Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Drum Tech · 3rd February 2008, 21:46

Hello,
I'm not sure where this belongs but here goes. I'm looking into rebreathers, but not really sure what I'm looking at. How do choose which one is right for you? I plan on using it for New England Wreck Diving (if that makes any difference), I'm 6' 190lbs, tri lam dry, and don't know where to start. Any suggestions?

**Dsix36** · 3rd February 2008, 21:49

Consider the location for purchase, service, parts and of course training.

Talk to local divers and dive shops to find what is available in your area.

There is a lot of info on this site, but the final decision will have to be yours for whatever diving you plan to do.

Mixaddict · 3rd February 2008, 22:50

Quote: (Originally Posted by Drum Tech)

Hello,
I'm not sure where this belongs but here goes. I'm looking into rebreathers, but not really sure what I'm looking at. How do choose which one is right for you? I plan on using it for New England Wreck Diving (if that makes any difference), I'm 6' 190lbs, tri lam dry, and don't know where to start. Any suggestions?

Hi Drum Tech,

There are several units that are more than likely suitable for your consideration. Here are a list of some to check out. As the previous poster mentioned, it would probably be a good idea to see if your LDS supports any of the following, as well as check around and see if anyone else is diving any of these units in your area. Be prepared for a difficult decision, because any of the following units are quite good. I would also suggest reading through some of the threads here on Rebreather World that deal with your exact question. Just keep in mind, that much of the suggestions regarding which units are appropriate for you, are highly biased by what unit that person is currently diving! This list is in no particular order.

1. Inspiration/Evolution w/Vision Electronics
2. Megalodon
3. Hammerhead CCR
4. Optima
5. rEvo
6. Sentinel (not out till end of March 08)
7. Kiss
8. Orroborous
9. Pelagian

Each of the above units has very strong followings, as well as positives and negatives. Do some research here on Rebreather World, ask around your area, take your time, and you probably won't go wrong with any of the above. You may also want to check on the availability of an experienced instructor on your chosen unit. There are also many other CCRs, but these seem to be currently the most popular. Good luck. Have fun.

Regards,
Randy

**Dave Sutton** · 3rd February 2008, 23:19

Buy one that works, and that you can get local support for. Choices up here are fairly limited insofar as support is concerned. New England is still a rebreather backwater, probably due to the fact that our rigorous diving conditions and our short seasons limit the number of divers.

If you want to drop by down in Narragansett RI, I can show you a few different rigs so you can get a feel for them, and arrange a try-day in case you want to try a few. We have a pretty good local Rebreather community here, and EXPLORER, my dive boat, is rebreather only, so if you come and visit, you can meet and greet a bunch of different rigs and talk to the owners.

In the end, it's more important to select a *good* instructor and mentor who will become a friend rather than the chassis, and then to be trained on what he's expert in. Hate to say it, but the rigs all work and for the entry level user, "any old one" will do. As an instructor, I always suggest learning to use a mCCR first, as they teach excellent habits, and then to transition to an eCCR if you want to do so later. Some rigs can be started as a mCCR and then have an upgrade path to eCCR available. I'd suggest considering one. If you learn on a manual rig, you *will* learn to dive an eCCR rebreather well. That's not always so the other way around.

Dave

.

Nailer99 · 4th February 2008, 00:16

I'd take Dave up on that offer in a heartbeat, if I were you! And I'd spend a lot of time researching units, too. You're looking at a ~10,000$ investment, here, after all. Ask CCR divers why they dive the rig they do. Most of us love to talk about our rebreathers! There's a huge amount of info on this site, but you will find lots of contradictory stuff- one person hates the rebreather that the next person swears by, and so on.

Three big questions to think about:

1-Manual vs. electronic?

2-Counterlungs- back mounted vs. Over-the-Shoulder?

3- Manufacturer "after sale" support

That might help you narrow the field a little.

