Scuba Consultancy

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As promised I am sending feedback/review on the OTB SAR boots you provided me back in July of this year.
Since that time I have worn these boots on my own time off which involved 2 day hiking, rockhopping and wading trips up the Russell River, just near Cairns, crossing the slippery rocks whilst the river is in semi flood and wading and finning in dams around Cairns.
I also wore the boots at work in the role of 2IC/Boarding Team leader as a member of the Customs Marine Unit. During which time I used the boots while conducting Tender (small boat) operations. This involved conducting Man Overboard Drills, SAR (search and rescue) work. The boots have seen action in PNG waters and other boat work in the tropical waters of northern Australia.
I wasn’t able to do any ladder climbing as we don’t carry a climbing ladder onboard our boats (as we discussed during our phone call). But given the shape and grip of the the sole I am sure it’d be great for climbing a boarding ladder too.

Construction – The material used to make the boots is very durable. The stitching is all double stitched and shows no sign of stitching breaking even after my treatment of them. I have worn the boots quite a bit and they have no signs of wear at all. A little discolouration in a few spots from orange dam mud but if I actually wanted to remove it I am sure if I could with some light scrubbing. But as I am trying to treat them mean (putting them through their paces) they don’t actually get scrubbed. A quick hose off and left to dry (in direct North Qld sun) and they are good as gold.
The rubber strap stitched to protect the ankle on the outside is a good idea too if you were to hit the outside of the ankle against something or get it caught in amongst coral the ankle would be protected.
I had previously waded parts of the Russell River (very rocky bottom) in wet suit booties and was almost crippled due to the soft sole bending around rocks and pummelling my feet. The rigid sole of the OTB boots solved that problem. Offering support and traction on the wet, moss covered rocks.

Traction/Grip – these boots have great grip and traction even when soaking wet. The traction was very important whilst climbing wet rocks on the Russell River and in keeping your footing in the tenders in rough weather even after some fuel had been spilt on the deck.
Even onboard the ACV (Australian Customs Vessel) the decks can be slippery. The SAR boots performed flawlessly giving great traction.

Water dispersion – the drains in the bottom of the boots are great for dispersing water. The combat boots we are currently issued have small valves up the side of the boot which doesn’t remove water below that level to drain meaning your feet remain sitting in water until the boot is removed and water tipped out. The OTB boots drains all the water out as the drain holes are in the sole meaning the feet don’t end up sitting in water. The drain holes are small allowing water to drain without allowing anything into the boots, combined with the mesh which also stops ingress of sand, etc. Feet sitting in water for long periods of time is not good for the health of your feet so that problem is solved by this system.

Wearability – The boots are comfortable providing very good ankle support. The inner soles provide good cushioning and the drain holes means it doesn’t feel like you are standing in buckets of water. The stay tied laces are great and being offset allowed my TUSA fins to be worn over the boots. I only did limited finning in them but they were comfortable when used. I wore the boots with work socks (Explorers) and while socks probably aren’t required I found them better with them. Maybe I just have soft feet. The boots have mesh which allows the boot to breath, which is great for foot health.

Ankle support  & water absorption – The ankles are given plently of support as the boots are a firm fit and with the laces and the velcro strap allows for plenty of adjustment. Given that I have a skinny foot, I quite often find our combat boots to be a bit big and wear 2 pair of socks but the OTB boots were firm and still had adjustment availble even after fitting it to my foot. The uppers of the boot don’t hold (absorb) water making them light to wear even after being completely submerged in the water for hours. Given that I have waded across uneven reef flats to intercept illegal fishermenon on numerous occasions ankle support is imperative and plodding with soaking wet leather combat boots fatigue officers quickly. So OTB boots can make reef walking safer and less tiring and fatigue can lead to injury. So as far as lowering fatigue and giving support the OTB boots are excellent.
The hard reinforced toe and heel protection provides good strong protection for the foot’s toes and heel. I found this more than sufficient for all the tasks I put the OTB boots through.

Donning – The boots are easy to put on. The loop on the rear of the boot also also for pulling wet boots back on. The laces on the side are loosened when I take the boots off ready to go and are slipped on easliy. As when I hear an alarm for a Man Overboard I change from my combat boots to the OTB boots quickly for boat operations.

The boots dry pretty quickly as they don’t absorb water. So yet another benefit over our current boots for water operations which take ages to dry. As what happens now is that the crew must wear wet boots on watch or wear another set of boots or wear deck shoes which also have no steel cap whilst their boots dry.

