Owner`s manual
16
Diving with the Rapid-Diver 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 on your weight belt 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, carefully 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 by pulling gently on the red dump
handle which sits in front of the diver's left shoulder. DO NOT USE EX-
CESSIVE FORCE AS THIS COULD SERIOUSLY DAMAGE THE SYSTEM.
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 by pulling gently on the red dump handle which sits
in front of the diver's left shoulder. 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 main-
tain 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 Rapid Diver™ BC when you reach the surface to attain a
comfortable degree of buoyancy. Do not Overinflate the BCD.
Pre-Dive Check:
Prior to each dive, always check to make certain your Rapid Diver™
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. Never dive with a leaking
or malfunctioning BC.