20
Diving with the Zeagle System
Diving
•
Your final buoyancy is primarily affected by your body, your thermal suit,
your diving cylinder, and your lead weights. It is
adjusted
with your BCD.
Both too little and too much lead ballast can be dangerous. To determine
the proper amount of lead ballast weight needed for your system, go (with
another diver) to a shallow safe location with the type (fresh or salt) of water
you will be diving in later. During the test, wear a
near empty
cylinder of the
same size and material you will be using. With a safety diver present, care-
fully add or remove weights from your system until you float vertically at the
surface at eye level with a full breath of air (and a near empty cylinder). The
near empty cylinder is important. Many divers weight themselves for a full
cylinder, and then have trouble staying down later in the dive as the cylinder
gains buoyancy.
•
Start your descent by releasing air slowly either through the power inflator
by holding the exhaust over your head and pushing on the exhaust button or
by pulling gently (approximately 1/2 inch) on the inflator to open the remote
exhaust valve on the shoulder if your system is so equipped. DO NOT USE
EXCESSIVE FORCE AS THIS COULD SERIOUSLY DAMAGE THE SYS-
TEM. Let out just enough air to start your descent. As you descend and
when you reach your desired depth you will need to add air to your Zeagle
BC by pressing on the air inlet button of your low pressure inflator to attain
“neutral” buoyancy.
•
It may be necessary to adjust the waist during the dive due to the compres-
sion and expansion of your diving suit.
•
You will need to add air to the BC as you descend and exhaust air from the
BC as you ascend, to maintain neutral buoyancy throughout your dive.
•
When you begin your ascent at the termination of your dive, you must
re-
lease air
from your BC either through the exhaust on the inflator or through
the remote exhaust. Be sure you are vertical with your left side slightly
higher than your right side to vent the BC. You should release air so as to
maintain rate of ascent of one foot per second or less. To maintain a safe
ascent rate, you must
swim
to the surface. Do not use your BCD to pull you
to the surface, as this may result in fast ascents.
Control your Ascent Rate!
•
Inflate your Zeagle BC when you reach the surface to attain a
comfortable
degree of buoyancy and lay back against the tank. Do not Overinflate the
BCD.
Pre-Dive Check:
Prior to each dive, always check to make certain your BC has no obvious
leaks, by inflating the bladder until the over pressure relief valve vents.
Listen for air leaks. If any are found, then service is necessary by an
authorized Zeagle technician. Check the Ripcord™, Ziptouch™, or Pull-
Out™ weight systems.
(See Illustrations on page 18)