My visit to Delta P was for more than a tour. Al had arranged for me to spend some time with Jason, so I could complete a Sentinel Technician Course. My purpose was to be more familiar with the unit and its components so I could handle the common and not so common field repairs.
We started b completely disassembling my unit all the way down to its basic components. Jason then went through a step-by-step procedure for assembling the unit from the ground up. Along the way, he explained some of their ideas in designing this rebreather and comparing it to their other, more expensive unit, the Oroborus.
Jason was an excellent teacher. He was patient with me and took the time to show me a more professional way to do things. At one point he told me, a professional uses the bench rather than manipulating things at chest level. There is a greater chance of damaging things when you are trying to hold them and work with them rather than keeping them on the bench and using the tools and leverage to your advantage.
The Sentinel is a rather simple device with some surprising mechanical twists designed to make it safer for the end user. They have given divers using their products a great deal of thought and have tried to build a straight forward machine that allows for flexibility and customization in the diver interface but not in the basic operation. The unit features a custom designed back plate and wing that can be substituted for a more conventional backplate and wing if desired,
As I reassembled my unit, I was continually amazed with the design features incorporated into the unit. It is apparent that the design team build on the success of their other unit and the experience of a number of divers inside and outside of the Company.
Of course, I was responsible for re-building my unit, so I hope I was a good student. I guess I’ll find out in a few weeks.
