"Who are you?" "This is me..." ....

Sniperx · 4th April 2006, 16:08

"You wouldn't kid me about a thing like that." Conversation between Hawkeye Pierce and a local "Kim Luck".

Anyway....aside from liking MASH, I've been fascinated by the water. I learned to swim around 3 or 4, learned to snorkel and rudementary free dive at about 9. Sadly, this is where my underwater experiences ended. My father developed a "condition" where being in a mask in the ocean produced serious sea sickness...he was a certified diver prior to that. Now he has to take dramamine to ride the carosel at Disneyland. I continued my pursuit of water through surfing, snorkeling, body surfing, skimboarding, swimming, and water polo. I always wanted to learn scuba, but dad lost his nerve and wouldn't help me out. I remember one day seeing a richmans vacation type TV show and there was a strange rebreather with moving hoses and no pack to speak of (I now believe this is recreational Japanese piece). It mentioned no special training and a 2 hour run through was all that was needed. Rebreather technology has always fascinated me and reading about the basic principle boggled my mind.....its soooooo simple in function. I knew from chemistry many of the chemical principles and it made perfect sense the way the whole shebang worked.

Then...

I began to partake in modern military simulations. This brought a severe interest in the Russian Spetsnaz units. One day when I was cruising for some new kit I ran across an IDA-71. Thats a unique piece I thought...would be different to haul that to an event. Filed it under interesting things found online.

Since this finding and interest...I was offered a unique oppurtunity to work in Japan doing product design and international marketing for a military simulation equipment designer. Well, I've come into some dispoable income and have made some local discoveries of water holes I'd like to look into (despite the local ghost tales which are hideously scary). This coupled with the expense of scuba here (600usd for a new 12l tank) and the relative affordability of the IDA...I've been giving it a harder thought.

I am no stranger to tinkering and repairs. I own a BMW V12 and do 90% of my own work on it. I've installed an electronic fuel injected engine into a 1968 Mustang. On top of this..the industry I work in revolves around gas pressure, HP tanks, orings, and regulators.

Now for my problem. I am looking into a unit with an almost zero teaching base (some hotel in Thailand offers a course after like 4 scuba courses). I am in a country where english isn't the language of choice...and usually isn't faked like it can be in some euro spots. So that leaves me with no knowledge base, little to no local teaching of rebreathers or the IDA, and a feeling of no hope.

My desires are not grand ones. I don't want to see the bottom of the Mariana Trench (well I do...but not that way). I figure I'm not going under 100-120 feet absolute maximum. I'll probably be more in the area of 70 feet or so. I'll be doing a lot of fresh water (treasure hunting....japanese often threw things into bodies of water to maker them "disappear"). I just got through reading the thread of self tought vs agency (until it turned into a wine discussion around 8 or 9) and wondering what I can do myself and what I would have to pursue through classes. I know this isn't a forgiving game, but I feel confident in my overall mechanical understanding to correctly pursue such a fascinating passtime.

**wedivebc** · 4th April 2006, 16:55

Welcome to rebreatherworld. I have never dove an IDA but I would like to some day. Since you say you are starting from the ground up I would suggest you get some training. The only person I know of who teaches diving on the IDA 71 is Andy Fritz who owns Big Blue in Koh Samui Thailand. He is also the maker of the Pelagian rebreather and I think he posts on this board.
Good luck with you unit and have lots of fun.

***caveseeker7*** · 4th April 2006, 19:08

Welcome to Rebreather World.

There are a couple of IDA divers here on the board who will hopefully read you intro and reply. You can also check the gallery for pictures (other CCR and homebuild galleries) and then search for their posts.

And you definitely want to have a look at Diver Dave Sutton's website. Teardowns of and modifications to several rebreathers, including IDA-71.

ROB DAVIE · 5th April 2006, 07:16

Of course it would be best for you to converse with our IDA divers on this Board, so as to get the info directly from those who are doing the deeds.

