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***ScubaDadMiami*** · 9th June 2006, 04:52

There are opinions, to which everyone is entitled, and there are facts. If you are stating one or the other, it would make things clearer if you would please indicate which is which.

Performance data on most CCRs can skew in such as way as to make it difficult to compare various units in a complete apples to apples manner. Some test based on certain criteria and others test based upon other factors. Not everyone releases all of the testing information, and what is released is often not in the same formats. There are certain patterns that seem to emerge. However, it seems to this un-scientist that most of the major players out there on the market have something to claim when it comes to performance.

Some people like the Extend Air Cartridges, and some people don't like them. With more frequency, boat captains will tell you that they like them especially after someone blows scrubber dust and leaves grains of scrubber on their nice boats.

The EAC virtually eliminates the chances of caustic cocktails unless the diver floods the loop and then leaves the loop flooded for some time. I consider this an advantage. I am okay with paying a little extra for this added safety aspect. (Speaking of price, this will come closer to scrubber grains over time due to mass production efficiencies. After all of the money spent on a CCR, a few extra bucks one way or the other per dive doesn't seem like much of a reason to select another CCR.)

The EAC will produce consistent WOB and consistent results when compared to loose scrubber material, which does not always get packed the same dive after dive no matter what anybody tells you about his or her packing method. The EAC eliminates channeling. Loose scrubber allows for this to occur.

As far as the design of the Optima itself goes, the horizontal scrubber design makes the WOB very easy. There are a lot of parts that are easy to get and servicing the unit is easy since a lot of the unit uses standard scuba parts that are tried and true for years. Though it is a new unit to the market, most of what is on it has been out for years. All Dive Rite did was to bring it all together.

Are things perfect? No. There have been issues with getting the upgrades to the handsets. However, this seems to be improving as the production gets ramped up.

In that regard, check out how long the service takes with some of the other CCR's out there. I have heard of repairs commonly taking place over the course of months, not weeks. So, many units on the market have similar issues.

There are other good models on the market. Each has something that stands out as a positive. Each has something that can be improved.

I do not take it as a personal insult if you don't like the Optima. However, I like the idea of at least trying to be as neutral as possible about evaluations of products unless perhaps I were the manufacturer.

I am enjoying every minute with my Optima, and I do not in any way regret my decision to get one.

9th June 2006, 04:52	#8 (permalink)
*ScubaDadMiami* Moderator Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Florida, USA Posts: 2,044	Re: Diverite There are opinions, to which everyone is entitled, and there are facts. If you are stating one or the other, it would make things clearer if you would please indicate which is which. Performance data on most CCRs can skew in such as way as to make it difficult to compare various units in a complete apples to apples manner. Some test based on certain criteria and others test based upon other factors. Not everyone releases all of the testing information, and what is released is often not in the same formats. There are certain patterns that seem to emerge. However, it seems to this un-scientist that most of the major players out there on the market have something to claim when it comes to performance. Some people like the Extend Air Cartridges, and some people don't like them. With more frequency, boat captains will tell you that they like them especially after someone blows scrubber dust and leaves grains of scrubber on their nice boats. The EAC virtually eliminates the chances of caustic cocktails unless the diver floods the loop and then leaves the loop flooded for some time. I consider this an advantage. I am okay with paying a little extra for this added safety aspect. (Speaking of price, this will come closer to scrubber grains over time due to mass production efficiencies. After all of the money spent on a CCR, a few extra bucks one way or the other per dive doesn't seem like much of a reason to select another CCR.) The EAC will produce consistent WOB and consistent results when compared to loose scrubber material, which does not always get packed the same dive after dive no matter what anybody tells you about his or her packing method. The EAC eliminates channeling. Loose scrubber allows for this to occur. As far as the design of the Optima itself goes, the horizontal scrubber design makes the WOB very easy. There are a lot of parts that are easy to get and servicing the unit is easy since a lot of the unit uses standard scuba parts that are tried and true for years. Though it is a new unit to the market, most of what is on it has been out for years. All Dive Rite did was to bring it all together. Are things perfect? No. There have been issues with getting the upgrades to the handsets. However, this seems to be improving as the production gets ramped up. In that regard, check out how long the service takes with some of the other CCR's out there. I have heard of repairs commonly taking place over the course of months, not weeks. So, many units on the market have similar issues. There are other good models on the market. Each has something that stands out as a positive. Each has something that can be improved. I do not take it as a personal insult if you don't like the Optima. However, I like the idea of at least trying to be as neutral as possible about evaluations of products unless perhaps I were the manufacturer. I am enjoying every minute with my Optima, and I do not in any way regret my decision to get one. __________________ Howard Packer IANTD CCR Instructor Miami Beach, Florida CCRDiveTraining.com Last edited by ScubaDadMiami : 9th June 2006 at 04:56.
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