marine biologist considering CCR

bailey

Hi everyone
I'm a marine biologist and I'm considering buying a rebreather for work. I'm here to learn about the practicalities of using rebreathers, and firstly to get some ideas about what unit would suit my needs.
Looking forward to some interesting discussion.
Cheers
Dave

Brad_Horn

Dave,

Welcome, try googling "Richard Pyle", that might steer you down the right path for what CCR to use for scientific work or at least how to use one noting that the Cis-Lunar Mk5 is in short supply.

If your using it for work, you may want to look at HSE regulations. If your after a new unit & training your likely looking at one that meets CE.
Perhaps consider what the following offer for what you need:
Ouroborus
Sentinal
Inspiration Vision
Evolution
DeepLife mCCR
Also Meg, Classic Kiss & rEvo if they get CE

What sort of diving are you planning on doing: depth, duration, boat or shore entry? Also consider if you planning on operating in a remote location what support you will need.

Regards
Brad

lizardland

Welcome!

Your location says your a Weegie so if that means that you're working then any rebreather will have to be CE marked. That's a fairly tight field as it eliminates a lot of good rebreathers.

There are a few people on Inspirations round Glasgow, I'll PM you a local forum where you might be able to cadge a go on one. There's a few Draeger Dolphins knocking about. Don't know of anyone with a Boris or Sentinel. A few other people with non-CE rebreathers.

Cheers,

Stuart

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sailordiver@msn.com

Hi,
You will find that many creatures will allow you to approach them that wouldn't if you were on OC. Some will come right over to you. I would think it a great advantage to do your work on CCR. Good luck!

bailey

Thanks to you both for those replies. Current rules say CE units only, full face mask, separate bail out, max depth of 30 m, no deco.

However, this might change in the future, and being prepared for an era when deeper diving is allowed in the UK is one motivation for going down this route.

Shore and boat entry, and ideally the ability to deal with cold water (very cold). Use in remote places - definitely.

Finally, I need to be able to work while using the rebreather (eventually), so keeping clutter and task-loading down would be good (if possible).

Don't know if any of the above changes what unit might be best?

Good idea to check out Richard Pyle - I also work on deep-water fish, so I know of him, but we've never met.

Dave

graham_hk

I did fish surveys on an inspiration in Hong Kong they were useful in the limited visibility. If the visibility was better than 5m I would choose OC everytime.

I guess it really depends on what you want to do.

Brad_Horn

Dave,

Think you have just narrowed your choice down with the requirement for a CE rebreather to the Ouroborus & Divex systems due to the requirement for a full face mask. You can retrofit a full face mask to all rebreathers, however they are not then CE.

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Regards
Brad

OceanOpportunity

I'm a marine scientist in the US and use CCRs frequently.

As soon as you set foot on a project that is either government funded, or falls under institutional auspices, the unit (and all of your equipment for that matter) will be required to meet some 'approval'. here in the US, NOAA has released a proposed set of CCR mfg requirements that any unit must meet in order to be dived on a NOAA funded project. The only units that meets these presently are the Inspiration/Evolution, Mk16 series.

personally, i dive a modified Dolphin when not at work.

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silent running

Welcome Dave, I got into rebreathers to improve the quality and frequency of my wildlife encounters and my CCR has worked like a charm. I will not go back to OC and suspect that anybody who switches to CCR for the above reasons will have the same experience.

As for task loading, you will find many past discussions on RBW about the subject. IMHO, it comes down to how you are most comfortable in dividing your attention as you will always need to be vigilant and aware of how your CCR is functioning, whether it is an electronic or manual injection unit. I consider a heads up display of your units vital functions-PO2, sensor behavior, battery capacity-to be crucial for keeping maximally aware of your surroundings. This coupled with a way to regularly check your PO2 with a seperate monitoring device every few minutes will make CCR diving simple and easy.

My own preference is for the simplicity of the Prism and it's predecessors, the MK15-15.5. They are very simple, reliable and capable of functioning both as an electronic O2 inject constant PO2 CCR or a completely manual injected O2 unit, with no power as the 2ndry needle gage display requires no high current and is driven directly off the current coming from the sensors themselves. I've taken 14 trips overseas with my unit, dived in many remote parts of Papua New Guinea and Indonesia and haven't missed a dive yet.

As for the clutter issue, I have dived both back mounted and over the shoulder counter lung rebreathers and don't find the smallish OTS lungs of the Prism to get in the way of using my hands. I prefer having my counter lungs where I can reach and check them and the fittings, the over pressure valve, diluent and O2 inject buttons and water drains. I also prefer the more neutral hydrostatic load of OTS lungs as it impacts the work of breathing. I have done many dives in difficult conditions where
I found myself upside down, on my back, etc..and I'm glad that my OTS counter lungs allowed for a low work of breathing in all body positions.

The Prism isn't CE'd, but the company who will be manufacturing them next year-Oceanic/Hollis-is planning on getting CE approval.

Enjoy your research and don't be afraid to ask questions no matter how basic they may seem, -Andy

bailey

Thanks for all the advice, excellent stuff. Lots to think about and check out already.
Cheers
Dave