How Soon Before Everyone is Using a Rebreather?

[SFLDiver3445]

I thought I'd post this thread, becuase I'm curious of other diver's opinions about the use of rebreathers and if/when they think rebreathers will become the norm for all divers.

I've been exclusively using a Dive Rite Optima closed circuit rebreather since July of this year. I purchased the rebreather primarily to use it for deep technical diving, which is something I previously did on open circuit equipment; however, I lately find myself doing primarily recreational diving and underwater photography and can't even imagine going back to open circuit diving for any of my diving.

I've also noticed that, even in the short 5 month period I've been using my rebreather, each time I go out on a dive boat I see more and more rebreather divers. Furthermore, I heard that the DEMA Show this year had a very heavy rebreather presence.

Friday, 11/30/2007. I participated in a rebreather wreck diving trip in Pompano Beach, FL (Trip Report: Florida S.C.R.U.B.’s 11/30 3-Wreck Extravaganza - Rebreather World Forums). I was one of the divers who helped organize the dive, along with other rebreather divers on the Rebreather World website (Rebreather World - Rebreathers for Scuba Diving - the next step). We had 14 rebreather divers join us the trip, and two of those were even women - Those kind of numbers have to mean something!

I realize that South Florida has a heavier concentration of divers than most other areas, which kind of skiews the local view. Also, the local presence of Fill Express (Fill Express -- Nitrox & Technical Diving Specialist Serving Greater Fort Lauderdale), which also operates under Dive Rite Express (Dive Rite Express) and Rebreather Express (Rebreather Express - Rebreathers and Accessories. Full Warranties. Free Shipping.) makes the concentration of rebreathers in this area a bit heavier than most areas, primarily becuase they offer such an amesome (A++++++) level of sales, instruction and ongoing support, unmatched by any LDS i've ever seen, that it makes the purchase, training and ongoing support process very easy, which is not the norm everywhere.

I recognize that rebreathers are still expensive and that there exist lots of misconceptions about the true ongoing danger involved in diving them, but if a LDS such as Fill Express can have an impact on the number of rebreathers in this area, what's to stop it from spreading to most areas? Furthermore, with dive boats now starting to realize that rebreather divers aren't any different to take out than normal divers, how long before the plague spreads? And how long will that take? If ever?

I'm curious to hear your opinions!

 

[bvmjethead]

I'll get one when they are about $3000 cheaper.

 

[Charlie99]

For some divers the additional hassle of loading up the absorbent, tracking absorbent hours, doing the pre-dive checks, etc. is going to keep them from moving on over to rebreathers.

I took a look at rebreathers and even did a couple dives on a SCR a few years ago, but decided that it isn't the right sort of gear for a laid back, casual guy like me that isn't always that careful about gear maintenance and setup. Open circuit is more tolerant of sloppiness or an occasional memory lapse.

Charlie Allen

 

[Damselfish]

If you are planning or specifically looking for rebreather or rebreather friendly trips to go on, naturally you are going to see more rebreathers! It's kind of like buying a certain make of car then suddenly noticing more of them on the road - the numbers did not change dramatically just because you got one. Simply awareness and point of view. With costs and the additional maintenance required I don't see it becoming mainstream any time soon. Most places aren't Florida.

 

[battles2a5]

I have been on a few dives w/ rebreather divers and I cannot picture people moving directly into CCR or SCR. I understand there was a "fully automatic" eCCR model on display at DEMA that has been built specifically for the recreational diver. I think that is dangerous. I just think you need a much higher level understanding of the fundamentals of diving, the physiological impacts of diving CCR (e.g. hypoxia, hyperoxia, hypercapnia, etc.), and fundamental diving skills to move quickly into CCR. Letting people fly these things on autopilot forfeits the need to attain these fundamentals and put people at risk. People are already bashing the industry for cranking out OW students too quickly, tech divers too quickly, and I think the impact of pushing people into CC would compound that. I see myself eventually getting into closed circuit, but I want to get a few more years under my belt and explore the limits of OC before I make the change. It may be a matter of needing more education on my part, but I'm still a little scared of those things.