I do know one diver who did a really nice conversion on an IDA-71, but he was not happy with the counter-lung volume, and had some problems with CO2 accumulation while diving the rig.

This is just second-hand stuff, however, so have a chat with our "Russians" and see what they have to say!

Rob

Sniperx · 6th April 2006, 06:53

I've gone through the Sutton page about 3 times rreading everything. The system is just fascinating to me. Anyone know of where to get rebreather basics here in Japan? Thailand is quite a hike....

Jens Kallmeyer · 6th April 2006, 16:07

HI

I had a similar problem, wanting to do rebreather diving with a russian unit, of course there was no training available.
I can only recommend to you to get some kind of certification, perhaps on a dolphin or ray, so you understand the basics of Rebreather Diving. Then make the big plunge and get yourself a russian babe. Be prepared to work a lot with adaptors and try to get some access to a lathe etc, to do some conversions. Depending on how much you want to pimp your RB, this can be a lot of work.
That's how I did it and it worked. You already found Dave's website, that is good. Knowing Dave personally and having dived his Minimum Rebreather (my next investment), I cannot recommend his website highly enough.

Best wishes

Jens

Rebreatherlab · 28th April 2006, 22:41

Hi there,

The IDA-71P and most other Russian military Rebreather's are facinating machines and it is a good, (cheap!), starting point for modifications. You can take it step by step and experiment. Usually as you grow as a diver you will place higher expectations on your RB and when the day comes you are not content with a unit that works, but is also easy to breathe with and that offers a descent swimming position, you will put the IDA on a high shelf. A key thing to keep in mind is that the IDA was never intended for any extended swimming. More like a escape unit or "go down and work on something" unit. In any case an escape or work usually means a vertical body position and it is actually quite nice to breath with as long as you remain vertical. If you also change the breathing bag you will only end up with the shell and maybe the breathing hoses, but most probably not. Through out the process of modifying it there are many places where it is easy to overlook issues, especially if you have no formal RB training. What I used to offer before was not really a course. More like a seminar with the focal point on ideas on how to modify the IDA. A prerequisite was to be certified with some typ of sanctioned rebreather. After modifying the unit we would go for some dives, but at not point was any certifications issued. Today there are so many sources of information and anyone can buy a IDA71 on ebay for 500 bucks, so I rarely do these seminars anymore. Still it is fun to think back and realise that the rebreather I am manufacturing today as a full time job springs from the IDA. My advise for you is to take some standard CCR course. Surely you must be able to find instruction for that in Japan. If not, come over to Thailand and join a course for my Pelagian. This will reseble the way you will most likely dive your IDA, i.e. as a mechanical CCR and will serve you better than any SCR course. As I know dive instruction in Japan is quite expensive, maybe the saving will pay for the ticket to Thailand!

If you choose no instruction, my best advise is to test any modification as follows:

Dive 1 in your sofa watching TV with your girlfriend and a bowl of ice water. Instruct girlfriend to pour bowl of ice water on face, (your face!), if you pass out.

Dive 2 - 6 on high O2 in a pool with a friend ready to step in. Tell him he need to watch you all the time. Yes. ALL the time!
I cant give recommendations for futher dives as they would depend on what modification you are testing.

All the best and be CAREFUL!

Andy
REBREATHER LAB

Quote: (Originally Posted by Sniperx)

I've gone through the Sutton page about 3 times rreading everything. The system is just fascinating to me. Anyone know of where to get rebreather basics here in Japan? Thailand is quite a hike....

narked at 90 · 29th April 2006, 20:19

hi Sniperx welcome to the world of home building and rebreather world!
i have a few friends that dive the IDA71
there a few things to look out for if your converting it to ccr but im shore you'll find them in the arcives if not please give me a shout
i've never dived the 71.. but my very first Rebreather was going to be the 72 until dave sutton told me not to! but after having my hands on one i can tell you it's a beast of an Rebreather and many could learn from it.
kindest regards john routley
www.narkedat90.co.uk

GKAM · 24th May 2006, 06:08

Hi,

I just spotted your post - must have missed it since there is so much stuff put here daily!

