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**Lake_Tahoe_Diver** · 26th December 2007, 17:55

Quote: (Originally Posted by newt)

i see that someone dives a Topaz and Sport Kiss in Lake Tahoe (kinda like Causey Res. only clear) Which Rebreather do you like for cold high lakes? Do you ever get freezing of any of the mechanisms when ice diving?
Mark (newt)

Both rebreathers have the own special qualites, the Sport Kiss is great if you want a quick dive without all the clutter of the OTS counter lungs. But, remember that the Sport Kiss scrubber is directly touching the COLD Water so it is cooled quickly by the 39 to 41 degree (f) water (4 to 6 degree (c)) water we have at depth year around here so the scrubber time is reduced. The only other thing that may cause a problem with the Sport Kiss and most of us that have the unit know this from experence is that the water vapor condense quickly in the breathing hoses when you dive cold water and without any water traps in the Sport Kiss you need to make sure you do not dump the water on to the scrubber. So I only use the Sport Kiss for dives upto 90 minutes, I know some will push it a little longer, but that is why I have the Prism.

Now if I plan on diving beyond the 140' mark or for dives longer than 2 hours I will use the Prism. With the OTS counter lungs with drains, I do not worry about how much water I get condensing in the breathing hoses. I just dump to water from the hoses into the counter lungs about every 30 minutes and on the slow accent up instead of venteing the gas though my nose I just use the pressure to drain the water out the counter lungs. Also since the Prism has the radial scrubber with the In to Out flow the scrubber has a nice air space between it and the cold water so I do not worry as much about the scrubber getting cold as compared to the Kiss Sport.

I have never had an issue with either unit having a freeze up in the water I just keep them warn until the last moment. Once we are ready to dive we start the prebreath a few minutes prior to getting to the water to make sure the scrubber is working. After all it is better to take the CO2 hit out of the water than in the water should the scrubber not start to scrub due to the temp. Once you are on the loop, you stay on the loop to prevent it from cooling and starting it freeze since the air temp in the morning are very cold.

As for Ice diving, never had the chance to dive under the ice them, yet. The problem here is that the only places that freeze with ice thick enought to walk on are normally also covered with 3 - 4 feet of snow so getting to them is truely a challenge.

26th December 2007, 17:55	#5 (permalink)
Lake_Tahoe_Diver Enjoying the silence Current Rebreather/s: Prism Topaz Sport Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Reno, Nv. (Lake Tahoe) Posts: 187	Re: Hi from a high alititude reservior dog Quote: (Originally Posted by newt) i see that someone dives a Topaz and Sport Kiss in Lake Tahoe (kinda like Causey Res. only clear) Which Rebreather do you like for cold high lakes? Do you ever get freezing of any of the mechanisms when ice diving? Mark (newt) Both rebreathers have the own special qualites, the Sport Kiss is great if you want a quick dive without all the clutter of the OTS counter lungs. But, remember that the Sport Kiss scrubber is directly touching the COLD Water so it is cooled quickly by the 39 to 41 degree (f) water (4 to 6 degree (c)) water we have at depth year around here so the scrubber time is reduced. The only other thing that may cause a problem with the Sport Kiss and most of us that have the unit know this from experence is that the water vapor condense quickly in the breathing hoses when you dive cold water and without any water traps in the Sport Kiss you need to make sure you do not dump the water on to the scrubber. So I only use the Sport Kiss for dives upto 90 minutes, I know some will push it a little longer, but that is why I have the Prism. Now if I plan on diving beyond the 140' mark or for dives longer than 2 hours I will use the Prism. With the OTS counter lungs with drains, I do not worry about how much water I get condensing in the breathing hoses. I just dump to water from the hoses into the counter lungs about every 30 minutes and on the slow accent up instead of venteing the gas though my nose I just use the pressure to drain the water out the counter lungs. Also since the Prism has the radial scrubber with the In to Out flow the scrubber has a nice air space between it and the cold water so I do not worry as much about the scrubber getting cold as compared to the Kiss Sport. I have never had an issue with either unit having a freeze up in the water I just keep them warn until the last moment. Once we are ready to dive we start the prebreath a few minutes prior to getting to the water to make sure the scrubber is working. After all it is better to take the CO2 hit out of the water than in the water should the scrubber not start to scrub due to the temp. Once you are on the loop, you stay on the loop to prevent it from cooling and starting it freeze since the air temp in the morning are very cold. As for Ice diving, never had the chance to dive under the ice them, yet. The problem here is that the only places that freeze with ice thick enought to walk on are normally also covered with 3 - 4 feet of snow so getting to them is truely a challenge. __________________ Scuba Diving,the only sport where it is good to be in over your head....
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