Aloha...

tekdiver170

Aloha from the warm tropical waters of Hawaii. Just thought I'd introduce myself since that is what I read I should do. I'm living on Oahu working as a dive instructor. I'm looking at joining the "dark side" as everyone keeps telling me but the benefits of CC just sound so nice, even with the extra work.

Right now I have my eye on a Classic Kiss. The combination of simplicity and features seems to fit right in line with my mentality of scuba, let me do some of the work, no better computer than my brain. I also love the streamline of the unit.

I have some questions for any Kiss divers or any divers that have at least tried out a Classic Kiss. I'm a DIR oriented style diver (please save me the tongue lashings if you don't agree with DIR, for me and my team it works great). I have concerns with the breathability in the trim (horizontal) position. I know from talking with (and reading) that each rebreather has a certain position it breathes really well in and certain positions it's like breathing through a straw. It looks like the Kiss should breath good in the trim position, like inverted is where you start to get breathing issues. Please let me know if I'm on the right track.

Thanks,
Tekdiver

chunter

Chris...is that you??? Feel free to remain anonymous (we don't want your DIR brothers to excommunicate you).

The KISS breathes very well if you are in the ideal position, but it will never breathe as well as over-the-shoulder counterlungs. There is a trade off between WOB and chest clutter.

Call me, you can try both.

Aloha,
Charlie

tekdiver170

Hey Charlie, yeah it's me, and no my DIR divers aren't going to lynch me for making the switch, infact I have several of them thinking about making the switch, we'll see if any of them do.

But with the rising cost of helium I was listening to what you said and started doing some research CCR's don't sound as intimidating as they did 2 months ago. And I almost have myself convinced to start playing the credit card game and throwing the $6 grand onto a no interest card for the next 18 months. Still looking into it.

I'm going to give you a call this week to talk more about your class and some of my options.

grandizer52

hea tec...aloha..man us Rebreather divers are growing here on oahu, to bad most of the dive shops are asses and the boats don't want us on them....
laytah
steve

chunter

Steve, that hasn't been my experience at all. Both Island Divers and See In Sea Scuba have O2, and I have yet to be screwed with by a boat captain. Which boats have given you problems? You weren't trying to do a 2 hour dive on a tourist "lookey-loo" boat were you?

tekdiver170

Hey Steve thanks for the welcoming. I have to say I agree with Charlie. We have several dives diving rebreathers on our boats at Island Divers. As long as you're not doing absurdly long dives I've never seen a boat capt get upset.

Heck I'm on the boat all the time with twins, and 3 stages and the capt just give me a hard time about how my back is going to be bad in a few years.

Follow boat guidelines for length of dive, help them stay on schedule and they will always love to have you on the boat.

But if you are interested in some custom charters for longer dives IDH is currently putting together a 6-pack for such dives. Details are still in the works and I have no idea about a time frame...

jcolley

You know, I gotta say, I was never that impressed with the few charters I went on when I lived on Oahu either. I ended up buying a kayak and diving off of that for the last year I was out there. I wonder no about going back out and diving the YO-257 with my Meg off of a Kayak. That was definately one of my favorites out there. Too bad I didn't get into rebreathers sooner.

Good luck, I hear the KISS is a great unit to dive.

Jim

grandizer52

chunter
first off...anyone that bad mouths sea and see is gonna get a bat to the face cause i was stationed with the owner for 6 years, before he owned it though...as for the boat's well you got your own ride right? besides my wife dives...she's from japan and this retard from...oahu shop made a comment that got her crying...first i ased in a supper dupper nice manner to appologize...well he went into i hate japanese cause...well things went the way of boondocksaints/departed...
if you want more skinny..i'll be back on oahu on the 4th
grandizer52@yahoo.com
laytah
steve

chunter

No need to get violent

I've been good friends with the owners of See in Sea for years. I dive regularly with Marc and trained him on an Inspo. Is he who you were stationed with?

I do own my own boat, but I dive from charters when I don't have time to lauch, clean, and deal with mine. John Hansen (Honey Ann II) is very rebreather friendly (east side of the island), Island Divers can be sure the boat is Rebreather friendly, Captain Carl's boats have always treated me well, and Momac has also been just fine with RB. I have never had any bad experience on any of them. Feel free to name the boats you have had problems with because it will serve as a deterrent for other RB divers who visit Oahu.

Aloha,
Charlie