Overall the boots met all of what I expected of them and more. They are great for the role we are required to do.

I believe that these boots were looked at by our Southern Ocean brethren a while back but rejected, the reason was that a steel capped boot was required. The only reason we have a steel cap in our boots is that on the ACV’s we must do cable work (work with the anchor), on the chartered vessels that the Southern Ocean boys work on they have contractors to do that anchorwork. Tactical marine units around the world, SEAL teams, SASR, etc wear these boots and given the roles they conduct in many different environments they don’t require a steel reinforced toe. So our Southern Ocean boys decided your boots were unneccessary through ignorance I believe.

My  intention is to present these boots to our Clothing and Equipment Committee next month as a replacement for deck shoes when doing boat work. As the deck shoes offer no ankle support whatsoever, are very slippery on wet decks and have no steel cap either. They remain wet for a long time being made of leather and smell after a while. I will keep you posted on any outcome.
Combat boots if worn for waterborne work get wet (and being partly leather) also remain wet for a long time meaning that deck shoes or runners must be worn as being barefoot is an OH&S risk. Neither Deck shoes or runners are good in an onboard the boat role (mostly for firefighting, anchorwork, and providing ankle support) on an unstable platform.

I would like to thank you for supplying the boots to me to trial. They are a great bit of kit and I have had great interest in them from my crew.

Obviously I can’t imagine what our Central Office’s take will be but I am going to forward this review to Canberra as well and see what they say. Can’t make any promises but will try. Hopefully officer safety, well being and commonsense will win over.

Regards,
Paul F

TRIBOLUBE® KO₂ Solvent completely removes PFPE oils in O₂ grease. TRIBOLUBE® KO₂ makes a difficult and time consuming process simple and efficient. The fluorinated oil in the grease can be easily removed with the proper solvent. Most can’t imagine a quick and easy way of cleaning. TRIBOLUBE® KO₂ will efficiently remove the grease in less time, and increase productivity. People that are using TRIBOLUBE® KO₂ describe it as “amazing, unbelievable, and magic.” “Will TRIBOLUBE® KO₂ make any major difference?” The average ratio is 5:1. Using TRIBOLUBE® KO₂ a tech can completely finish five jobs in same time it took to complete just one. TRIBOLUBE® KO₂ works on all PFPE based oxygen greases. Even if it is dried out and caked on. There are standard operating procedures we recommend to get the best results. Keep the container closed when not in use. Do not leave bottle open in an area that gets hot. Heat can cause an increase in evaporative loss. Try to store TRIBOLUBE® KO₂ in an area that remains cool. For the best results we recommend storing TRIBOLUBE® KO₂ in freezer. Wipe excess grease off first. To achieve the best results spray TRIBOLUBE® KO₂ directly on a lint free cloth. You can’t dilute TRIBOLUBE® KO₂ with water, cleaners, or chemical. The fluids will not mix together, and you could possibly introduce hydrocarbon contamination to an oxygen compatible product. TRIBOLUBE® KO₂ is a solvent for fluorinated oil; it will not work on silicone or hydrocarbon grease(s).

