Posted by tleemay on January 04, 2002 at 11:20:54:
In Reply to: Re: Scooters- Good, Bad or Indifferent? posted by Steve on January 03, 2002 at 16:56:02:
Steve,
So to answer your own question, your position
is "Bad".
Mine is "Good" when their use is properly
warranted.
There are many different ways to shoot video
underwater. Mounting a an IMAX camera on the
front of a scooter is not an effective way to
handle the beast and it's housing underwater
and still have control of it, it's just too
damned big. Apples and oranges in my opinion
when comparing with today's consumer digital
products like a VX-2000 or even the older XL-1.
The biggest housing/camera I have ever used
UW was a custom BRE protecting an Ikegami HL-79D.
The camera and housing with lights and batteries
were in excess of 100 lbs on the deck. The IMAX
cameras in housings I have seen belittle even
that older technology. in weight and size.
There are times when a camera mounted on the
nose is good and there are times when it's
just not practical... like when you want to
ensure keeping the life around as you pointed
out.
When the project requires video of something
like the long survey of the wreck, the
documentation of S&R operations UW, or extended
penetrations into whatever you are penetrating,
then there is value to nose mounts.
As to impact to the environment, scooters are
weighted to be neutral at operating depth. A
diver with good balance, streamlined profile,
and proper buoyancy easily keeps it off the
bottom and within control. Zipping in and out
of kelp blinds is as easy as if a diver didn't
have a scooter at all. There is no chopping of
kelp with the prop, there is not prop wash
billowing up the bottom. If someone using a
scooter does cause these conditions, I strongly
suggest the diver learn a better technique. If
you point is that it changes the interaction of
life around you, that's entirely possible. But,
Last weekend we scooted by very large calico
bass that never darted away from us as we
passed. Big schools of blacksmiths just parted
like curtains as we putted towards them. One
barracuda actually followed us probably curious
as to what kind of animal we were. If I had a
camera with me on that dive, I would of had
some great shots. As we cruised about 10' off the
bottom, I could see lobster walking out in the
open. On the rear apex side of Bird, we saw
abalone and gregorian fans covering a huge wall.
So impressive they were, other team members were
high-fiving each other during the experience.
This is an area of the reef that rarely sees
divers due to the lack of quality anchorage for
your typical charter boat, and the severe current
that regularly passes that area.
As to lowering my SAC, mine is excellent thank
you very much. It's not an issue of conserving
gas on a scooter as much as the benefit of not
on gassing N2. When deep, I have plenty of gas
to get to the objective, complete the plan, and
get back with plenty of reserve for me or another
member of my team should it be needed in an
emergency. If I didn't have a excellent SAC, I
would not be on the team in the first place.