Introduce Yourself

rigdiver

Hello All;
Rob, thanks for the warm welcome and the invitation to join this board. It's great to have a board specifically for Rebreather's.
My background includes, but not limited to: Diving OC since 1970. The first 6 yrs were uncertified. Steel 72's w/o spg's or BC's. Certified in '76 just because some relatives and friends were taking a class. The NAUI BASIC class opened my eyes as I'd pretty much done ZERO VIS light commercial diving in the Neches river. The first night of class I thought "man, I don't just want to get my C-card, I want to do what this guy(the Inst.) is doing. So, the journey really began. Managed a dive store in the late 70's. AI in Sept. "79. Inst.'80. Made a living contracting with local dive stores in the 80's. I.T. '86, Course Director in '88(still active status.) Mixed gas and full cave in '97. Along the way EMT-B '78 and EMT-P '86(expired.) R.N. '92. Currently House Supv@ a 300 bed hospital in S.E. TX and the lead DM on a 95' liveaboard(SeasearcherII.) Check out www.seasearcherii.com
The advantages of CCR have been apparent to me for some time. Did an "experience" with Peter Readey and Jeff Bozanic @ DEMA 7 yrs ago. Tried for a cert several years ago only to show up in the Caymans to find the Inst had departed. Oh well, more OC.
Finally, I met Rob Davie last year and got certified on an Inspiration CCR. The benefits are numerous: Longer Bottom Time(in class/Grand Cayman we made a THREE HOUR dive----gilligan was not there) Warm, Moist gas. We got tired of counting eagle rays--they swam right in our face/between us. Never had that happen on OC. The fish act different, normal I guess. The blue chromis were 12-15' off the reef till OC divers came by----then they packed down to within 1-2' off the reef. Amazing. Rob is a great Instructor (an I am somebody to judge) Highly recommend him. He is a cool cucumber---never rattled. I like how he handles adversity. Won't elaborate on that one.
I am a rooky again!!!
42 dives on an Inspiration and still alive;
Bill Childers R.N. NAUI 5709L C.D./IANTD 1982

schford

Hey Bill,

Welcome to Rebreather World - great to have you on board.

Any feedback for how we can improve always greatfully recieved!

Stuart