I agree with everything above. I dove and taught SCRs (both the Dolphin and the Azimuth) for several years before moving to CCR. At the time I started SCR diving my motivation was to try rebreather diving without spending tons of money. Now, however, with the KISS units and the Copis Meg, there are CCRs that are competitively priced with SCRs. With all of the advantages of CCRs I see no reason to dive a SCR. Personally, I rarely dive greater than 150 fsw and usually dive less than 100 fsw but the bubble-free diving, breathing warm moist air, five hours of dive time on my 14 cu ft cylinders, no spooking certain marine life, etc make it so I dive CCR all the time, even on the 60 fsw reefs in West Palm. I just enjoy it more than open circuit. Also, with my Sport Kiss I can pack the whole thing (including the cylinders) into a Storm Case and have it weigh less than 50 lbs; i.e., travel is not a problem. There is even someone on rebreatherworld.com who took his in his carry-on luggage!
As mentioned above, you can search the IANTD database (
www.iantd.com) for instructors in your area. Another option would be to look in Advanced Diver Magazine (
www.advanceddivermagazine.com) for any upcoming Rebreather Demos in your area. Curt Bowen, the publisher, frequently has them around the country and invites all of the major manufacturers to bring their product for both didactic information and pool sessions so the participants can try out the various units. We are in the process of setting one up at our shop here in Lakeland, Florida in February. We're only 45 minutes from Tampa and Houston to Tampa is a direct flight if you're interested in joining us.
And (no pressure of course) if you ever decide to go the KISS route, I'm an instructor for them.
Doug
