What does the future hold for rebreathers?

[Sipadan]

In the distant future, I can see myself moving toward a RB for recreational diving. The time (and money) just isn't right for me now. I have a rough understanding of how they work and did a lovely RB try dive at 6 metres in blue water.

What does the future hold for RB? Has the technology reached a pinnacle or is it likely that there will be big changes to come that make them safer (and more idiot friendly ).

In particular, I like the idea of a small unit for recreational depths, but carrying a bail out bottle would remove a lot of the attraction for me. On the other hand, with my limited knowledge, diving a RB without bail out would scare the hell out of me.

[PeeBee]

I'm in a similar mind set to you, I can see myself going the RB route one day but not yet. I was looking at the new poseidon unit at LIDS and like the concept. It seemed simple, fairly idiot proof with ready loaded slime canisters and was designed for recreational depths rather than techy trimix type stuff. Frankly I'll wait at least another year before investigating much more, not least because I wouldn't buy something that hadn't been on the market long enough to get the initial bugs sorted out. Early days for me but I am interested, just don't know anything like enough yet.

[nigelH]

Originally Posted by Sipadan

In particular, I like the idea of a small unit for recreational depths, but carrying a bail out bottle would remove a lot of the attraction for me. On the other hand, with my limited knowledge, diving a RB without bail out would scare the hell out of me.

Interesting.

And yet that is what I was taught and how I dive for no stop, down to 40m diving. I don't think it's scary at all. In fact diving a single at any significant depth, watching the SPG plunge towards the kill zone gives me the heebies. OK an RB is a bit more bulky than a single but it means I can cut-and-paste the dive plan in the water and I have it set to deliver what I consider optimum nitrox without me having to scurry around blending it. Certainly for unplanned, no-stop diving I'd rather have an RB than either a single/pony set or twins.

When you come down to it if somebody phones up and says "Fancy a dive tomorrow?" I can just say yes and worry about depth and plan later... Even if it is just 12 meters. The bailout only comes along for deco.

[AlanP]

Can you breathe the dilulent as an bail out?? I was really thinking about all this. Safety and the cost of all the bells and whistles has put me off for now.

At least OC wont drop below 21% O2 and kill me with out knowing about it.

[principia]

At least OC wont drop below 21% O2 and kill me with out knowing about it.

Unless it runs out

J

[AlanP]

But at least I will know about it and can prey to Jesus, Allah et al for some help.

The idea of just falling asleep with out warning at 40m is terrifying

[BJ]

Because of the cost, most people who buy rebreathers are already heavily into diving and are probably already diving trimix with multiple tanks. However, many miss the point that in the sub (shallower than) 50m range, CC gives the advantage of best mix for the depth resulting in minimal deco obligations (around 3 hours at 20m) and as Nigel rightly points out, you stop worrying about gas consumption. There is also the advantage if used correctly of covert approach to wildlife (animals are not stupid, they can still see you!).
Bill Stone's idea with the Poseidon CIS pursues these aims. Whether divers that would normally use OC for leisure dives will go for the expense of purchas remains to be seen. Then we get into the hoary old subject of bail-out which is where I have learned to keep my mouth shut!

As for falling asleep at 40m, it's CO2 poisoning (I've experienced it and got away with it) that scares me!

[SoggyFox]

Originally Posted by AlanP

Can you breathe the dilulent as an bail out?? I was really thinking about all this. Safety and the cost of all the bells and whistles has put me off for now.

depends on your diluent, if its air its just like breathing off a normal cylinder but smaller.

At least OC wont drop below 21% O2 and kill me with out knowing about it.

you have to really try to get a unit to do that, and not be bothering what so ever to monitor your PPO2's.

One of the dives on MOD1 is to sit and turn off your O2 and watch your PPO2 drop, fcuk me its boring, think after 10minutes we stopped cos your generally cold and bored. Same goes for turning the O2 off and swimming round furiously in circles for a while.

[PeeBee]

Originally Posted by BJ

There is also the advantage if used correctly of covert approach to wildlife (animals are not stupid, they can still see you!).

That is exactly why I would go CC, I'm not particularly interested in diving to 60. 70 or 80 Metres but I do like the idea of getting closer to wildlife for longer.

[Sipadan]

Originally Posted by nigelH

And yet that is what I was taught and how I dive for no stop, down to 40m diving. I don't think it's scary at all.

Bear with me as I have very little knowledge of rebreathers, but what if something like flooding the loop or electronics failure happens or you get a feeling that something isn't right (CO2?), what do you do without bail out? Do you have time to get to the surface?

These are genuine questions by the way, I'd just like to know more