Draeger Dolphin

JS1scuba · 14th February 2006, 00:19

Greetings,

I am trying to get a handle on how popular the Dolphin still is out there. Are you still seeing them on dives and are people still using them to any great extent ?

Thanks

JDS

Toren · 14th February 2006, 02:07

Saw one on my last dive in Monterey, along with a KISS.
I'm taking mine to Cayman Brac next month.
I was planning to sell mine once I get my Prism Topaz cert in May but if I can't get a decent price, I may hang onto it for places where pure O2 is hard to come by.

ROB DAVIE · 14th February 2006, 02:24

Quote: (Originally Posted by JS1scuba)

Greetings,

I am trying to get a handle on how popular the Dolphin still is out there. Are you still seeing them on dives and are people still using them to any great extent ?

Thanks

JDS

Joel,

Just at a glance, we have around 115 on our list at the present time, some of which are in "personal collections".

Rob

mortenkjerulff · 14th February 2006, 07:43

Quote: (Originally Posted by JS1scuba)

Greetings,

I am trying to get a handle on how popular the Dolphin still is out there. Are you still seeing them on dives and are people still using them to any great extent ?

Thanks

JDS

Hi Joel.

In our scuba diving club and the 2 clubs we frequently dive with, there are
3 Dolphins, 1 Inspiration, 1 Evolution and 2 Rays.

1 Dolphin (mine) is converted and 1 is almost never dived because the owner also has an Inspiration.

My feeling is that the Dolphin is still popular in Denmark because they are relatively cheap, and can be converted easily if you want to go CCR.

Hope it helps.

Morten

gibbogeo · 14th February 2006, 08:24

Quote: (Originally Posted by JS1scuba)

I am trying to get a handle on how popular the Dolphin still is out there.

I still have mine, converted with a kiss valve and an aluminium shell.

I don't plan to sell it for the moment.

In italy there were maybe 60 units.

TR300 · 14th February 2006, 09:02

I have two Dolphins, one ist converted to mCCR and one ist for education, my buddy has also a Dolphin. I think in Germany there are some hundreds (100+) in use (I know from 4 other Divers they have one in my area)

I like the Dolphin for travel, is it light weight, I got the needed cylinders very often on overseas divecenters, Nitrox ist also no problem.

I am thinking lound about a rework of the dolphin, with newer materials and of course for a cheaper price.

the new prototype will be ready soon.

Holger

montyg · 14th February 2006, 09:05

As far as we know, there were 30 Atlantis and about 60 - 90 Dolphins imported into South Africa.

There's 3 which were converted to CCR AFAIK and a few people in our club and other clubs/shops in other regions who still dive them.

It's a very rare sight on charter boats but there's between 3 and 5 units that change hands anually that I know of on our SA list.

The sales and backup of it is practically non-exsistant since Drager gave the marketing of the units to the Aqualung agents in South Africa.

Many of the units offered for sale up to now were originally brought by abalone poachers who thought it would extend their bottom time and allow them to evade detection by the authorities. One or two poachers died using the units and they seem to have collectively decided that it's not such a bright idea and started selling their rebreathers.

rgds
monty

PS: At least one shop that I know of have a rental fleet of 4 Rays which is also used for courses - not really what you asked but it is also a Drager unit...

***sadave*** · 14th February 2006, 10:51

Quote: (Originally Posted by montyg)

The sales and backup of it is practically non-exsistant since Drager gave the marketing of the units to the Aqualung agents in South Africa.

Sounds identical to the situ here in oz... As soon as it was taken over by Aquanaut (the Air Liquide / Aqualung etc dealers here in oz) the Draeger stuff got thrown by the wayside.......... as in, we'll triple the price, and you can't buy any parts that could assist anyone in modifying any of our units, or homebuilding a rebreather...

Just ask Tubby, Jason, or anyone that has tried to get parts from them, or sell their units...

magentaseas · 14th February 2006, 11:49

There doesnt seem to be so many in the UK, its mainly YBOD. Ive recently bought a second hand Dolphin and it took a while to get one. I didnt want to get one off Ebay where late last year there was a spate of them, and one was definately dodgy.
Ive only ever seen a handful.
There great little units.

Also finding a course wasnt that easy either.

cheers
sharon

AMW · 14th February 2006, 12:39

I have a Dolphin and the chap I do most of my caving and cave diving with has one as well. Mind you they are getting less Dräger Dolphin by the week

A very solid unit and a good base to go to MCCR with.
Andrew.

14th February 2006, 00:19	#1 (permalink)
JS1scuba RebreatherWorld Sponsor Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss MK 15.X Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Lake Havasu City, AZ - USA Posts: 417	Draeger Dolphin Greetings, I am trying to get a handle on how popular the Dolphin still is out there. Are you still seeing them on dives and are people still using them to any great extent ? Thanks JDS __________________ Joel Silverstein, VP COO Tech Diving Limited a Division of Scuba Training and Technology Inc. http://www.nautilusdiveplanner.com FREE NAUTILUS DIVE PLANNER DEMO - REGISTER HERE KISS # 275
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14th February 2006, 02:07	#2 (permalink)
Toren In Rebreather holding pattern... Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SF, CA Posts: 114	Re: Draeger Dolphin Saw one on my last dive in Monterey, along with a KISS. I'm taking mine to Cayman Brac next month. I was planning to sell mine once I get my Prism Topaz cert in May but if I can't get a decent price, I may hang onto it for places where pure O2 is hard to come by.
(Offline)

