Looking fo a KISS...........

deepcdiver · 30th October 2006, 20:50

A newbie here who has done some research and reading and is thinking of buying his first rebreather. The classic Kiss seems to fit the bill.
Anyone have other suggestions?
I will be using it for Cave and Wreck diving here in Florida.
Thinking of using sidemount config for bailout.
Any observations would be greatly appreciated.

Bill

Helium_diver · 30th October 2006, 21:43

Bill,
Contact Gregg Stanton over at Home I took my KISS training with him and one of his friends was diving a KISS and had modified it for side mounting.He was doing some great cave dives on it. Gregg is a great instructor and very knowledgeable .

Helium_diver

scu8astu · 30th October 2006, 21:48

you don't want a kiss you wanna meg

***EBT*** · 30th October 2006, 22:15

Maybe you need to decide your criteria for selection, since thats the only thing that stops anyone dancing around waving the banner for their favourite rebreather

For the limited ammount its worth, Im a tourist cave diver, my exposures dont go over 4 hours and I use a KISS. There are other people using them for longer.

The limitations on the KISS for caving are;

1. Lack of watertraps. Mitigated to some extent by the fact that the unit is VERY robust and has minimal loop breaks. If thats not enough, OC bailout needs to be staged.

2. Lack of offboard gas capability (ie for SCR mode). This can be easily plumbed in, using the 2nd injection port on the head (eliminates common failure point in Dil path).

3. No HUD, which for some reason has suddenly become 'essential'. You can either add your own aftermarket HUD, or rely on your ability to look down and read a guage occassionally.

4. Perceived task loading of injecting O2 manually. Frankly, its not hard....

Of course, these are only my opinions and I have only got about 100 hours in cave on the unit (a few hundred more in open water/wrecks).

As someone else wisely said a while ago, all rebreathers represent a series of compromises driven by their intended use. You just have to decide if those compromises suit your diving environment and personal style/attitude.

/Zak

RAL · 30th October 2006, 22:16

Quote: (Originally Posted by deepcdiver)

A newbie here who has done some research and reading and is thinking of buying his first rebreather. The classic Kiss seems to fit the bill.
Anyone have other suggestions?
I will be using it for Cave and Wreck diving here in Florida.
Thinking of using sidemount config for bailout.
Any observations would be greatly appreciated.

Bill

Hey neighbor, where in the great state of Florida do you live? What you describe is what I dive. I have found that side mount is the ideal way to carry the bailout for cave diving. Let me know if you want to see the setup.

RAL

quinnw · 30th October 2006, 22:17

I'll second Gregg. Did my KISS Classic and Cavern with him in June. Great, great guy. Check him out at: Home

Scott M · 30th October 2006, 22:34

Quote: (Originally Posted by scu8astu)

you don't want a kiss you wanna meg

WHY

Maybe you really want a Kiss ah

deepcdiver · 31st October 2006, 01:45

I live near Panama City Beach now since I fled the Flood waters of New Orleans. I have been OC cave diving since 1993. FINALLY came to the realization that a reabreather is the next evolution.

The limitations on the KISS for caving are;

1. Lack of watertraps. Mitigated to some extent by the fact that the unit is VERY robust and has minimal loop breaks. If thats not enough, OC bailout needs to be staged.
Plan to carry two sidemount cylinders on a sidemount BC that can be plumbed into my Dil path. Both of the back cylinders will be O2. If s*** hits the fan I can use the sidemounts to exit.

2. Lack of offboard gas capability (ie for SCR mode). This can be easily plumbed in, using the 2nd injection port on the head (eliminates common failure point in Dil path).

3. No HUD, which for some reason has suddenly become 'essential'. You can either add your own aftermarket HUD, or rely on your ability to look down and read a guage occassionally.
Is a HUD 'essential'? I was planning on checking guages consistantly. Especially if I hear Dil gas being added frequently.

4. Perceived task loading of injecting O2 manually. Frankly, its not hard....

Of course, these are only my opinions and I have only got about 100 hours in cave on the unit (a few hundred more in open water/wrecks).
The only other 'option" I would love to have is a CO2 sensor, but I guess I will have to wait for that.

I appreciate the responses that I have received. Thanks guys.

