Just Ordered a CK

PaulTG2

Hello,

It looks like I'm joining the KISS crowd now. Yesterday I ordered a classic KISS. At the end of the month my dive buddy and I will go through training. If she enjoys it we'll get another CK to add to the collective kit.

The KISS boards and articles on Rebreather World has made me feel like I already know the unit. I know there is much more to learn, but I'd like to thank everyone for their posts. It has really made it an easier decision to move from my Meg to the KISS.

I can't wait to get and dive the unit!

Sincerely,

Paul

Sutty

I'm curious why you're changing to a CK, rather than going to a Copis Meg?

Neil

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PaulTG2

Hello,

As I gain more experience in rebreather diving I'm learning more about what I do and don't like. In this case some of the key things I didn't like about diving my Meg (and mini-Meg) are the same on the Copis Meg. As a result it didn't make sense to move in that direction.

The eCCR vs mCCR issues didn't really make much of a impact on my decision. In actuality I don't really think I have a much of a personal preference about either operating mode.

Sincerely,

-p

teomannaskali

And what are your reasons for changing? Weight? Or just simple excess money problem?

PaulTG2

Hello,

Well, I guess I should spill the beans. Just remember, everyone is different, this is just one person's point of view:

There were a number of things I learned about myself in an excellent series of rebreather life lessons. The CK doesn't fix all of my personal problems (I am still me), but, as I'll explain, it appears to go a long ways to easing my most important personal dislikes in Rebreather diving.

I have discovered I like diving CCR quite a bit -- for a variety of reasons. There were, however, some things which I found distracted greatly from the overall experience.

First was the shear weight and bulk of everything I have to carry around. It all has to be packed, loaded on the plane, transfered to car, to the hotel, to the boat, etc.. I have probably made this worse than it has to be as I don't have commercial airline limits for my trips. I'm still working on it, but the Meg configuration I had didn't help the situation any.

Second, was the weight, size, and clutter of system when rigged for diving. Frankly it was exceedingly awkward to handle on the dock and on the boat. From moving, to securing, to donning.

Task one was to get the total size, weight, and bulk down a bit in size. I moved from the full canister to a mini-Meg, from 19cf LP steel to 13cf aluminum, from standard to neoprene counter lungs, from stock pressure gauges to 1st stage button gauges, steel back to aluminum backplate. This certainly cut the overall weight and bulk to something easier to work with. It certainly made it easier to pack and move around. Handling it was still a bit awkward, but the lower weight and bulk made it a bit more manageable.

In the end, I discovered that I still looked forward to the dives I did on OC -- which was rather a bother since I had US$13,000 of Rebreather kit sitting around. It wasn't the actual dives I enjoyed more on OC, but rather the ease and simplicity of getting in and out of the kit for each dive. Pre-dive preparation and gearing on the boat was a joy for OC and I dreaded it on the rebreather.

Everyone is different, but here is what I felt like: it seemed like there were miles of hoses and wires and straps everywhere I looked, touched, or tried to grab. There were a dozen things coming over my shoulders. Counter lungs and hoses and valves covered my chest and my shoulder clip rings. Two pressure gauges, two handsets with wires, and a HUD with it's own wires added to the normal mix of dive computers, compass, etc. Regardless of how I re-routed, tied off, eliminated, or condense things, there seemed simply too much stuff everywhere. Suddenly I went from OC clear to the Meg -- which seemed more cluttered and awkward to get around than my basement.

Every time I put it on I felt I had to crawl into the middle of a cyborg world of cables and hoses and wires and straps. Although I knew what each and every item was, where it went, and could find what I needed while diving, I just felt encased in hoses and wires. The rig wasn't that complex to me, it just seemed exceedingly cluttered -- which was bothersome and distracting to the mission at hand.

I believe that KISS will go a long way to less cluttered -- which in the end, was what really distracted me from having a more enjoyable experience. I watched as my friend Doug put on his SK.. .quick and easy and very less cluttered than the Meg. I think I can handle that.

eCCR or mCCR isn't an issue from my point of view. What you pay for in minor, if any, additional task loading on the KISS for mCCR seems well offset by the reduced task loading of having a cleaner, easier to organize, and streamlined kit during the dive.


Stand by -- in about six months I'll learn about all the stuff I don't like about the KISS.

-p

CCR-Wrecker

Hey Paul,

Don't feel like you have to defend your opinion, that's why they make different flavors. I also love the BMCL and simplicity of the KISS. I use an exact duplicate harness/ backplate for OC and CC. I keep the D rings and buckles all the same. I still teach OC if your wondering. Enjoy the KISS!

Regards,
Andy

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Marc

Congrats on your purchase...Sure you will like your KISS! Don't give up to easily though. Took me a while to get used to everything but loving it more and more each dive! Cheers, Marc

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Classic KISS #271

Rubis

Congrats !

I got my unit a couple of weeks ago and I enjoy diving it quite a bit.

Caverkevin (my buddy and husband) is perfecting it at every dive, so far he was able to make the configuration pretty clean (valves up, which gives a much better trim), no pressure gauges with hoses hanging around (we might just get button gauges), side-mount bailout ...

We'll probably see you around some time, we are not that far ...

Cheers

Cris

PS : Last week-end I enjoyed the difference in weight with 104s !!!

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CK # 341

Buck-O-Five

I tried to call Kim today at Jetsam, since my buddy Pete ordered a CK a few weeks ago and still hasn't gotten word when it would be shipped. Apparently they are behind on the building (short on parts) and no units will be shipping for at least another 2 weeks.
I hope you have patience!

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"The Brandon" www.sdtechdiving.com

Mike Costanzo

Congrats! I love mine

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Mike Costanzo
CK #318