onetime

This is a question that has bugged me for quite a few years now. While I don't pretend to know the demographics of all rebreather divers, I'm struck by a fair number of comments from some Rebreather divers choosing the RB route as almost an alternative to improving diving efficiency and/or fitness.

Before I get accused of throwing stones, I'll answer the following question...

Am I in the best shape?

No. While I am far from sedentary I don't exercise enough, my diet sucks, and my cholesterol could be a lot better. While this can be said of a majority of Americans (and far too much of the population of other "western" countries) it may be a critical point when talking about rebreather divers and the relatively high rate of fatal incidents.

Did my less than stellar shape influence my decision to become an Rebreather diver? No, I can honestly say it didn't. I haven't had much desire to go deep. I've never shied away from donning doubles and a stage on the rolling deck of a NJ dive boat for the dives I found them necessary. Heck, I rarely even dreaded the hike up a ladder with all that equipment still on (unless of course the seas were really out to get me). I wasn't necessarily looking for more bottom time as I got enough for my needs from double 95's (and an occasional stage or two). My main reasons for getting an RB was logistics and an interest in the technology that I believe will, eventually, dominate the diving world.

One major barrier to that domination is the seemingly unexplainable deaths associated with Rebreather diving. We're all pretty well versed in what may or may not be behind them but my question boils down to, are we (rebreather divers as a whole) starting with a stacked deck against us (statistically speaking) by having a large number of our population choosing RB's to solve some of the problems that their inherent lack of fitness caused(es)?

For example:

A poor SAC rate due to lack of exercise/obesity/whatever is solved by going Rebreather

Physical difficulty of lugging heavy gear is minimized by going Rebreather

Now, thankfully, I have not personally known any of those who passed while using an Rebreather. But is it possible to discuss, with the utmost mix of frankness and respect, whether those who passed were, for the most part, on the healthy or unhealthy side of the spectrum?

Just a thought I figured I'd throw out there for discussion.

--Paul