Andrey Chistyakov. 240 meters’ solo-dive.

Well, actually, I planned a 250-260’ meters dive (subject to observation of run time of the rise, the profiles of 250 and 260 are absolutely the same; it would be just a touchdown for 260, and 20 seconds for 250), but unfortunately, just like the last time, THERE WAS THE BOTTOM DOWN THERE :). Speaking seriously, I don’t really want and I doubtfully will dive from a ship; I don’t belong to the type of activity, I was never interested in reaching depth for a mark only. I only always want to see a possibility practical application of my dive, for example, familiarization with the bottom at the place. And it finally pays off: free-divers recently asked my advice on a better place to fix a 200-meters floater.

Preparation to the dive commenced on September, 09 after I finished work with my student Alexey Pirogov. I’ve assembles a set on the grounds of my good old twin cylinder 2х15, with side buckles (I used original OMS accessories for assembly of an independent twin cylinder in field conditions. By the way, it is much more convenient than the home-made stuff I used at 222 meters; the construction becomes more solid). The set looked like this:

Photo (by Alexey Grishin, computer processing by A. Chistyakov)

The photo represents equipment behind the back. Besides that, I carried four stages: two – on standard D-rings of clip, two – fixed by lower ends to D-rings of clip-on stages. The stages contained the rest of the run-gases plus one EAN45.

In the context of 240-meters’ dive preparation I performed two dives – a solo-dive down to 155 meters with 8 minutes; exposition, and a solo-dive down to 107 meters for installation of a floater marking the place of fall. A few words about the floater. The matter is that El Bells area is the only place deep enough for such a dive (or one has to move from the wall to the sea and dive by means of a rope, but I oppose to such dives. To my mind, these are not natural dives, they lack the most important, the most exciting thing- ocean contact, feeling of unity with nature, spirit of a pioneer). But in the area of El Bells the bottom forms a plateau I had to pass. That is why I fixed the floater; it just indicated the border of the plateau showing me the way right to the rock steep leading to the Depth. By the way, I left the floater for a diver of the future. It’s a submerged plastic canister which used to contain motor oil. To find it leave Bells and move a bit to the left- you’ll see it in some 20 meters.

So, the dive took place in front of El Bells, that is why Ahmed parked the car just by the Bells. It caused obvious displeasure of the police, but we explained what the matter was, and they relaxed. Certainly, it is really stupid to carry a bunch of equipment over the mountain if we can just come right to the place.

Photo (by Alexey Grishin): Andrey Chistyakov (to the left) and Martin Chochorovskiy are preparing to go into the water. In the center-the permanent support diver and driver Ahmed.

Now it's allowed by Uwatec to show the "secret device" on my shoulder (black spot on previous picture):

I put on the set from the car and entered the Bells walking wide. Then I left for the sea from the Bells, and Chochor brought me the four stages. Then Martin helped be to get to the floater, we performed a final check of the equipment, and I started my 9-minutes fall to the depth...

The falling process was regular, the speed of 30 meters per second was easy to maintain; then I reached the edge of the plateau, and the rock wall appeared. I was looking down arduously – there’s darkness down there. 200... There was still nothing visible underneath, only when I reached 210 meters’ depth I was able to distinctly see the close bottom. It was dark, really dark. As a matter of fact, a light would be very useful, but what could I bring to such an enormous depth? I really did not want to test my Metallsub, which cost almost 1500 Euro and was covered by guarantee if used up to 200 meters deep. I started to brake, then touched the bottom with fins. I’ve looked at VR3 on my left wrist - 08:30, the depth was 237 meters. Then I went up. The first 40 meters, before the beginning of desaturation (according to calculation of V-planner) I have passed at the pace of 20 meters per minute, then switched to 10 meters per minute. As it had been planned, I met Chochor in front of the Arc – it was an impressive sight: I hang outside and saw him appear from the darkness of the Arc with two small lights on his mask. We starter our joint emergence during which Chochor took the discharge gases from me, and gave me EAN50 and oxygen. At 30 meters we met Alexey Grishin who took another gas contained from me and gave me some other two oxygen cylinders.

Photo (by Alexey Grishin): Andrey Chistyakov at the decompression stop.

Photo (by Alexey Grishin): Stages’ exchange with Martin Chochorovskiy ("Chochor")

Now I can publish this "forbidden" picture:

Configuration of equipment and mixtures:

Bottom mixture - Tx 5/75 (heliair) – Twin cylinder 2x15 + 6 liters reserve cylinder
Run-gas1 - Tx 9/55 (heliair) – Two side stages on the twin cylinder
Run-gas2 - Tx 14/45 – Stage of 12 l.
Run-gas3 - Tx 20/30 – Two stages of 12 l.
Decompression gas 1- EAN45 (the second cylinder- EAN50) – Two stages of 12 l.
Decompression gas 2 - Oxygen – Two stages, 12 l. each, filled up to 160 bar (buster)
Andrey Chistyakov carried the bottom mixture, all the run-gases and one stage of EAN45. The support divers took al the used run-gases and gave another EAN45 and two oxygen cylinders.

Regulators used:

The main one on the twin cylinder - Apex XTX 100 – excellent work, no reprimands
The emergency one on the twin cylinder - Scubapro MK25AF+S600 – did not try
Run-gas Tx 9/55 - Scubapro MK20+D400 – my good old regulator was excellent from 150 meters
Run-gas Tx 9/55 - Scubapro MK25AF+R190 – is a reliable use-proven option; it didn’t let me down again
Run-gas Tx 20/30 - Aqualung Legend Suprim LX – excellent operation from 72 meters.

I would like to particularly mention Aqualung Legend Suprim LX. I used the regulators from 72, their operation was spotless, breath easiness deserves the best references. The regulators were kindly provided by Martin Chochorovskiy ("Chochor") for testing.

Andrey Chistyakov’s VR3:

Real dive profile and temperature curve (according to readings of one of the devices):

And again, now I can show you all my profole in detailes:

Picture 1 - screenshot "in general"

Picture 2 - Deep part of the dive. I was bellow 200 meters for

I’d like to note, that temperature at the bottom was a bit lower than 22 Celsius.

The state of health after the dive was satisfactory, I felt very tired (subclinical form of decompression sickness), after the dive - 3 hours of pure oxygen breathing, the next morning – examination by recompression chamber DECO International by doctor Akhmed El Sherif.