I dive a modified IDA-71 and am quite happy with it. It is not very expensive or complicated to build and dive it. However, there are limitations to the unit.

As others have said before me, there is no water trap and the exhaled gas passes through hoses in the breathing CL. You need to be very careful in what you do. If you manage to get your hands on a unit, there are plenty of people that can steer you in the right direction wrt mods.

Before you start modifying and toying with RBs you have to realize that in thiis "game", mistakes can be fatal.

If you want to see more on the modified IDA I have, please visit these links:

http://www.kamarinos.com/rebreather/IDA71.asp
http://www.kamarinos.com/rebreather/IDA71b.asp and
http://www.kamarinos.com/gallery/

Cheers,
George

4th April 2006, 16:08	#1 (permalink)
Sniperx New Member Current Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Ehime, Japan Posts: 4	"Who are you?" "This is me..." .... "You wouldn't kid me about a thing like that." Conversation between Hawkeye Pierce and a local "Kim Luck". Anyway....aside from liking MASH, I've been fascinated by the water. I learned to swim around 3 or 4, learned to snorkel and rudementary free dive at about 9. Sadly, this is where my underwater experiences ended. My father developed a "condition" where being in a mask in the ocean produced serious sea sickness...he was a certified diver prior to that. Now he has to take dramamine to ride the carosel at Disneyland. I continued my pursuit of water through surfing, snorkeling, body surfing, skimboarding, swimming, and water polo. I always wanted to learn scuba, but dad lost his nerve and wouldn't help me out. I remember one day seeing a richmans vacation type TV show and there was a strange rebreather with moving hoses and no pack to speak of (I now believe this is recreational Japanese piece). It mentioned no special training and a 2 hour run through was all that was needed. Rebreather technology has always fascinated me and reading about the basic principle boggled my mind.....its soooooo simple in function. I knew from chemistry many of the chemical principles and it made perfect sense the way the whole shebang worked. Then... I began to partake in modern military simulations. This brought a severe interest in the Russian Spetsnaz units. One day when I was cruising for some new kit I ran across an IDA-71. Thats a unique piece I thought...would be different to haul that to an event. Filed it under interesting things found online. Since this finding and interest...I was offered a unique oppurtunity to work in Japan doing product design and international marketing for a military simulation equipment designer. Well, I've come into some dispoable income and have made some local discoveries of water holes I'd like to look into (despite the local ghost tales which are hideously scary). This coupled with the expense of scuba here (600usd for a new 12l tank) and the relative affordability of the IDA...I've been giving it a harder thought. I am no stranger to tinkering and repairs. I own a BMW V12 and do 90% of my own work on it. I've installed an electronic fuel injected engine into a 1968 Mustang. On top of this..the industry I work in revolves around gas pressure, HP tanks, orings, and regulators. Now for my problem. I am looking into a unit with an almost zero teaching base (some hotel in Thailand offers a course after like 4 scuba courses). I am in a country where english isn't the language of choice...and usually isn't faked like it can be in some euro spots. So that leaves me with no knowledge base, little to no local teaching of rebreathers or the IDA, and a feeling of no hope. My desires are not grand ones. I don't want to see the