seen many around. Hopefully you will have better luck than I have in search of these pumps.
Thomas 263 (2 person) 125 psi pump retail: $575.00
If you shop around on E-bay, Craigslist, and call several mining supply and gold dredge supply stores, you can find these pumps used and for alot less money. They pop up often and without warning, so if you can't find one available right away, be patient and keep searching, they will show up! I have seen the T-80 models on sale for $80 up to $200 depending on how much they are used. If you find one for dirt cheap that doesnt work (pay no more than $50), they are extremely easy to repair and the parts kit costs around $30
Next is the engine to drive the pump.
GreyHound 6.5hp weight, 40lbs retail: $149.00 (Harbor Frieght) $85.00 (Ebay)
This engine has more power than what is needed to run the pump, but not too much difference in price compared to the smaller engine listed below.
GreyHound 2.5hp retail: $119.00 (Harbor Frieght) Advantage with this engine is lighter weight
Next, here is something you can duplicate yourself really cheaply to float your system. All you really need is a truck inner tube and something to be used as a platform to mount the engine and pump.
Then, what you need is your delivery system.
You will need FOOD GRADE air hose, 250 psi rated, this can be obtained from any hose supplier in your area. I recently checked with a supplier in my area, and this hose is going for 50 cents a foot, if you do this, you can have a custom-length hose. The extra thing that you will need done is to have the hose couplings crimped on at a hydraulic hose shop, or you can use the press-in barbed fitting with hose clamps.... 1/4 inch male and female threaded couplings are needed.
The third choice is to buy the hose already set up and ready to go from Keene Engineering.
20 ft. $35
30 ft. $50
100 ft. $155
How to set up your hose:
Run a 6 foot lead hose (male thread on one end, female thread on the other) Male end connects to the pump,
at the other end, you attach a female coupling,
From the female coupling, you thread on a female quick-connect coupling (one end is male threaded)
At both ends of the air reserve tank, you will screw in the male quick-connects that look
like this:
(single person tank) retail $69
(2 person tank) retail: $225
(cheaper alternative version of air reserve tank, 1 or 2 person. Food grade Co2 tank from any keg supply company)
Retail: $95
Then you attach your main air line (whichever APPRORIATE length you choose) to the other end of the air reserve bottle in the same fashion as your previous connection.
Next, you attach a female threaded coupling to the hose that exactly matches the male threaded coupling that is on your 2nd Stage Adjustable Dive Regulator.
Here is Keene's illustration of the entire system:
Keene recommends using a harness for your regulator, I believe this is wrong and potentially dangerous, they are far to easy to get snagged onto things underwater, and they are a pain in the neck to put on and take off (I had used one for a year, I HATED IT). The safest way to attach the air line to you is to velcro-strap it to your upper arm.
Regulators can be found new and for good prices on Ebay and other sources online, but can also be had at real rock-bottom prices from scuba dive shops looking to sell off and replace thier older rentals. I buy mine this way, the shops are always happy to also throw in fresh new valves and springs before sending out the door, and they always work like new. You can easly have a $300 regulator for a price of $30-$50 bucks if you shop around.
If you want to really be sporting stylish and be comfortable, as well as have the ability to talk and sing to yourself while under water, go with a full face mask. All you do is cut the zip-tie that is holding on your regulator mouth piece, remove the mouth piece and plug it into the mouth of the mask and zip-tie it snug on the inside. Voila! SIMPLE, and you will absolutely love it and you will never experience jaw fatigue ever again.
Cressi Full Face Mask Retail: $75-$100
I hope this will be of use to a few of you out there!
I do not own one yet but would love to. My self I would not try this I would rather get one that is built by the pro's to much to gamble on here.
