Dive 2006

DIVE 2006
Birmingham NEC
By Stefan Besier


As it was the first time I attended the NEC show I can't say much about the visitor turnout, but there were plenty of Rebreather World members at the show I got to meet. Which I thoroughly enjoyed as it put faces to the names I know from the board.

The show is certainly different from anything I've seen in CA during the time I spend there. Stuff can be sold, alcohol is served (and plenty of it ) and people even smoke there. Unthinkable in the Golden State.

There were a couple of items I hadn't seen before, such as the COPIS Meg.

Innerspace had a booth at the show, and Leon Scamahorn was there to show his rigs.


Without the second battery, electronics pod, solenoid and associated ss piping the head of the COPIS looked very clean. The single battery supplies the power for the lone display, backlit triple cell readout.


For those wanting redundancy or a HUD, the Meg's HUD is an option. It's powered by a second battery, conveys the pO2 via Smithers code and also adds a small electronics box inside the head.

Just a few yards down the aisle was Jetsam, represented by Kim Smith and my Kiss instructor, Alan Studley. I had looked forward seeing both of them again.

Even more so as they brought me something new to shoot. The Mares equipped BOV.


The Mares 2nd stage fits the DSV quite nicely and looks snazzy. More importantly, it's a 2nd stage that is well supported through Mares' dealer network.


An adapter kit is available, either with or without the 2nd stage, for current BOV owners.


Jetsam has been playing with the idea of teaming up with one of the Rebreather electronics manufacturers to offer alternatives for Jetsam buyers and owners. Among the items frequently requested are single handsets with triple readouts and HUD. There are several possibilities, some of which are already on the market, others to be introduced at DEMA. The choice had not yet been made at the NEC show. However, Jetsam has in the past supported DeltaP's dive computers, and a VR cable in lieu of one display has been a factory option for a while. Hence the new Rebreather Monitor from DeltaP came up several times in our conversations and seems to be a top contender. So off I was to DeltaP and C.C.R. for a look at the prototype on display.

The Rebreather Monitor on display was one of several variations to come.

It had a single pO2 cell as well as two HP sensors connecting to an electronics pod dubbed the Pro Link Interface for data input. Also connected to the interface was a VR3 that displays the pO2 and uses it for deco calculations as it has in the past, as well as display the contents of the O2 and dil tanks. Furthermore a two LED HUD was connected to the interface, giving visual status and warnings for setpoint and decompression.


An alternative version will replace the two high pressure inputs with two more O2 sensors, thus providing triple cell readout, decompression based on them, again with the HUD providing warnings about setpoint deviation and decompression obligation. This is the version that Jetsam is considering as an option for their CCRs.

Other planned options are listed on the info sheet below.


There will be yet another software upgrade for the VR3 to accommodate the new Rebreather Monitor. Prices and availability should be announced at DEMA.

AP of course had a very nice and large booth generating plenty of traffic, but no new items on display. At the OMS stand however I came across what may well be the much guessed about and elusive OMS CCR:


The drysuit sure would go nicely with OMS' contaminated water BCD and drysuit undies.

At the BSAC stand there was an array of rebreathers, from AP, Innerspace and Jetsam. A Sport Kiss caught my attention as it was also fitted with a HUD.


The single LED was fitted to the BOV and connected to a small box which was sandwiched between the red pod and the sensor holder.


Unfortunately the owner wasn't to be found while I was there, so I don't have much info on it. More info can be found at http://www.rebreathersolutions.com/ (thanks Bill). All I know is that the HUD works with reed magnets, sliding it around in its mount shuts it off in one position (shown below), or gets it into calibration mode.


The last items that caught my eye, though not necessarily Rebreather related, were the Solus torches. Beautifully made, quite impressive output from LEDs, and chargeable through the housing. Below a picture of the 500 handhelds and umbilical, the 1000 and 1500 are in the events gallery.


Last but not least, I want to thank Lou and Beanie for inviting me to stay with them, as well as their friends John, Paul, Christina, Helen and, well, Doug for making this a very good weekend! Very good indeed!

Stefan


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