14th February 2006, 02:24	#3 (permalink)
ROB DAVIE Administrator Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: HOUSTON, REPUBLIC OF TEJAS Posts: 1,120	Re: Draeger Dolphin Quote: (Originally Posted by JS1scuba) Greetings, I am trying to get a handle on how popular the Dolphin still is out there. Are you still seeing them on dives and are people still using them to any great extent ? Thanks JDS Joel, Just at a glance, we have around 115 on our list at the present time, some of which are in "personal collections". Rob
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14th February 2006, 07:43	#4 (permalink)
mortenkjerulff Customise Me! Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Denmark Posts: 133	Re: Draeger Dolphin Quote: (Originally Posted by JS1scuba) Greetings, I am trying to get a handle on how popular the Dolphin still is out there. Are you still seeing them on dives and are people still using them to any great extent ? Thanks JDS Hi Joel. In our scuba diving club and the 2 clubs we frequently dive with, there are 3 Dolphins, 1 Inspiration, 1 Evolution and 2 Rays. 1 Dolphin (mine) is converted and 1 is almost never dived because the owner also has an Inspiration. My feeling is that the Dolphin is still popular in Denmark because they are relatively cheap, and can be converted easily if you want to go CCR. Hope it helps. Morten
(Offline)

14th February 2006, 08:24	#5 (permalink)
gibbogeo kiss addict Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Dolphin Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Home Build Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: italy Posts: 308	Re: Draeger Dolphin Quote: (Originally Posted by JS1scuba) I am trying to get a handle on how popular the Dolphin still is out there. I still have mine, converted with a kiss valve and an aluminium shell. I don't plan to sell it for the moment. In italy there were maybe 60 units.
(Online)

14th February 2006, 09:02	#6 (permalink)
TR300 Home of the TR300 Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Dolphin Other SCR Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Other CCR Dolphin Other SCR Home Build Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Weinheim, Germany Posts: 181	Re: Draeger Dolphin I have two Dolphins, one ist converted to mCCR and one ist for education, my buddy has also a Dolphin. I think in Germany there are some hundreds (100+) in use (I know from 4 other Divers they have one in my area) I like the Dolphin for travel, is it light weight, I got the needed cylinders very often on overseas divecenters, Nitrox ist also no problem. I am thinking lound about a rework of the dolphin, with newer materials and of course for a cheaper price. the new prototype will be ready soon. Holger __________________ If it makes bubbles it means its brocken Visit: www.tr300.com, Missions: www.rebreatherteam.de
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14th February 2006, 09:05	#7 (permalink)
montyg Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Home Build Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cape Town, South Africa Posts: 217	Re: Draeger Dolphin As far as we know, there were 30 Atlantis and about 60 - 90 Dolphins imported into South Africa. There's 3 which were converted to CCR AFAIK and a few people in our club and other clubs/shops in other regions who still dive them. It's a very rare sight on charter boats but there's between 3 and 5 units that change hands anually that I know of on our SA list. The sales and backup of it is practically non-exsistant since Drager gave the marketing of the units to the Aqualung agents in South Africa. Many of the units offered for sale up to now were originally brought by abalone poachers who thought it would extend their bottom time and allow them to evade detection by the authorities. One or two poachers died using the units and they seem to have collectively decided that it's not such a bright idea and started selling their rebreathers. rgds monty PS: At least one shop that I know of have a rental fleet of 4 Rays which is also used for courses - not really what you asked but it is also a Drager unit...
(Offline)

14th February 2006, 10:51	#8 (permalink)
*sadave* Moderator Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Sport Kiss Classic Kiss Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Brisbane, Queensland Posts: 982	Re: Draeger Dolphin Quote: (Originally Posted by montyg) The sales and backup of it is practically non-exsistant since Drager gave the marketing of the units to the Aqualung agents in South Africa. Sounds identical to the situ here in oz... As soon as it was taken over by Aquanaut (the Air Liquide / Aqualung etc dealers here in oz) the Draeger stuff got thrown by the wayside.......... as in, we'll triple the price, and you can't buy any parts that could assist anyone in modifying any of our units, or homebuilding a rebreather... Just ask Tubby, Jason, or anyone that has tried to get parts from them, or sell their units...
(Offline)

14th February 2006, 11:49	#9 (permalink)
magentaseas New Member Current Rebreather/s: Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Join Date: May 2005 Location: London Posts: 54	Re: Draeger Dolphin There doesnt seem to be so many in the UK, its mainly YBOD. Ive recently bought a second hand Dolphin and it took a while to get one. I didnt want to get one off Ebay where late last year there was a spate of them, and one was definately dodgy. Ive only ever seen a handful. There great little units. Also finding a course wasnt that easy either. cheers sharon
(Offline)

14th February 2006, 12:39	#10 (permalink)
AMW Technical caver Current Rebreather/s: Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Home Build Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Cam ,Glos, England Posts: 168	Re: Draeger Dolphin I have a Dolphin and the chap I do most of my caving and cave diving with has one as well. Mind you they are getting less Dräger Dolphin by the week A very solid unit and a good base to go to MCCR with. Andrew. __________________ AMW Blog (very poor effort :-) http://a-m-ward.blogspot.com/ http://amward.myblogsite.com/ Lot ,France cave diving sites and area resources. www.lot46.com Caving and cave diving photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/amward/
(Online)

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