New Cave Diving video

[phillip1]

A video of a dive we did a few months ago at Mayan Blue. I only did one dive there but the cave has an incredible dreamlike vibe, with really weird colors, not to mention the entrance cenote looks right out of a movie set. If anyone goes to Tulum this is a must dive in my opinion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE7lmBoFH_I

[axel]

What an amazing video!! Thanks for sharing

Jason

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Very cool :)

[jkaterenchuk]

Thanks for posting the video.

I not trying to be critical or a smart ass. But in looking at the video it appears that the AL80's (thats what they appear to be) are better controlled at the tail end on the Armadillo then the Nomad (I think that was the other rigs) and more inline with the divers body.

It's alittle hard to follow each diver thru the video but a good comparison appears at around 8 minutes in when all three can be seen in the same frame.

Is this because of the design of the Armadillo or is it mostly just that way each diver has setup the rigging on the tanks and the length of the budgies on the Nomad's?

I am investigating which Sidemount rig I want to buy so that is why I am interested and asking. I would dive it mostly with Steel 95's but recognize that often when travelling only AL80 might be available.

John

[phillip1]

Thanks for posting the video.

I not trying to be critical or a smart ass. But in looking at the video it appears that the AL80's (thats what they appear to be) are better controlled at the tail end on the Armadillo then the Nomad (I think that was the other rigs) and more inline with the divers body.

It's alittle hard to follow each diver thru the video but a good comparison appears at around 8 minutes in when all three can be seen in the same frame.

Is this because of the design of the Armadillo or is it mostly just that way each diver has setup the rigging on the tanks and the length of the budgies on the Nomad's?

I am investigating which Sidemount rig I want to buy so that is why I am interested and asking. I would dive it mostly with Steel 95's but recognize that often when travelling only AL80 might be available.

John

Good point we all have the bungies a bit looser than most for the below mentioned reason, I think that trim wise the Nomad tends to have the tanks ride up a bit in the back than the Armadillo.
Having dove both the big difference I see is that with the tank valve bungie on the Armadillo tends to push the tanks up in your armpits more than the Nomad and keep it a bit more inline with the body.
Having said that it is not really an advantage or disadvantage as I like to see and have access to my valves at all times. The correct (according to the manual) way of attaching the tanks on the Armadillo would be way up tight in the armpits, although more streamlined this way I don't feel comfortable as it would be more difficult to breath of the valves, switch regs etc.. if need be.
Here in the DR I pretty much only do exploration dives and often I am backing out of very tight spots, I like having a bit of looseness in the tank bungees I find it easier to wiggle my way backwards.
I only dive Al80's and they tend to float up when half full so I clip them to the waist dring at that point and it helps keep them down as I do not like adding weights to the tanks.
From my experience I think that both the Nomad & the Armadillo perform equally as well, however the one big advantage of the Nomad is the additional lift if you need it, if not it's really a tie in my opinion.

[JMB2262]

Very Nice! :clapper

[metaldector]

Since most of the caves in Florida are flooded now it gave me and escape. Thanks for sharing.