 

[diversteve]

I think there may be widespread adoption among photographers as the prices come down. Since you can get really close without spooking the fish. I briefly looked into getting one last year for that reason.

As much as the extra hassle involved in setting them up, the big issue for me is cost. I looked at rebreathers casually a while back and was surprised to find that costs are double to triple what I have in my gear - and I try to buy better stuff. I don't think there will ever be an appeal for the casual diver who may have $1000 total invested. And even if they did, I'm not sure I'd want to dive a rebreather built to meet a $1000 price point...

As DF pointed out, going on RebreatherWorld sponsored dives seems a likely place to see them. I would've been surprised to see any OC gear on that trip. Just like getting on a tec dive means a higher percentage of BP/W with twins will likely be present.

I think cost is a limiting factor for diveops also in destinations that are traveled to frequently. I doubt you'll see widespread adoption on places like Cayman or Bonaire where they provide 100's of sets of OC gear for customers daily.

From the little I've read, it seems like a lot of rebreather owners ship their absorbent ahead of time to even pretty common dive areas - Coz was mentioned in the latest thread I saw. Why is that? Is it that it's not available locally? That alone might make it a no-go for most casual divers.

Just out of curiosity, what does a fully functional rebreather weigh? (I have no idea how heavy absorbent is) Assuming I rent tanks at a destination, my OC gear falls well under 20#. So it flies pretty well.

fwiw, I've never even seen a rebreather at any dive resort in the Caribbean - or on Hawaii. And I'm always looking...

 

[SFLDiver3445]

From the little I've read, it seems like a lot of rebreather owners ship their absorbent ahead of time to even pretty common dive areas - Coz was the latest thread I read. Why is that? Is it that it's not available locally?

Just out of curiosity, what does a fully functional rebreather weigh? (I have no idea how heavy absorbent is) Assuming I rent tanks at a destination, my gear falls well under 40#. So it flies pretty well.

True, many divers do ship their absorbant ahead of time, however, more and more places carry it everyday. My unit uses cartridges, so I do not have to worry about packing a scrubber, I only have to open up a large coffee-like canister and drop the cartridge in - That cartridge lasts for approx. four hours of diving. Unfortunately, the cartridges are not available in many places yet, but again, it appears like many of the newer designs are heading in the direction of using cartridges, becuase it does have certain advantages, besides the convenience, so more and more places are carrying them.

As far as weight, my unit has the option of using different size tanks in it. I use the smallest ones, twin 13 cu ft tanks, and it ends up weighing under fifty pounds, but I can use it for up to approx. four hours, with out having to swithch a tank. I've done several back-to-back 2 dive trips (4 dives) in one day, and I've never had to swich a tank between dives.

 

[diversteve]

...I only have to open up a large coffee-like canister and drop the cartridge in - That cartridge lasts for approx. four hours of diving. Unfortunately, the cartridges are not available in many places yet, but again, it appears like many of the newer designs are heading in the direction of using cartridges, becuase it does have certain advantages, besides the convenience, so more and more places are carrying them.

That should make it much more universally acceptable - I know it would for me. What's the cost per cartridge?

Pardon my ignorance but do people regularly fly with rebreathers? With their air tanks? Are they tough enough to take the abuse or do they go in fitted Pelican cases?

 

[H2Andy]

as has been said,

(1) cost,
(2) the relative complexity of setting up, diving, and maintaining one; and
(3) the nasty habit they have of killing you if you stop paying attention

will conspire to keep rebreathers from taking over scuba

if the prices come down a lot (say to about $1,000 per unit), then you'll see a lot more people using them and a lot more people getting killed ...

 

[dab]

I too have been seeing an increased number of rebreather divers as well as an increased number of rebreathers offered to divers.

In 2006 on the USS Monitor expedition, there was one ccr diver. In 2007, there was as many or more ccr divers than open circuit. The numbers definately seem to be on the rise. Mine is on order.