30th October 2006, 20:50	#1 (permalink)
deepcdiver New Member Current Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 2	Looking fo a KISS........... A newbie here who has done some research and reading and is thinking of buying his first rebreather. The classic Kiss seems to fit the bill. Anyone have other suggestions? I will be using it for Cave and Wreck diving here in Florida. Thinking of using sidemount config for bailout. Any observations would be greatly appreciated. Bill
(Offline)

30th October 2006, 21:43	#2 (permalink)
Helium_diver Has anyone seen my Gerbil Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Baltimore MD USA Posts: 150	Re: Looking fo a KISS........... Bill, Contact Gregg Stanton over at Home I took my KISS training with him and one of his friends was diving a KISS and had modified it for side mounting.He was doing some great cave dives on it. Gregg is a great instructor and very knowledgeable . Helium_diver __________________ "If I look unconscious I probably am " Bill Hartman
(Offline)

30th October 2006, 21:48	#3 (permalink)
scu8astu New Member Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: exeter Posts: 55	Re: Looking fo a KISS........... you don't want a kiss you wanna meg
(Offline)

30th October 2006, 22:15	#4 (permalink)
*EBT* Apprentice Luddite Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: UK, Brighton Posts: 1,855	Re: Looking fo a KISS........... Maybe you need to decide your criteria for selection, since thats the only thing that stops anyone dancing around waving the banner for their favourite rebreather For the limited ammount its worth, Im a tourist cave diver, my exposures dont go over 4 hours and I use a KISS. There are other people using them for longer. The limitations on the KISS for caving are; 1. Lack of watertraps. Mitigated to some extent by the fact that the unit is VERY robust and has minimal loop breaks. If thats not enough, OC bailout needs to be staged. 2. Lack of offboard gas capability (ie for SCR mode). This can be easily plumbed in, using the 2nd injection port on the head (eliminates common failure point in Dil path). 3. No HUD, which for some reason has suddenly become 'essential'. You can either add your own aftermarket HUD, or rely on your ability to look down and read a guage occassionally. 4. Perceived task loading of injecting O2 manually. Frankly, its not hard.... Of course, these are only my opinions and I have only got about 100 hours in cave on the unit (a few hundred more in open water/wrecks). As someone else wisely said a while ago, all rebreathers represent a series of compromises driven by their intended use. You just have to decide if those compromises suit your diving environment and personal style/attitude. /Zak __________________ Eagles May Soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines! Rebreather World Terms of service Real diving t-shirts for real divers
(Offline)

30th October 2006, 22:16	#5 (permalink)
RAL Longbottom Time Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: North Florida Posts: 374	Re: Looking fo a KISS........... Quote: (Originally Posted by deepcdiver) A newbie here who has done some research and reading and is thinking of buying his first rebreather. The classic Kiss seems to fit the bill. Anyone have other suggestions? I will be using it for Cave and Wreck diving here in Florida. Thinking of using sidemount config for bailout. Any observations would be greatly appreciated. Bill Hey neighbor, where in the great state of Florida do you live? What you describe is what I dive. I have found that side mount is the ideal way to carry the bailout for cave diving. Let me know if you want to see the setup. RAL __________________ The sea does not care about you.
(Online)

30th October 2006, 22:17	#6 (permalink)
quinnw New Member Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Portishead Posts: 38	Re: Looking fo a KISS........... I'll second Gregg. Did my KISS Classic and Cavern with him in June. Great, great guy. Check him out at: Home
(Offline)

30th October 2006, 22:34	#7 (permalink)
Scott M New Member Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ontario Posts: 78	Re: Looking fo a KISS........... Quote: (Originally Posted by scu8astu) you don't want a kiss you wanna meg WHY Maybe you really want a Kiss ah __________________ www.customdivingservices.com ( Mad Scientist) Classic Kiss #195 Last edited by Scott M : 31st October 2006 at 01:54.
(Offline)

31st October 2006, 01:45	#8 (permalink)
deepcdiver New Member Current Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 2	Re: Looking for a KISS........... I live near Panama City Beach now since I fled the Flood waters of New Orleans. I have been OC cave diving since 1993. FINALLY came to the realization that a reabreather is the next evolution. The limitations on the KISS for caving are; 1. Lack of watertraps. Mitigated to some extent by the fact that the unit is VERY robust and has minimal loop breaks. If thats not enough, OC bailout needs to be staged. Plan to carry two sidemount cylinders on a sidemount BC that can be plumbed into my Dil path. Both of the back cylinders will be O2. If s*** hits the fan I can use the sidemounts to exit. 2. Lack of offboard gas capability (ie for SCR mode). This can be easily plumbed in, using the 2nd injection port on the head (eliminates common failure point in Dil path). 3. No HUD, which for some reason has suddenly become 'essential'. You can either add your own aftermarket HUD, or rely on your ability to look down and read a guage occassionally. Is a HUD 'essential'? I was planning on checking guages consistantly. Especially if I hear Dil gas being added frequently. 4. Perceived task loading of injecting O2 manually. Frankly, its not hard.... Of course, these are only my opinions and I have only got about 100 hours in cave on the unit (a few hundred more in open water/wrecks). The only other 'option" I would love to have is a CO2 sensor, but I guess I will have to wait for that. I appreciate the responses that I have received. Thanks guys.
(Offline)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode