Submatixs CCR Review in UK DIVE Magazine

Ben Field

I know this email is going to sound like walking into an oil refinery with a itchy trigger finger and a loaded flare gun but here goes....

Without wanting to start a CE/Submatixs debate (which will be difficult) one of, if not the major Uk diving magazine- DIVE has this month ran a review of the Submatix's CCR, pretty fair and even review, if a little patronising in places but all in all as much as you could expect from a rag.

In the first paragraph they have openly stated that it is "CE Approved" handing a level of acceptance to Submatix and a virtual OK to UK divers (who've had CE rammed down their throats) to go out and buy this unit... despite the fact that the Submatix's CE rating has been so widely debated I was very surprised this made it into the magazine.

I assume the magazine is only printing what its been given which is fine but I'm surprised the magazine's staff performing the review (must be a rebreather expert of some sort? ) didn't know about this point of debate.

I've written to the magazine as I feel they may be in danger of misrepresenting the unit, which I'm sure is perfectly ok bar the CE issue.

I've posted this up here because I think CE in europe is creating a somewhat unfair "class" system within rebreathers to the detriment of manufacturers who by way of the regulation are not allowed to CE mark there units- rEvo, Jetsam etc... and DIVE shouldn't really be promoting this divide.

IMVVHO of course,
BEN

__________________

Beware Fridge Suck

divetheworld

Just a couple of comments.

1. Sub/CE debate done to death.
2. Probably John Bantin...................
3. CE stands until a market surveillance authority states otherwise.

Dive/Diver/other magazines have never been ones to walk the raggedy edge. They report whats given, if someone (like you) writes in contesting a point of veiw, they simply pass on your comments to the manufacturer for their comments which may or may not get in the letters pages next month. They are not exactly Guardian standard.
I doubt I'll even bother to read it.


Sorry mate but ->



Brent.

__________________

Ben Field

Agreed, hence the preface...

No, he works for DIVER magazine, this was Charles Hood.

One wonders why they haven't?

Hopefully they are more accurate than the Guardian....

I agree, I just think it shockingly bad reporting and seriously misguided to publish something thats so widely regarded as a load of bull.

I'm very dissapointed Submatixs haven't done anything about this.

Anyway, I was not wanting to start a debate about Submatix but about lousy reporting in the major UK diving magazine.

BEN

__________________

Beware Fridge Suck

Woz

I sent a friendly email to the UK distributor of Submatix asking about the CE marking. It's been ignored.

__________________
Still punting shiny diving tatt to gullible divers
www.kitfondle.co.uk

divetheworld

Good stuff. I see your point. Dive magazine always has been more of a brochure than a reporting mag. Story below;

http://www.digitalpublishingcompany.co.uk/CRC_Dive - Olive ActiveMagazine

Charles Hood is a BSAC Rebreather diver and normoxic OC, I assume thats their equiv of MOD1. Thats all I know and it might be out of date info.

Brent

__________________

Nick Kay

My understanding is that the Sub CCR unit is CE approved

However, I believe there are 2 types of CE approval?

1. A specific CE rating which specifies the ability of the unit to maintain ppO2 within a narrow range of values

2. A mechanical/engineering approval

I believe its the 2nd "type of" CE mark that the Sub unit has?

PhilSiswick

There is at least one thread discussing this at considerable and highly entertaining length on Rebreather World.

I'm pretty sure you're right on the approval type (i.e under the machinery directive), but I think that the point was that is not sufficient approval for a CCR (as a specific standard exists for them).

Cheers,

__________________
Phil

No comment on open circuit... it's an evolutionary dead end not really worth discussing here. Dave Sutton, 2007

I have always felt that the dive I am on is not nearly important as the dives I plan to be on the rest of my life. Tom Rose, 2007

www.hugsac.org.uk