Travelling / Boat Diving with Rebreathers?

[davidvan]

Hi Guys,
Long time lurker and first post.

I've been doing a lot of research on rebreathers lately as I've always seen it as a future step in my diving progression. I've watched all the videos I can find, including builds / pre dive check processes for many rebreathers, and am also halfway through Jill Heinerth's rebreather book.

Something I haven't been able to find much info on though is how well accepted rebreathers are around the world. Particularly on boats.
Most info I've been able to find about CCR travel is how to pack them and ensure they get through customs.
There's not much info though on how universally accepted they are in various locations, and what to expect from dive operations around the world.

It's generally not something a dive operator will specifically put on their website, but I know here in Australia on the Great Barrier Reef, Mike Ball does specifically state that rebreathers are welcome, and I get the feeling that many other (at least boat-based) dive operators aren't comfortable with them.
Mike Ball also allows solo diving, but NOT solo diving on CCR. Which is a pity, because I like to solo and want to eventually move to CCR.

My understanding is that boat operators will often be difficult due to the logistics of packing scrubbers and the caustic nature of sorb when combined with water, and where this could be done safely.
I know ExtendAir cartridges can help alleviate this, but not all rebreathers accept ExtendAir.

What is everyone's experiences with dive operators?

Are boats mostly out of the question?

Are you usually confined to shore dive locations?

Are operators generally OK with CCR diving alongside regular OC divers on guided dives?

How about diving solo on CCR?

EDIT: I should have noted that I'm thinking about liveaboards when talking about the issues with packing scrubbers on boats (I guess scrubber packing will generally not be an issue on standard double boat dives). But still interested to hear all advice around this and the dive operator side of travelling with rebreathers.

 

[BoundForElsewhere]

At least PADI training specifically tells DM's and Instructors to DO NOT TOUCH a rebreather. Besides what you stated, I could see the only hassle a captain would have is have to wait for you for 6 hours to come back up.

 

[scubadada]

...Are operators generally OK with CCR diving alongside regular OC divers on guided dives?...

Seems as if this is negating some of the main benefits of diving a CCR?

 

[davidvan]

Seems as if this is negating some of the main benefits of diving a CCR?

Sure, but still have the benefits no bubbles (from yourself anyway), clocking CCR hours, lighter/more streamlined setup etc. Also, the OC divers could be twinset divers, in which case you're still getting extended time with a much more manageable setup.
But yeah, not the ideal scenario.

My main questions are really around what operators are happy to accomodate CCR divers though. I really haven't come across too much info on this at all.

 

[Heat Miser]

How about diving solo on CCR?

Don't do it, don't even practice in a pool without someone watching you Shallow water blackout is a risk. Your loop then fills up and your unit becomes negatively buoyant, you sink and it becomes deep water drowning.

 

[scubadada]

Sure, but still have the benefits no bubbles (from yourself anyway), clocking CCR hours, lighter/more streamlined setup etc. Also, the OC divers could be twinset divers, in which case you're still getting extended time with a much more manageable setup.
But yeah, not the ideal scenario.

My main questions are really around what operators are happy to accomodate CCR divers though. I really haven't come across too much info on this at all.

It was the "diving alongside regular OC divers on guided dives" that threw me

 

[Wibble]

UK boats are generally CCR friendly with the exception of RIBs as they’re a bit too much faff: need more space, need the bailout, can be a pain if retrieving them over the side as they’re more fragile.

This really does depend on the RIB and how you egress from the water as some RIBs require divers to remove their backmount rig and weights and hand them up before climbing over the sponson (tube).

As for solo rebreather diving, no problems. If the skipper's solo hostile then don’t book with that muppet -- take your custom elsewhere.

There’s another consideration for boats though which is the type of diving you want. Most rebreather divers are pretty experienced and don’t really want a follow-the-leader with a throng of novices kicking the crap out of the environment. Those boats wouldn’t be the nicest experience in any case and most definitely not for a rebreather — unless you can agree in advance that you can get a decent dive time and far from the madding crowd.

Hard boats with a dive lift (elevator?) are best.

I’ve just spent three days diving in northern Scotland as the only rebreather diver. Worked well diving solo — and with the Blacktip DPV The only real problem was getting sunburn!

 

[broncobowsher]

Some places it is required to have CCR. A tech trip to Bikini? Can't get enough Helium for open circuit.

There needs to be a little distinction about boat diving. Day trips or live aboards? How long of a trip is the live aboard?
Weeks long live aboard really needs to be setup for a rebreather. Short trip (one, maybe two night) it is possible to have everything self contained. In the case of a rEvo a couple extra scrubbers already packed, rotate through as needed. Couple extra sets of bottles, not a big deal.

Day trips on a boat are generally no big deal at all. Couple years ago I did the U352 and was the only rebreather diver on the whole boat. There was no opening or servicing the unit on the boat. All done on shore. Talked to the operator ahead of time. Let them know that I would be diving recreational profiles and was just putting time on the machine. They had no issues with that. Home town it is the same way,

This does put me at a fair bit of recreational diving on a rebreather. Which is good for keeping in practice with it. Dive with friends who have not turned to the dark side. And maybe talk a couple into the dark side.

Another sticky point is mixing recreational divers with technical divers. If the boat is setup (typically scheduling setup) for recreational divers, you don't want to hold the boat up for hours. That will get you banned really fast. But with proper discussion and planning it can work. For example, there is a California boat I use that will do a double dive on a wreck. With a rebreather we will do it as a single (with others on rebreathers as well). How this can work is the recreational divers go in the water. Frees up the deck for the technical guys. We go in and pass the first group coming out. Now we have an hour to ourselves. When the recreational round 2 hits the water we are on our way up. Get on deck, have it to ourselves to get stuff put away. Just in time for round 2 to surface. Not that they will all be like that, but it can happen. You also get to raid the after dive snacks first, just miss the between dive stuff.

There will be operators that just don't like rebreathers. Let them be.

 

[Wibble]

Probably the biggest challenge with rebreather diving on a longer trip is getting high pressure oxygen. A lot of liveabords may have a booster pump and oxygen, but not all.

One of the benefits of a Semi-Closed Rebreathers as they just use nitrox and not pure oxygen so it’s a lot easier to mix.

 

[Jeremie Guichard]

It is possible to make CCR diving work on a Recreational based boat or dive center, only can be complicated since their equipments, schedules and even dive sites are "designed" around recreational divers needs and wishes. You will certainly have to limit your dives to match with the majority of the group diving Rec OC.

The best if you want to enjoy fully the capabilities of your unit, is to get in touch with operations that are dedicated to tech diving. This way the whole operation, is designed around "your needs". Even better to dive with a center that has/works with the same unit as yours.

For sure there are less tech dive centers, so harder to find than the dive center lambda, but it is worth the few extra research hours so you can enjoy fully.

A very first source of information on that topic will be the instructor with whom you will get your training, he will have plenty of places to recommend you.