bottom of the Mariana Trench (well I do...but not that way). I figure I'm not going under 100-120 feet absolute maximum. I'll probably be more in the area of 70 feet or so. I'll be doing a lot of fresh water (treasure hunting....japanese often threw things into bodies of water to maker them "disappear"). I just got through reading the thread of self tought vs agency (until it turned into a wine discussion around 8 or 9) and wondering what I can do myself and what I would have to pursue through classes. I know this isn't a forgiving game, but I feel confident in my overall mechanical understanding to correctly pursue such a fascinating passtime. Last edited by Sniperx : 4th April 2006 at 16:09. Reason: wrong word in quote
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4th April 2006, 16:55	#2 (permalink)
wedivebc FIGJAM Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Inspiration Classic Sport Kiss Other CCR Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Vancouver Island BC Canada Posts: 1,358	Re: "Who are you?" "This is me..." .... Welcome to rebreatherworld. I have never dove an IDA but I would like to some day. Since you say you are starting from the ground up I would suggest you get some training. The only person I know of who teaches diving on the IDA 71 is Andy Fritz who owns Big Blue in Koh Samui Thailand. He is also the maker of the Pelagian rebreather and I think he posts on this board. Good luck with you unit and have lots of fun. __________________ Cheers, Dave.... Man is the only animal burdened with the knowledge he will eventually die Last edited by wedivebc : 4th April 2006 at 16:59.
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4th April 2006, 19:08	#3 (permalink)
*caveseeker7* Who loves ya, baby Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Prism Topaz Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Too far from Neverland Posts: 5,325	Re: "Who are you?" "This is me..." .... Welcome to Rebreather World. There are a couple of IDA divers here on the board who will hopefully read you intro and reply. You can also check the gallery for pictures (other CCR and homebuild galleries) and then search for their posts. And you definitely want to have a look at Diver Dave Sutton's website. Teardowns of and modifications to several rebreathers, including IDA-71. __________________ Cheers Stefan "It is still a good day if you are on the green side of the grass! Su amigo Roberto!" Sponsor Lou in Race For Life! Last edited by caveseeker7 : 5th April 2006 at 17:40. Reason: corrected IDA's number
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5th April 2006, 07:16	#4 (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: "Who are you?" "This is me..." .... Of course it would be best for you to converse with our IDA divers on this Board, so as to get the info directly from those who are doing the deeds. I do know one diver who did a really nice conversion on an IDA-71, but he was not happy with the counter-lung volume, and had some problems with CO2 accumulation while diving the rig. This is just second-hand stuff, however, so have a chat with our "Russians" and see what they have to say! Rob __________________ [SIZE=2]"CC Rebreathers will become a viable part of tech diving [U]WHEN PIGS FLY[/U]!!"--GI3[/SIZE]
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6th April 2006, 06:53	#5 (permalink)
Sniperx New Member Current Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Ehime, Japan Posts: 4	Re: "Who are you?" "This is me..." .... I've gone through the Sutton page about 3 times rreading everything. The system is just fascinating to me. Anyone know of where to get rebreather basics here in Japan? Thailand is quite a hike....
(Offline)

