Want to Learn More in Miami Beach

ScubaDadMiami

I signed up here to learn more about rebreathers. Once I know what I am doing a little more, I would really like to make the switch. However, I don't want to make the jump until I feel confident in the design of today's units. I am still learning about this in order to make my decision on if I should get one and which unit to get if getting one makes sense for me.

My first rebreather primer was in 1995 at DEMA, and was taught by Rob Palmer. At the time, we tried the units out in a pool. Every couple of minutes, we would swim to the edge of the pool, and Palmer would have to play with the unit using a pair of needle nosed pliers. This did not exactly instill the kind of confidence in these units I had been seeking. However, I thought that the idea was great, and I have been keeping an eye out for the day when buying a rebreather would make sense for me ever since.

Currently, I do a lot of trimix diving on open circuit down to about 250 feet on wrecks most of the time. It would be great to be able to extend my depth range (and time while at depth) without having the restrictions of open circuit.

On the other hand, I really don't want to have to carry an open circuit cylinder with me for bailout. One of my goals is to keep the out of water weight limit down as much as possible. I am interested in some type of redundant loop or other way to thumb the dive without having to resort to open circuit.

I am here to learn for now, and I hope to get to the point where I can contribute some day to help others along.

schford

Hi,

Welcome to Rebreather World. for the type of diving you do Rebreathers are in your sweet spot!

Although until we get a proven bail out breather design - then OC bailout is the way to go....you can mitigate how much OC bailout you carry by staging bailout at bottom of shot and @ Deco station if thats the way you dive though.

Then you would only need to carry some bottom gas with you.

Stuart

rigdiver

I would suggest seeking out Tom Mount in your area. He can teach you on any Rebreather. The longer you wait and ponder is just time lost. I got an Inspiration because the training and the unit was readily available. I have the "want it now syndrome." There are several dependable units on the market. Some, you just have to be patient about owning.
Warm, moist gas with way better deco obligations is win-win. While being a student last year I made a 3 hour dive. Max D' was 140'. One hour out between 100 & 140', one hour back on top the reef @ 100', then 30 minutes in the sand doing skills @ 70'. Now, we've been UW for 2 1/2 hours to 140' with a grand total of 28 minutes deco!!!! SWEET!!!!! And, Gilligan was not there(a three hour dive.)
On the subject of gas: I prefer to have all mine with me. Mooring lines break, currents change, and people do just get lost.
Bill

ScubaDadMiami

We tend to have strong currents down here. So, I will carry all of my gas with me in case I can't make it back to the line for ascent. Then, I just shoot a bag and do a drifting deco.

This is one of the reasons I am interested in taking a unit with a redundant loop or equivalent with me. I want to lighten the load as much as possible. If it gets to be as heavy out of the water as open circuit, and if my rig gets to be less streamlined in the water, making the switch starts to make less sense to me (although the added bottom time is still very appealing).

It looks like the Meg will be coming out with the redundant loop in the near future. This is one reason why my interest is again peaking in perhaps making the switch soon.

On the other hand, I am pretty impressed with some of what I am hearing that the O2ptima will be doing when it comes out especially with regard to flooding. I am one of the few that took a chance and bought the Farallon/Dive Rite Arrow scooter before it came out, and I have been happy with mine. (I took the chance because Farallon has been around for a long time and is used by the military--I am not in the habit of just taking a gamble on a completely new product without at least having a history on it components).

Honestly, it is a pretty overwhelming decision. I am reading up on the basics, and then I might do some try-outs of a few units to see if I can start to figure out which way I should go.

Scuba_Vixen

Hi Howard, Welcome to Rebreather World

Glad to see you came here for Rebreather info, as it doesn't get any better than Rebreather World.

We have a lot of folks on all kinds of breathers, many with several different breathers, and all share a great spirit of community.

Some of these guys are virtually diving encyclopedias of Rebreather knowledge, and always eager to share with the rest of us, others have in depth knowledge of other diving related areas.

You'll surely recognize some folks from TDS, so you see, you have friends here already.


So get comfortable, or at least as comfy as possible, (hope you're mending well) and read, read, read. The more basic Rebreather info you assimilate, the more you'll be able to ask questions that get the info you're looking for.



Welcome aboard,


Darlene

TechBlue

I know that ADM is hosting a show and tell for the MEG, the and the KISS units next month in Florida where you will be able to dive both units I'm not sure if there are any spots available but you may want to look into that.

__________________
Cheers,
Chris

www.tech-blue.com

The site dedicated to Rebreather and Technical diving
"We only sell what we dive"

ScubaDadMiami

I was going to attend. Then, I got into a car accident on the way back from a dive trip to North Carolina, and I am at home resting after being in the hospital for a bit. The worst part is that my scooter and other equipment got damaged in the crash. So, I will be dealing with getting everything fixed up for a while.

Now, the demo/primer is full. I do have a buddy that will be going up though. At least I can get some second hand information from him when he comes back.

ROB DAVIE

Hi, ScubaDad,

Welcome to Rebreather World. It is the best resource in the world for finding out stuff about rebreathers, and meeting all the Rebreather pilots, tinkerers, and manufacturers.

Gald you came over. As Darlene said: "All your friends are here!"

Rob

__________________
[SIZE=2]"CC Rebreathers will become a viable part of tech diving [U]WHEN PIGS FLY[/U]!!"--GI3[/SIZE]

ScubaDadMiami

Well, I have finished up my research, and, after a few pain killers, I made it to the Advanced Diver Magazine presentation. Though I am still recovering from my car accident, and unable to get in the water with a unit to try it out, one of my dive buddies attended with me and dove.

I have reached my decision. I am going to take my initial training with Tom Mount, here in Miami. As soon as my rebreather arrives (I hope to have healed from my accident by then), I will make the switch from open circuit.

As for which rebreather, I will release my decision as soon as I conclude my purchase transaction. I expect this to happen by the end of this coming weekend or in the early part of next week.

More to come . . . .

Scuba_Vixen

Hey, That sounds great!

Both about your coming breather and your recovery.


Darlene