Rebreather World - View Single Post - Suitability of varying rebreathers for cave diving

Ken · 20th June 2005, 10:51

Quote: (Originally Posted by JimG)

I dive my KISS classic in caves. As long as you carry enough gas for bailout at your deepest penetration there shouldn't be a problem. I have a lp hose coming off the diluent manifold to a QC fitting so I can plug in offboard diluent. I use faber 20 cf tanks for onboard gas but usually use diluent from a stage during the dive. My unit certainly isn't any higher profile than the Faber LP 112s I used to dive with. I have followed sidemounters through some modest restrictions without problems.

I also use the 17 inch breathing hoses because the longer ones were getting snagged and abraded in tight passages. The problem with the 17 inch hoses is that they should be about 19 inches as they tend to push the mouthpiece into my mouth and the inside of my mouth gets sore (especially last month with 45 hours underwater over a ten day period).
I think the inability to recover from a loop flood is not a major concern as long as you have sufficient bailout. The longest I have stayed on my loop in one dive is about 3.5 hours.

JimG
Tampa

Hi Jim,

Welcome to Rebreather World. Thanks for the KISS cave info. I agree. The 17 inch hoses are nice, but after a while you feel like you have been to the orthodondist. Still, they're a better option than having the danglies. Any pics. of your cave kit with the offboard gas? Cheers. Ken

p.s. I read your KISS traveling strategies on Decostop. I appreciate the strategy of having a non-diver carry additional dive gear + a keg of lime.

20th June 2005, 10:51	#27 (permalink)
Ken Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Megalodon Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New York City Posts: 323	Quote: (Originally Posted by JimG) I dive my KISS classic in caves. As long as you carry enough gas for bailout at your deepest penetration there shouldn't be a problem. I have a lp hose coming off the diluent manifold to a QC fitting so I can plug in offboard diluent. I use faber 20 cf tanks for onboard gas but usually use diluent from a stage during the dive. My unit certainly isn't any higher profile than the Faber LP 112s I used to dive with. I have followed sidemounters through some modest restrictions without problems. I also use the 17 inch breathing hoses because the longer ones were getting snagged and abraded in tight passages. The problem with the 17 inch hoses is that they should be about 19 inches as they tend to push the mouthpiece into my mouth and the inside of my mouth gets sore (especially last month with 45 hours underwater over a ten day period). I think the inability to recover from a loop flood is not a major concern as long as you have sufficient bailout. The longest I have stayed on my loop in one dive is about 3.5 hours. JimG Tampa Hi Jim, Welcome to Rebreather World. Thanks for the KISS cave info. I agree. The 17 inch hoses are nice, but after a while you feel like you have been to the orthodondist. Still, they're a better option than having the danglies. Any pics. of your cave kit with the offboard gas? Cheers. Ken p.s. I read your KISS traveling strategies on Decostop. I appreciate the strategy of having a non-diver carry additional dive gear + a keg of lime.
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