Over the years I listened to problems that occur concerning regulators. The Tribolube® EPO₂ Protectant was designed to stop the corrosion of the brass parts inside regulators. Tribolube® EPO₂ accomplishes this with surface pacification. It puts a light coating of PFPE material on the surface and blocks the elements contaminants (solids, liquids, and gasses). Tribolube® EPO₂ stops corrosion on the surface if applied properly. This corrosion reaction is called Electrophoresis. Electrophoresis is the loss of electrons and is the natural state of decay or corrosion of metals. Tribolube® EPO₂ is dielectric. Tribolube® EPO₂ is not miscible in water, so it will not dissolve, be diluted, or wash off with water. Tribolube® KO₂ solvent removes Tribolube® EPO₂ completely, if for some reason it became necessary. Use Tribolube® EPO₂ on inflator mechanisms’ and fix problem areas that exist with BC’s and BCD’s. Properly treatment will stop corrosion and sticking issues during deployment, inflation, and deflation. We recommend using Tribolube®71 grease for connectors, spring caps, and environmental seal caps. There is no need to heavily coat parts with Tribolube®71, normally all you need is a thin film of grease. Always follow the lubrication requirements as directed by the original equipment manufacturer. One of the biggest issues divers deal with is oxidation and corrosion. Welding of metallic parts often results from galvanic corrosion, where contact is made between two dissimilar metals. The most common pairings represented are: brass & aluminum, stainless & aluminum, and nickel/chrome plated brass and aluminum. Solidified salt is caustic and can cause a weld like appearance; however it is more likely a cathodic reaction where one metal is sacrificially corroded. Galvanic corrosion forms quickly and causes expansion of one the metals in threaded assemblies, and valves. In cases where maintenance is overdue corrosion will fuse parts together as if welded or Super Glued. This makes it extremely difficult to disassemble your equipment. A protective coating of Tribolube® EPO₂, if properly applied completely stops corrosion. Even if the parts are being flushed with fresh water, galvanic corrosion is still an issue and builds up over time. Reapply or request a protective coating of Tribolube® EPO₂ during annual maintenance at your local dive shop. You can safely reapply Tribolube® EPO₂ in common problem areas and on parts more frequently.
Tribolube® EPO₂ was the only thing that resolved an ongoing problem during assembly, for one of our customers. Tribolube® EPO₂ stopped the cyanoacrylate (SuperGlue) from fusing small internal moving parts together. Cyanoacrylate is the generic name for fast-acting adhesives such as methyl 2-cyanoacrylate and ethyl-2-cyanoacrylate (commonly sold under trade names like SuperGlue and Krazy Glue. For this application Tribolube® EPO₂ must be properly applied on the surface to achieve desired results. There are standard operating procedures we recommend to give you the best results. Shake the bottle a few times prior to using. Keep the container closed when not in use. Do not leave the bottle open in an area that that is hot. Heat will increase the potential for evaporative loss. Try to store Tribolube® EPO₂ in an area that remains cool. For the best results we recommend storing Tribolube® EPO₂ in a freezer. When spraying Tribolube® EPO₂ on a surface or part, a fine mist will achieve an optimal protective coating. Make sure to completely coat all the surfaces that require protection, and consider all angles to minimize unprotected areas and maximize the protection.
We met with Jeff Bozanic author of Mastering Rebreathers during the DEMA show in 2008, and introduced him to the Tribolube® product line. He agreed to evaluate and do in field testing with Tribolube® 71 oxygen compatible grease in dynamic and static applications, including the DSV for his rebreather. Jeff used Tribolube® EPO₂ protectant on electrical connections and relays and various closed circuit rebreather systems and parts. The Tribolube® KO₂ oxygen compatible solvent was used to quickly remove Tribolube®71, and the dried out residue of the other oxygen grease. We are happy include his results.
I just wanted to drop you a note to let you know how pleased I have been with Tribolube® 71 and Tribolube® EPO₂. I have been using the products for well over a year now, and have found them both to be vastly superior to other products I have used. I have been especially pleased with your oxygen-compatible lubricant, Tribolube® 71. With other products I had problems with the lubricants drying out or caking on the equipment they were supposed to be lubricating. This caused me to use standard silicone greases on parts of my rebreather’s, and oxygen-compatible lubricants only on those components I absolutely had to. I have had none of these problems with Tribolube® 71, and now use it on all of my rebreather parts and o-rings. Tribolube® EPO₂ has done a fantastic job of preventing corrosion in areas that were previously problematic. In particular, I have been very pleased with the corrosion resistance it has provided on the brass parts of the rebreather mouthpieces I use. This has been especially helpful in the internal components that are often exposed to salt water, low concentrations of dissolved calcium hydroxide from the absorbents, and other harsh liquids. I now recommend your products to my students and other divers.
Thank you for the fine products you manufacture.
Sincerely,
J. B.

