Thanks for posting the photos of our rig. Also thanks to all who spent a few minutes to chat about our project.To answer the helmet question...MOST helmets seal via a neck dam. This part is donned first, then the helmet, and the two lock together. When diving a helmet with a CCR, the neck dam seal is critical, as any leakge would obviously reduce your loop volume. Best way to address this is with a latex seal in the dam.For those interested in a slightly deeper look into this hybrid project, visit
Exploration Technologies Group. Please note that it is not our intent to produce and distribute this unit, rather instead is has been developed as a platform for ongoing R&D and as a tool that I intend to apply to my work as an undersea contractor. During the course of R&D, we have created opportunities for student engineers to participate and contribute to something that is rather forward looking in our community. The fact that we used a Draeger chassis is somewhat irrelevant to the project. It provides a stable platform for mCCR conversions, and was available, so we used it. The logic behind the system is the gas distribution, which could be incorporated into any chassis. A close look at the unit will show that the gas distribution system has some semi-proprietary tricks and treats. These may be the target for tightening up and eventual sale as aftermarket components.From a utility perspective, recent forums hosted within the science community have generated discussion and interest in the concept of hybrid systems. My background is principally in dive safety oversight for AAUS programs. I hope to evolve a set of operational standards in conjunction with this R&D effort to contribute to the future goings on in scentific diving. ok, enough for a quick post! Updates on this project, and our others can be found on our website(s), and I encourage all of you to sign up for our e-newsletter (see my signature). Safe diving, and thanks again to those who stopped by!Mike