3rd February 2008, 21:46	#1 (permalink)
Drum Tech New Member Current Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New England Posts: 1	Help!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hello, I'm not sure where this belongs but here goes. I'm looking into rebreathers, but not really sure what I'm looking at. How do choose which one is right for you? I plan on using it for New England Wreck Diving (if that makes any difference), I'm 6' 190lbs, tri lam dry, and don't know where to start. Any suggestions?
(Offline)

3rd February 2008, 21:49	#2 (permalink)
Dsix36 Going Down? Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Deerfield Beach, Florida Posts: 891	Re: Help!!!!!!!!!!!!! Consider the location for purchase, service, parts and of course training. Talk to local divers and dive shops to find what is available in your area. There is a lot of info on this site, but the final decision will have to be yours for whatever diving you plan to do. __________________ THE MORE THAT I LEARN, THE MORE THAT I STILL NEED TO LEARN!!!!!!
(Offline)

3rd February 2008, 22:50	#3 (permalink)
Mixaddict Always Learning! Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Evolution Other CCR Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other CCR Dolphin Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Draper, Utah USA Posts: 426	Re: Help!!!!!!!!!!!!! Quote: (Originally Posted by Drum Tech) Hello, I'm not sure where this belongs but here goes. I'm looking into rebreathers, but not really sure what I'm looking at. How do choose which one is right for you? I plan on using it for New England Wreck Diving (if that makes any difference), I'm 6' 190lbs, tri lam dry, and don't know where to start. Any suggestions? Hi Drum Tech, There are several units that are more than likely suitable for your consideration. Here are a list of some to check out. As the previous poster mentioned, it would probably be a good idea to see if your LDS supports any of the following, as well as check around and see if anyone else is diving any of these units in your area. Be prepared for a difficult decision, because any of the following units are quite good. I would also suggest reading through some of the threads here on Rebreather World that deal with your exact question. Just keep in mind, that much of the suggestions regarding which units are appropriate for you, are highly biased by what unit that person is currently diving! This list is in no particular order. 1. Inspiration/Evolution w/Vision Electronics 2. Megalodon 3. Hammerhead CCR 4. Optima 5. rEvo 6. Sentinel (not out till end of March 08) 7. Kiss 8. Orroborous 9. Pelagian Each of the above units has very strong followings, as well as positives and negatives. Do some research here on Rebreather World, ask around your area, take your time, and you probably won't go wrong with any of the above. You may also want to check on the availability of an experienced instructor on your chosen unit. There are also many other CCRs, but these seem to be currently the most popular. Good luck. Have fun. Regards, Randy __________________ Randy Thornton (MixAddict) Inspiration, Evolution,Hammerhead & Sentinel CCR Instructor Last edited by Mixaddict : 3rd February 2008 at 22:55.
(Online)

3rd February 2008, 23:19	#4 (permalink)
Dave Sutton Living on Animal Farm Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss MK 15.X rEvo Other CCR Azimuth Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss rEvo Other CCR Azimuth Home Build Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Narragansett, Rhode Island and Hackettstown, New Jersey Posts: 2,512	Re: Help!!!!!!!!!!!!! Buy one that works, and that you can get local support for. Choices up here are fairly limited insofar as support is concerned. New England is still a rebreather backwater, probably due to the fact that our rigorous diving conditions and our short seasons limit the number of divers. If you want to drop by down in Narragansett RI, I can show you a few different rigs so you can get a feel for them, and arrange a try-day in case you want to try a few. We have a pretty good local Rebreather community here, and EXPLORER, my dive boat, is rebreather only, so if you come and visit, you can meet and greet a bunch of different rigs and talk to the owners. In the end, it's more important to select a good instructor and mentor who will become a friend rather than the chassis, and then to be trained on what he's expert in. Hate to say it, but the rigs all work and for the entry level user, "any old one" will do. As an instructor, I always suggest learning to use a mCCR first, as they teach excellent habits, and then to transition to an eCCR if you want to do so later. Some rigs can be started as a mCCR and then have an upgrade path to eCCR available. I'd suggest considering one. If you learn on a manual rig, you will learn to dive an eCCR rebreather well. That's not always so the other way around. Dave . __________________ . "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others" Professional Small Boy: Never Successfully Cubicled. Last edited by Dave Sutton : 4th February 2008 at 00:58.
(Online)

4th February 2008, 00:16	#5 (permalink)
Nailer99 Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Seattle, WA, USA Posts: 170	Re: Help!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'd take Dave up on that offer in a heartbeat, if I were you! And I'd spend a lot of time researching units, too. You're looking at a ~10,000$ investment, here, after all. Ask CCR divers why they dive the rig they do. Most of us love to talk about our rebreathers! There's a huge amount of info on this site, but you will find lots of contradictory stuff- one person hates the rebreather that the next person swears by, and so on. Three big questions to think about: 1-Manual vs. electronic? 2-Counterlungs- back mounted vs. Over-the-Shoulder? 3- Manufacturer "after sale" support That might help you narrow the field a little.
(Online)

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