Rebreather World - View Single Post - SAR K9 Diver

***caveseeker7*** · 31st December 2006, 07:55

Hi K9Diver, welcome to Rebreather World.

Just a few thoughts:

You didn't mention if you're working for a law enforcement agency, fire department (i.e. communality/gov't) or for a private company. The latter would restrict access to some OEM, as some manufacturers (Dräger among them) rarely sell "military rebreathers" such as the LAR series to private companies (at the least it will add quite some red tape).

OSHA requirements may well apply since you're using the equipment in professional capacity, same for insurance requirements.

If you're in the water with the dogs, a fully enclosed dorsal rebreather is probably of great advantage. Save for hoses and displays they're well protected and behind you, no clutter on the chest. Most O2 rigs are chest mounted, and many CCRs have over-the-shoulder counterlungs with gas hoses etc nearby.

If you're mostly diving murky waters as you describe you will want a HUD, and most likely one that signals the actual pO2 rather than just warnings that need to be confirmed on displays that may not be readable in the conditions. Those HUDs using the "Smithers Code" are used in the Megalodon and Optima, and are also available as an aftermarket pO2 monitor/deco computer for the (Classic) Inspiration and Kiss, as well as in the Hammerhead for the Classic Inspiration, MK series and I believe Kiss CCRs.

O2 rebreathers are the simplest units, least amount of parts, no electronics whatsoever. The before mentioned LAR series has probably been among the most popular units for decades. Training is available through major agencies, but as mentioned, availability is restricted and they are relatively expensive. They are used outside the military quite a bit, CA Fish & Game for example has them, too.

The OMG C-96 are readily available to private parties, in the US they are distributed through Divesafe in Las Vegas, NV. Again, training is readily available, and the units cost about half of the Dräger. For shallow water applications they're hard to beat.

The ideal CCR for your application would probably be the MK15 (or 15.5 or 16), straight forward units with very good track record. The USN has mothballed a pile of them, and quite a few have been sold off over the last two or so years. They were incomplete, without seconary displays and the spherical tanks, and at their age probably required a thorough overhaul. On the other hand they didn't carry the 5 digit price tag, so new Hammerhead electronics would put them in the general financial neighborhood as most current CCRs. You may want to contact Juergensen Marine, they're the manufacturer of the Hammerhead as well as the No.1 place in the US for rebuilding MK series rigs. Some spares are hard to come by, as are the spherical tanks, but the rigs are as solid as they get. Keep them in good shape and they'll outlast everything else (well, so far they have, and with a quarter century head start).

The MK series is among the few rebreathers I know of that have been marketed and used in the professional field (oil industry, research), and that in low numbers. Another one is the PRISM, has been used by USGS as well as research divers from the University of CA and some other rearch outfit. May not work for your application with the dogs, but at least OSHA doesn't seem to mind. For insurance purposes (or the BOD), either of the rigs have set precedents which may be helpful.

A Shearwater- or Hammerhead-equipped Kiss, either Sport of Classic, would probably work well, too. Depending on your task load an electronically controlled CCR may be preferable to a manually controlled one.

Anyway, just some thoughts, hope they help.

31st December 2006, 07:55	#9 (permalink)
*caveseeker7* Who loves ya, baby Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Prism Topaz Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Too far from Neverland Posts: 5,451	Re: SAR K9 Diver - CCR help Hi K9Diver, welcome to Rebreather World. Just a few thoughts: You didn't mention if you're working for a law enforcement agency, fire department (i.e. communality/gov't) or for a private company. The latter would restrict access to some OEM, as some manufacturers (Dräger among them) rarely sell "military rebreathers" such as the LAR series to private companies (at the least it will add quite some red tape). OSHA requirements may well apply since you're using the equipment in professional capacity, same for insurance requirements. If you're in the water with the dogs, a fully enclosed dorsal rebreather is probably of great advantage. Save for hoses and displays they're well protected and behind you, no clutter on the chest. Most O2 rigs are chest mounted, and many CCRs have over-the-shoulder counterlungs with gas hoses etc nearby. If you're mostly diving murky waters as you describe you will want a HUD, and most likely one that signals the actual pO2 rather than just warnings that need to be confirmed on displays that may not be readable in the conditions. Those HUDs using the "Smithers Code" are used in the Megalodon and Optima, and are also available as an aftermarket pO2 monitor/deco computer for the (Classic) Inspiration and Kiss, as well as in the Hammerhead for the Classic Inspiration, MK series and I believe Kiss CCRs. O2 rebreathers are the simplest units, least amount of parts, no electronics whatsoever. The before mentioned LAR series has probably been among the most popular units for decades. Training is available through major agencies, but as mentioned, availability is restricted and they are relatively expensive. They are used outside the military quite a bit, CA Fish & Game for example has them, too. The OMG C-96 are readily available to private parties, in the US they are distributed through Divesafe in Las Vegas, NV. Again, training is readily available, and the units cost about half of the Dräger. For shallow water applications they're hard to beat. The ideal CCR for your application would probably be the MK15 (or 15.5 or 16), straight forward units with very good track record. The USN has mothballed a pile of them, and quite a few have been sold off over the last two or so years. They were incomplete, without seconary displays and the spherical tanks, and at their age probably required a thorough overhaul. On the other hand they didn't carry the 5 digit price tag, so new Hammerhead electronics would put them in the general financial neighborhood as most current CCRs. You may want to contact Juergensen Marine, they're the manufacturer of the Hammerhead as well as the No.1 place in the US for rebuilding MK series rigs. Some spares are hard to come by, as are the spherical tanks, but the rigs are as solid as they get. Keep them in good shape and they'll outlast everything else (well, so far they have, and with a quarter century head start). The MK series is among the few rebreathers I know of that have been marketed and used in the professional field (oil industry, research), and that in low numbers. Another one is the PRISM, has been used by USGS as well as research divers from the University of CA and some other rearch outfit. May not work for your application with the dogs, but at least OSHA doesn't seem to mind. For insurance purposes (or the BOD), either of the rigs have set precedents which may be helpful. A Shearwater- or Hammerhead-equipped Kiss, either Sport of Classic, would probably work well, too. Depending on your task load an electronically controlled CCR may be preferable to a manually controlled one. Anyway, just some thoughts, hope they help. __________________ Cheers Stefan "Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.!"
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