KISS Sport?

chrisch

Hello everyone. My wife and I have recently had our (uninsured) Trimix OC gear stolen, leaving us with just some old and basic recreational gear

Rather than start over buying OC equipment I am looking at rebreathers, something that has been on the "round to it" list for a long time. So I thought I would join you here for some advice

Our diving is mainly 30-50 meter wrecks with 60m being a realistic maximum depth for us under any circumstances. This is 10m more than the "recommended" for the unit, but it would be perhaps one or two dives a year maximum, with 35m being the more usual depth.

From what I have read the issue with the KISS is monitoring PPO2 as opposed to having this done electronically.

So is it a real PITA to monitor the ox or not and would we be better advised to look at a more expensive unit? We are not poor, but money is an issue. (remember there are two units to buy and two lots of training etc...)

What do you folks think? While the theft was a real bummer it is also an "opportunity" to start over with a new technology.

Thanks for you thoughts

Chris

Ben Field

Hiya,

Very sorry to here about your loss, must have been something of a shock?

I'm not going to comment much on the depth issue. I get everytime I say- "the manufacturer only rates it to 50mtrs so thats all you should dive it too" because lots of people here dive them deeper either in countries where the law allows them to still get insured and do that or they don't have dependant relatives to look after should they die or get bent out of a shape while uninsured!

From a technical standpoint the general concensus is that it'll work deeper than 50mtrs but beware the small scrubber...

( "beware the small scrubber" ??? Sounds like something from a Welsh theatrical production! )

The ClassicKISS is an excellent unit, only slightly more money but with a proven track records to the depths you mention, technically its almost identical and maybe more suitable for you?

Monitoring the PPO2 Displays seems like hardwork to start with but you very quickly get used to it in my experience... anyway, even on the "more expensive rebreathers" I believe vigilant monitoring of the displays is still highly reccomended, some might say an ECCR is more likely to screw things up quickly than a KISS style CCR but that would be somewhat biased of me to say.

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onetime

I dive a a Classic and obviously would be a bit biased. Haven't tried other units but there is no real reason you could not use the Sport to the depths you plan to.

As Ben says, you'll have to monitor your PO2 on any rebreather but some units have HUDs (heads up displays) that make it a bit easier to monitor than the KISS units. Plus with an ECCR you can listen for the solenoid injecting O2 for some comfort.

Personally I don't find the monitoring of PO2 difficult on the KISS at all. Prices of ECCRs are about 50 to 100% more than the KISS units.

caveseeker7

Welcome to Rebreather World, Chris.

Sorry to hear about the theft of your gear, great that you can look at it as an opportunity.

As Ben pointed out, there is are advantages and disadvantages to the KISS system. Advantage is that it forces you to keep on top of it, it's simple, and it has a well proven record. It lacks bells, whizzles, buzzers, but that's what makes it attractive to most owners, probably more so than the price.

Regarding your diving, you may have problems getting trimix CCR training on the Sport Kiss as agencies can't really go deeper than manufacturer rating. One thing to consider.

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Sutty

I have a Classic and like the others haven't found monitoring the PO2 a problem (even before I installed a HUD), I suspect I'd be monitoring an ECCR just as frequently.
Good point about trimix training on the Sport though, not a problem on the Classic.

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Philippe GERIN

Hi Chris,
I dive a Classic Kiss (mostly in the US and sometime in France) so I, too will be biased but by the diving you discribe both the SK and the CK are a perfect fit.
Now, you didn't discribe who you dive with and I see you're in Luxembourg. By that I mean with local dive shops, clubs, "Fédération", your own boat... Before you get any Rebreather, check if you need (local law, club rule, insurance rules...) a CE marked machine. If so, then you're down to Inspo, Evo or Boris. Then the price tag is in favour of APD machines.
Not many choices if you want to follow the rules huh?
Now, at some point, Jetsam wanted to go through CE testing for the Sport. I don't know what the status is. You may want to check with Kim.
Best
Philippe

chrisch

Salut Phillipe!! I have seen a few threads about this too on my search of the site. As best I understand it the "problem" is only France (la fédé sans blague..) Sadly the classic med wrecks like the Donator, Togo, Grec and so on are all in the deeper range.... However, my experience of diving in France is that the "law" is one thing and the reality another

I have no insurance issues - if it kills me the missus will probably drown with me and vice verca.. My nephew will get the flat in France and can learn the truth about French red tape at an early age

The training issue is a possible obstacle though so I'll look into that.

Thanks everyone for the view about monitoring PO2. I found today a week long rebreather try-dive in Sharm for €450 (five boxes one per day including the KISS sport). However for the two of us with flights and booze and food that is half way at least to one of the boxes... If you all are kind enough I will pick some more brains here instead.

Chris

dave t

The sport kiss is limited to 50m according to the maufactors, they do this for good reason. The classic kiss is a fine unit, robust simple has a better depth rating, a more "proven" scrubber and is not much bigger (if at all) than the SK

I know which I would choose!!

Dave

schford

I have a Meg and I always monitor the PPO2 and fly it manually using the electronics as a safety backup....

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decoweenie

Should we coin this as the "meCCR" technique ?

Yes, it is an expensive all-dancing electronic closed-circuit rebreather unit. And I am operating it with "me thumb" instead...