TRIBOLUBE® EPO₂ Protecterant stops corrosion on brass and copper. When properly applied TRIBOLUBE®EPO₂ will keep metals shiny and corrosion free between servicing intervals. Field testing by various manufacturers continues to reveal additional useful applications. When deep sea diving helmets are treated they’re protected from materials found on commercial dive sites such as oils, paint, quick set cement, chemicals, fuel, waste products, biological hazards, and toxins. A commercial diver reported; “I was using quick set concrete for a repair on a bridge job, when I surfaced there wasn’t any concrete stuck to my hat and the down time totaled four hours.” Nothing will stick to your dive helmet, if it is properly treated with TRIBOLUBE®EPO₂. Treat areas that are prone to galvanic corrosion, and block the natural reaction that occurs between two dissimilar contacting metals. When properly applied TRIBOLUBE®EPO₂ inhibits corrosion. “TRIBOLUBE®EPO₂ was the only thing that resolved an ongoing problem during our assembly. TRIBOLUBE®EPO₂ stopped the cyanoacrylate (SuperGlue) from fusing small internal moving parts together.” Cyanoacrylate is the generic name for fast-acting adhesives such as methyl 2-cyanoacrylate and ethyl-2-cyanoacrylate (commonly sold under trade names like SuperGlue and Krazy Glue. *(For this application TRIBOLUBE® EPO₂ must be properly applied on the surface to achieve desired results.) There are standard operating procedures we recommend to give you the best results. Shake the bottle a few times prior to use. Keep the container closed when not in use. Do not leave the bottle open in an area that that is hot. Heat will increase the potential for evaporative loss. Try to store TRIBOLUBE® EPO₂ in an area that remains cool. For the best results we recommend storing TRIBOLUBE® EPO₂ in freezer. When spraying TRIBOLUBE® EPO₂ on a surface or part, a fine mist will achieve an optimal protective coating. Make sure to completely coat all the surfaces that require protection, and consider all angles to minimize unprotected areas and maximize the protection.
Tribolube® EPO₂ should be applied as a base coating on the entire valve assembly. Apply a coating of Tribolube® 71 over the surfaces treated with Tribolube® EPO₂. In Dynamic applications, properly treat all moving parts and o-rings with the correct amount of grease. Over lubrication will not offer more protection, better performance, or decrease the need to service components. In fact overuse of grease and liberal coating can cause performance issues and additional problems. In most cases that involve lubrication more is not better. In static applications Tribolube® EPO₂ is sufficient, but a small amount of lubricant is recommended.
Tribolube® EPO₂ is being used with grease where galling, fretting, micro welding, and galvanic corrosion is common. In a threaded assembly, the maximum mated contact is only 80%. The remaining 20 % is area made up of open or void spaces, but this space most commonly represents an area of 35% when assembled. If unprotected this will cause frequent system problems, and the location where parts seize. Properly protect this area or be prepared to deal with labor intensive problems. Filling the space with a protective material is one solution. Teflon® tape, anti-seize paste, and grease are commonly used, but not always effective. In low to moderate pressure contacting thread surfaces are suitable, but when a system is required to handle over 3,000 psi it is best to treat void areas. Using Tribolube® EPO₂ as the initial coating and applying Tribolube® 71 over this treated area will; stop corrosion, seizing, fretting, welding, reduce the potential for galling, and deliver oxygen compatible protection. Properly treated assemblies will operate effectively in a wide range of temperatures, from cryogenic at -100°F to 550°F.
Leaving metal plated parts in an ultrasonic solution of diluted vinegar for prolonged periods of time will cause deterioration of the nickel or chrome. The strength of the solution and amount of time parts are submerged determine the severity damage to the protective metal Finnish. There is a way to stop both the damage from acetic acid, and the green oxidation (verdigris) from occurring. The solution is simple, apply a protective coating of Tribolube® EPO₂ and fix both problems at the same time in one step.
Vinegar is composed of about 5% acetic acid. Acetic acid is the major chemical component of vinegar. The proper chemical name of acetic acid is ethanoic acid. Vinegar is a weak acid produced by the oxidation of alcohol (ethanol) from wines and ciders by bacteria. Appling Tribolube® EPO₂ as a protective coating for the entire assembly and solve both issues. The Tribolube® EPO₂ will not be removed by the acid and will block the (verdigris) natural oxidation of the brass from air and seawater. For optimal results it is recommended to apply a coating on a clean dry surface’s. For preventative maintenance and ongoing protection reapply during annual or semi-annual servicing.

TRIBOLUBE® 71 Grease is 100% oxygen compatible, and qualified to MIL-PRF-275617 Types I, II, and III. Testing data is available for heat of combustion (HOC), Autogenous ignition testing (AIT), and pneumatic impact testing preformed by NASA WSTF, WPAFB, and BAM in Germany. TRIBOLUBE® 71 is consistently the oxygen grease divers trust over their old grease. TRIBOLUBE® 71 is excellent for and is recommended in static and dynamic applications. TRIBOLUBE® 71 has a wide temperature operating range and has no problem working in -100°F to 550°F. Technicians’ report seeing something unique about a regulator lubricated with TRIBOLUBE® 71. “During our annual maintenance I was surprised, the grease didn’t dry out, leave a cookie dough residue, or white scale behind.” One surprised Tech told us “I started the annual maintenance and had to cross check the regulators serial number in the servicing log. The equipment had been in service for a whole year, but it looked like the TRIBOLUBE® 71 had just been applied!” “I’ve never seen anything like it! I’m a customer for life, and wouldn’t use anything else!” The grease was used to lubricate critical areas of a rebreather prior to an arctic dive. The air temperature was around -35°F and the water was -2°F. “The oxygen grease I used before would gel and thicken up in these conditions. We commonly saw the DSV freeze up with the other grease, which would stick the DSV open sometimes. This made it physically was impossible to rotate, but in every test TRIBOLUBE® 71 performed as if it were at room temperature. When we lubricated the DSV with TRIBOLUBE® 71 the movement was smooth and easy even at -2° F.!” “I contacted Aerospace Lubricants, Inc. to inquire about being a distributor, because I won’t ever use anything else in my gear!”

Packing sufficient air and monitoring its pressure are crucial when you scuba dive.

Scuba Tank

Your scuba cylinder should be lightweight, yet roomy enough to hold all the air you need on your dive. For shallow diving, a 50 to 63 cubic foot cylinder should be sufficient whereas an 80 cubic foot cylinder is best on deeper (40 meters) forays. 100 cubic foot cylinder for “heavy breathers” can also be found, as well as “pony bottles” of 40 cubic foot or less that are usually used as a backup air supply.

Scuba cylinders regulators convert the high pressure air inside scuba cylinders into breathable air. It is crucial to monitor your air pressure at all times so as to prevent getting the bends. Make sure to pick a hose and mouthpiece suitable for your use.

Buoyancy Compensators

Buoyancy control device (BCD), also known as buoyancy compensator, keeps you and your cylinder afloat at varying depth levels. Choose a BCD that is suitable for your size, shape, and diving style and be sure to test the valves and vents before use.

Dive computers track your decompression time at various diving depths, as well as stop times, breathing rates, total dive time, and other important information. Some even sound alarms when problems occur.

Scuba diving products from brands such as Apollo, Catalina, Ocean Design and Cochran Technology can help keep you comfortable and safe in the water.

Neodiver Drysuit

The drysuit protects the whole body, except the head and hands. Drysuits have seals and straps at the neck, wrists, and ankles to keep out excess water. They are mostly worn in water colder than 15 degrees Celsius and on deeper dives. If you venture into waters under 10 degrees Celsius, you may want to consider adding a hood.

A well insulated wetsuit that fits well and allow you to breathe and move about easily is very important for an easy and comfortable dive. Most wetsuits are made from neoprene, a material that compresses and becomes less insulated the deeper you dive. For warmer waters (20 degrees Celsius and above), a 3mm thick neoprene suit is fine. However consider buying a thicker wetsuit if you are planning on diving in deeper, colder waters. A 9mm thick suit is ideal for water with temperatures between 2 and 18 degrees Celsius.

Full length wetsuit – covers your arms and legs to the wrists and ankles. These are usually worn by scuba divers in 18 to 22 degrees Celsius waters.

Three-quarter wetsuits are short-sleeved, ankle length, three-quarter wetsuits are one piece wetsuits worn in 22 to 27 degrees Celsius waters.

Shorties are short-sleeved, short-legged, one piece wetsuits worn in 22 to 27 degrees Celsius waters.

Secure quick release knife

SQR (Secure QuickRelease)  is the most effcetive dive locking mechanism eve made for military titanium knife.

SQR titanium knife blade

The SQR Titanium knife use special designed blade.

SQR Dive Knife has the most effective dive locking mechanism ever made.

Knife Divers Military Tactical Titanium Non Magnetic

SQR KNIFE is built for MCM & MCT military use.

SQR Titanium Dive Knife is:
- Neo-Prene sheath for comfort and automatic compensation for wet suit or dry suit compression
- User adjustable with quick disconnect buckles
- 100% NO RUST!
- HRC50 (Hardness Rockwell C-Scale)
- Titanium Beta Alloy
- Non Magnetic
- All metal components are Titanium Alloy

SQR Dive Knife blade  is:
- Blade Style-Drop Point
- Serrated top edge for sawing and cutting
- Line cutter
- Sure Hand Grip
- Blade length 125mm
- Overall length 260mm