DIVING Show - boot 2007

If you can't go off to clear, warm waters for some diving during winter, the least you can do is go to a dive show. More so when a friend from abroad comes over to join you.

So after picking up Joe and his steamer sized trunk full of ANDI manuals, some catching up over dinner and a good night's sleep we headed north for Düsseldorf.


The annual DIVING Show at the "boot" (German for boat) trade show is Germany's largest scuba trade show. Located in building 3 it covers about 20,000 square meters (about 5 acres).

Ambient Pressure Diving

Right inside the gate Ambient Pressure Diving had their large stand. We stopped by to say hello to Martin Parker and Nicky Finn.


Inspirations and Evolutions abound, as well as sorb, spares and the Diving Without Bubbles book. Got me one of those.


There was also fully assembled unit in an Alibox on display, which looked quite good. The ap logo was a very nice touch.


The German AP distributor took also advantage of one of the stages at the show, presenting the rebreathers in front of the large video display.


Seaway
That wasn't the only rebreather presented in that fashion, Seaway also tried to draw people there. The CORA 2 Rebreather took center stage, with the nitrox SCR being off to the left.


The original CORA SCR was on display at their stand. It was introduced a few years back, but a production unit never saw the light of day. The new Rebreather can be see above it. It's a modular concept, either cmf-SCR with 5 available orifices ranging from 32% to 80% O2 content, dual gas SCR, manually or electronically controlled CCR.

The counter-lungs are truly placed over the shoulder in this implementation.


Breathing hoses are attached fairly low and have water drains towards the bottom of each.


The canister is made from V4A steel with an composite 4,3 kg axial scrubber bucket inside.


The displayed SCR shared the breathing bags, but looked less impressive than some home-build units I've seen. Hardly any info available when I was visited the booth (twice).

r.c.h.
Always worth a visit is the r.c.h. booth from France. They're importer for all kinds of diving related goodies, from commercial to military to recreational diving.


Full face masks from Interspiro, Poseidon and Kirby-Morgan, UW communications from Ocean Technology Systems, Naiad navigation system ...


Need a band mask?


Or diving helmet?


Or a new regulator?


Not much they can't get their hands on, and much of it is available at their booth. They actual needed to re-stock half-way through the show.

You can tell I was starting to have some fun.

Divex
The Waffentaucher (weapons divers - both combat swimmers and EOD divers) also had a small display at the stand from taucher.net, the local scuba forum.


They brought along a LAR, switchable between O2 and nitrox, as well as one of the Divex Stealth the Marine has.


Bit on the large side due to the rather odd shaped scrubber and triple tanks, but interesting to have a look at. They were a bit quiet regarding specs and details, though.


As well, won't be getting one of those anytime soon.

Closed Circuit Research
Same is unfortunately true with Ouroboros that Closed Circuit Research had at their stand. At least it's available, and still looks better than most CCRs I've seen.



They also had the DeltaP deco computers on display, as well as the Universal Rebreather Monitor.


Shown above is the single cell version with dual HP inputs for use with any Rebreather that can take the needed single, either SCR or CCR.


The pendent display, used as a secondary on the Ouroboros or the tripple cell URM, as well as a factory option from Jetsam for their Kiss CCRs.


The backside has some additional bulk due to the three calibration pods. The HUD used on the URMs has two LEDs, one for deco status, one for setpoint status.


The Ouroboros adds solenoid status and a general alarm to the HUD, as well as to the repeat display on the back of the unit.

Tauchtechnik Schmitt
Now one nice thing at show was that I got first look at two of the passive SCR that are made in Germany. While the basic idea was the same, they were still a bit different in their implementation.


Tauchtechnik Schmitt builds the Habanero (right) and its smaller sibling, the Piquin (left). The latter is about 7 cm shorter (about 2,5 inches) and 4 kg (8.8 lbs) lighter than the latter, and targeted at sport divers. The 2,2 L scrubber is rated at 3 1/2 hrs rather than the 3,5 L/6 hrs scrubber of the Habanero. In addition it has only a single gas addition valve as stock were the Habanero has two for redundancy, and the dump ratio is 1:7 vs. the Habanero's 1:13. Both have options regarding hoses and DSV/BOVs, dump ratios and pO2 monitoring. One feature that separates them from most pSCR units of this design is that the tanks are mounted directly to the rebreather, without the need for an additional frame. A huge advantage when traveling. Taken apart they pack quite well.


Another nice feature are the included lever tools to separate the head from the scrubber. Anyone who has ever had problems separating their head and scrubber will these. Not necessary, but very convenient.


The head and gas insulated scrubber canister. Dual seals on both ends. Single gas connector, this is the Piquin.


The head with the Dräger hose connectors plugged, the connector for the pO2 monitor or cell-integrated computer in between.


The opposite side of the head with a cell installed.


The bottom side of the scrubber.


The lower end of the scrubber canister with the gas addition valve. The three pipes are connecting the outer bellows and prevent water from entering the outer bellows. The one way valve in the center lets gas and water into the small bellows to be dumped.

Training for these SCRs is available through IANTD.

RON-GER
The second pSCR at the show was the RON from RON-GER.


The RON (short for Rebreather Ohne Name - rebreather without name) is a solid build, heavy rebreather targeting technical divers.


It comes with a fairly large BOV, the second stage facing down for scooter use.


The RON has its own pO2 monitor.


Meant to be used with multiple gases, RON-GER offers a gas switch assembly with off-board QC, though onboard gas can be connected to the unit directly.


The RON disassembled. From left to right, top to bottom:
The stainless steel scrubber bucket, the bellows cover with latches, the scrubber canister, the gas addition/bellows assembly and the head. The frame that holds the rebreather and tanks can be seen partly to the right.


The gas and water dump valve and standard dual gas inlets.


Turned over, one of the plungers being pressed up by the compressed counterlung can be seen. In that position, gas would be added.


The variable content scrubber bucket can hold up to 3.25 kg/7.15 lbs of sorb. The bucket is insulated by the exhaled gas from the canister.


Various size tanks can be used with the RON's frame depending on the needs of the diver.

Training for the RON is available through PSA-Europe.