Is Rebreather diving inherently more dangerous than OC?

leadking

When I first looked at getting a rebreather I wonderered why so many divers were going belly up. I educated myself by looking at why this was happening and I came to the conclussion that diver error was the major cause so I went off and bought my rebreather.

As I dive it almost exclusivley and made my share of errors, I came to understand more and more of its capabilities and now 4 years later believe it is safer than OC. None of this means I won't do something stupid and go off and kill myself but after almost 40 years of diving I did a lot of stupid things on OC. I have talked to my wife about these possibilties but when you go diving to 200-400 feet the danger exists, OC or CCR, that's why I do it. The way I look at it, life is like a table top, some are satisfied in the middle of the table, some peering over the edge, while a few crazy bastards hanging on the edge by their fingertips. Adventure is where you find it

Lee

IDS_Bill

This depends upon the point of view I think. Are we talking from a DCS standpoint? Then I think a CCR is safer because of the PPO2. Is there more risk of equipment failure or PPO2 spike in shallower water? Yeah!

But then again I face more danger on my morning commute on the Ducati than any issue underwater so I'll stick with my Optima! WOOHOO!

CharlieT

The poll didn't ask us when a Rebreather was or wasn't more dangerous than OC but merely if it was.

A unit is generally far trickier than OC and requires the user to be more careful, better at prep and is far less forgiving than OC.

I love CCR diving but it's more dangerous than OC as a motorcycle is to a car.

I have no wish to go back to OC.

Charlie

ScubaDadMiami

More complex: yes. Higher risk: not really. Either one will kill you just as dead when things go very wrong. However, it is probably easier to "get away" with some of the issues (complacency, distraction, etc.) on open circuit. On the other hand, you have many more choices on CCR for how to get out of bad problems, and you have plenty of time to try them (in most cases).

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zepp

Would I sound to be a git if i disagreed, even slightly at this?
OC in a way is MORE complex, you have a 1st stage and a 2nd stage that both have to operate correctly to be safe, wheras how often do you hear of a 1st stage on CC free-flowing? This is rare due to much lower loads put on it. The rest of the unit is really just a few hoses, a bag (c/lung) or two and a canister with sorb to remove CO2. How simple is that? You dont get many folk homebuilding OC equipment. OK, most units have some sort of electronics but not always neccesary, eg o2 and SCR and these can be really simple...a voltmetre in a waterproof box, eg KISS, even if this breaks we can still go semi-closed or if things get even worse, open circuit.

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CharlieT

But it's not "bad" problems which appear to be killing Rebreather divers.

It's sneaky problems, problems that require the correct analysis to enable the Rebreather diver to survive. Experienced divers like Fred Evans are dying on rebreathers.

A rebreather is just so complicated compared to OC. Sensors, batteries, loop leaks, ADV's, sofnalime, the list is endless.

If you get your regs serviced by a competent technician, what goes wrong with OC kit? Nothing ever went wrong with mine in 800 OC dives, in the UK and abroad.

Charlie

onetime

I said I don't know since there are too many factors that effect the statistics and comparisons to come down one way or the other. Risk will depend on the dive, the user, the maintenance, etc of all gear. Are there complacent OC divers? Yep. Complacent CC divers, yep. Are there clear answers to most of the deaths on CC? Nope. Clear answers to most of the deaths on OC? Perhaps a little more than on CC. There's too much fog, in my opinion, for a well considered and true answer either way.

YBOD

< 50m YES
> 50M NO

Mark Chase

Fair point but i think there is a need to differentiate between diving where a CCR is a tool and diving a CCR for the fun of it or because it improves secondary situations like camera work.

If you carry out a risk analysis of any given dive there is a point at which CCR becomes the safe option. That point in diving terms is directly related to the time it takes to get back to the surface.

atb

Mark Chase

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CharlieT

But if you allow responsible levels of bottom and deco gas then this is not an issue on OC down to a certain depth. Of course, and I think this is the point you're making, there comes a certain depth where OC cylinders are massive ie 18L twinset and the enjoyment factor for most diminishes.

The simplicity of OC kit and proceedures make it so much safer, generally.

Charlie