6th April 2006, 16:07	#6 (permalink)
Jens Kallmeyer New Member Current Rebreather/s: Other SCR Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Other SCR Home Build Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: RI, US Posts: 55	Re: "Who are you?" "This is me..." .... HI I had a similar problem, wanting to do rebreather diving with a russian unit, of course there was no training available. I can only recommend to you to get some kind of certification, perhaps on a dolphin or ray, so you understand the basics of Rebreather Diving. Then make the big plunge and get yourself a russian babe. Be prepared to work a lot with adaptors and try to get some access to a lathe etc, to do some conversions. Depending on how much you want to pimp your RB, this can be a lot of work. That's how I did it and it worked. You already found Dave's website, that is good. Knowing Dave personally and having dived his Minimum Rebreather (my next investment), I cannot recommend his website highly enough. Best wishes Jens
(Offline)

28th April 2006, 22:41	#7 (permalink)
Rebreatherlab RebreatherWorld Sponsor Current Rebreather/s: Pelagian Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Classic Kiss Pelagian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Thailand Posts: 193	Re: "Who are you?" "This is me..." .... Hi there, The IDA-71P and most other Russian military Rebreather's are facinating machines and it is a good, (cheap!), starting point for modifications. You can take it step by step and experiment. Usually as you grow as a diver you will place higher expectations on your RB and when the day comes you are not content with a unit that works, but is also easy to breathe with and that offers a descent swimming position, you will put the IDA on a high shelf. A key thing to keep in mind is that the IDA was never intended for any extended swimming. More like a escape unit or "go down and work on something" unit. In any case an escape or work usually means a vertical body position and it is actually quite nice to breath with as long as you remain vertical. If you also change the breathing bag you will only end up with the shell and maybe the breathing hoses, but most probably not. Through out the process of modifying it there are many places where it is easy to overlook issues, especially if you have no formal RB training. What I used to offer before was not really a course. More like a seminar with the focal point on ideas on how to modify the IDA. A prerequisite was to be certified with some typ of sanctioned rebreather. After modifying the unit we would go for some dives, but at not point was any certifications issued. Today there are so many sources of information and anyone can buy a IDA71 on ebay for 500 bucks, so I rarely do these seminars anymore. Still it is fun to think back and realise that the rebreather I am manufacturing today as a full time job springs from the IDA. My advise for you is to take some standard CCR course. Surely you must be able to find instruction for that in Japan. If not, come over to Thailand and join a course for my Pelagian. This will reseble the way you will most likely dive your IDA, i.e. as a mechanical CCR and will serve you better than any SCR course. As I know dive instruction in Japan is quite expensive, maybe the saving will pay for the ticket to Thailand! If you choose no instruction, my best advise is to test any modification as follows: Dive 1 in your sofa watching TV with your girlfriend and a bowl of ice water. Instruct girlfriend to pour bowl of ice water on face, (your face!), if you pass out. Dive 2 - 6 on high O2 in a pool with a friend ready to step in. Tell him he need to watch you all the time. Yes. ALL the time! I cant give recommendations for futher dives as they would depend on what modification you are testing. All the best and be CAREFUL! Andy REBREATHER LAB Quote: (Originally Posted by Sniperx) I've gone through the Sutton page about 3 times rreading everything. The system is just fascinating to me. Anyone know of where to get rebreather basics here in Japan? Thailand is quite a hike....
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29th April 2006, 20:19	#8 (permalink)
narked at 90 In my own little world Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other CCR Dolphin Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Inspiration Classic Classic Kiss Other CCR Dolphin Home Build Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: middlands uk Posts: 996	Re: "Who are you?" "This is me..." .... hi Sniperx welcome to the world of home building and rebreather world! i have a few friends that dive the IDA71 there a few things to look out for if your converting it to ccr but im shore you'll find them in the arcives if not please give me a shout i've never dived the 71.. but my very first Rebreather was going to be the 72 until dave sutton told me not to! but after having my hands on one i can tell you it's a beast of an Rebreather and many could learn from it. kindest regards john routley www.narkedat90.co.uk __________________ CHECK OUT OUR INTERWEBS FOR CUSTOM REBREATHER UPGRADES *WWW.NARKEDAT90.CO.UK* *WWW.GRPSERVICES.COM*
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24th May 2006, 06:08	#9 (permalink)
GKAM digital nomad Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Join Date: May 2005 Location: Greece Posts: 250	Re: "Who are you?" "This is me..." .... Hi, I just spotted your post - must have missed it since there is so much stuff put here daily! I dive a modified IDA-71 and am quite happy with it. It is not very expensive or complicated to build and dive it. However, there are limitations to the unit. As others have said before me, there is no water trap and the exhaled gas passes through hoses in the breathing CL. You need to be very careful in what you do. If you manage to get your hands on a unit, there are plenty of people that can steer you in the right direction wrt mods. Before you start modifying and toying with RBs you have to realize that in thiis "game", mistakes can be fatal. If you want to see more on the modified IDA I have, please visit these links: http://www.kamarinos.com/rebreather/IDA71.asp http://www.kamarinos.com/rebreather/IDA71b.asp and http://www.kamarinos.com/gallery/ Cheers, George __________________ Stay #
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