Quote: (Originally Posted by magentaseas)
Any thoughts?
A few.
Dräger Ray
So far I haven't seen an official announcement by either Dräger or Aqualung (the distributor) that the Ray is out of production, but rumour has it and I wouldn't be suprised.
The Ray is the only unit listed by Stuart with over the shoulder counterlungs and has reportedly the best WOB.
The Ray comes standard with valving for 50% Nitrox, and is therefor limited to 20 meters. The valve is part of the bypass assembly, and can only be changed in its entirety. They are available for 32% and 40%, so max. depth limit is the same as for the other nitrox SCRs. Disadvantage is that they retail for over 200 Euros each.
The P-plug for a pO2 meter is at the bottom of the scrubber cannister, the worst place since water tends to collect there.
The BCD and counterlungs are all one item, and available only in on size. Unlike what Dräger claims it will not fit all ... on me it looks like an ugly sports bra, something no one wants see.
Dräger Dolphin
The Dolphin is to SCR what the Buddy is to CCR: Less than perfect but quite the success. It's strenght is in numbers, easily available units, spares, training and custom parts.
Unlike the Ray, the Dolphin comes with orifices that are attached to the bypass, cost around 80 Euros each, and 40%, 50% and 60% are stock. 32% is an option.
The case is pretty flimsy and prone to break, especially with heavy tanks attached.
The orifices generate sonic flow to deliver the gas. To do so the need to be perfectly clean, and the first stage needs a higher than usual IP. That doesn't allow OC bailout to be attached to it. So either you need the separate bailout tanks that Dräger wants you to use, or modify the unit (like Stuart said, with an H valve on the tank).
The Dolphin uses a lot of propriatory hardware, so you're limited to use Dräger parts, adapters or modify the unit.
Like most rebreather that come with them, the stock BC is pretty crappy.
The external tank and small overall size make it a good unit to travel with.
Just dn't forget those adapters.
OMG Azimuth
The Azimuth is a pretty nice unit, the finish (especially these days) is quite a bit better than the Drägers.
It uses an adjustable needle valve instead of fixed orifices, so you can choose any Nitrox mix between 32% (which is good to 40 msw) and I believe 60%.
It's the only SCR here that doesn't have an ADV. When you decent you need to manually add gas to compensate for ambient pressure. The button for that is part of the 'dosing group'.
The dosing group allows you to route the (bailout) gas from the second cylinder into the loop, such preserving gas. The Azimuth is ment to use only one mix, and has only one adjustable valve. Two mixes can be used, for example 32% for depth and 50% for shallow/deco, but you won't get the benefit of the lower 50% flow rate.
Most all the hardware is off the shelves, much of it from Mares. OC bailout is included (one of the 4 ltr cylinders, which is quite reasonable for recreational profiles).
It has a radial scrubber that is considerably nicer than the axial Drägers.
The breathing bags are semi-clear, allowing visual check of moisture/water.
The Azimuth has a little fold out stand, so it can stand upright on its own.
The DSV is very well designed and easy to use with one hand.
The Azimuth has a nice, big, solid metal handle on top which also helps balance the rig UW.
The same handle, the lovely metal cannister and the two 4 ltr steel tanks make this the biggest and heaviest of the SCRs here. Not much of a travel unit.
Submatix ST100
The ST100 is one of three Submatix models available and has CE. It uses a single mix which is carried in two 2 ltr steel tanks.
The STX has two dosing units and a switch that allows to use two different mixes and get the most out of them. Finally there is a SM model that is self-mixing, using O2 and diluent much like other manual CCR designs. Am not sure if either of those have CE and are supported by training agencies.
The ST100 comes with 32%, 40%, 50% and 80% orifices standard.
It has an ADV (as do the Drägers), adding gas on decent.
Unique are the 'coaxial' breathing bags', the exhale bag is inside the inhalation bag which is supposed to reduce WOB. Reportedly it works pretty well. (The RB80, EDO-04, Tourrill et al a small exhalation bellows inside the larger inhalation bellow - just mention it so Phi won't jump me
)
The breathing bags are clear, making it easy to visually check for water and dirt.
Cleaning and drying them reportedly isn't as easy as independent bags.
The 1.8 kg axial scrubber (3 hrs) also is transparent, allowing visual check between dives, probably UW by buddy, too. Nice feature.
The unit weights 14kg ready to dive (size is 64cm H x 42cm W x 29cm D)
OC bailout and BCD are included.
Jetsam Sport Kiss
Lots of info available, have a read in the library. I like it better than any of the SCRs, even for recreational diving (for which it is designed in the first place!).
Passive Addition SCRs
like the RB80, EDO-04 and Tourril, among others.
Designed for deep cave penetration and very good at it. Limited appeal for recreational diving either by tight restrictions, high unit and training price (Rebreather-80), complete lack of training and certification and testing (the rest), rather large size and high weight (all of them).
Respiratory Minute Volume keyed (adds and dumps gas per breath, rather than "controlled leak" the others use) is more gas efficient and provides more stable fO2 in loop.
Allows any nitrox or trimix to be used much like OC, optional gas blocks allow as many to be plugged in as you care to carry (or stage).
Bellows counterlungs with automatic gas/water dump is simply brilliant.
Any of them are a lot more manly than the Dräger Bra.
Cheers