CCR or Doubles...first steps into Tech Diving

curt

Glad you found your way to CCR diving!

As MarkZ said, there are several of us who appear frequently at Bainbridge. I'm usually there on Saturdays when I'm not teaching a class somewhere else, and you're always welcome to dive with us or just drop by and chat.

cheers...

__________________
Curt Harpold
US Representative
Rebreathers Australia
http://rebreathers.com.au/

jkaterenchuk

Jason, thanks for the support. Jim Z and I are already hooked-up and will be doing a dive tomorrow night and again on Sunday. Its great to have a another local CCR diver that is at the same point in the learning process as I am.

In fact you probably do not realize how much you, Dan and the Rebreather experience help me to make the decision to go CCR. Thanks for you help.

John

jkaterenchuk

Yes I went directly from single tank to CCR. I have never had a set of doubles on my back. Quick snapshot. Diving about 5 yrs, 700 plus dives on OC, PADI MSDT. Generally travel to locations off the beaten path so that I can get away from the crowd and enjoy some extended bottom time without having to worry about the skills of the other divers. I am an Engineer and a continuous learner. Decision really came down to the fact that if I am eventually going to end up on CCR what would I miss by not going with doubles first.

While considering the decision I did alot of research and asked alot of question about what I would miss if I did not go the OC route. In some cases I got good valid answers from the people I spoke to and in other cases the answers did not make sense. In the end I felt confident in my own abilities that if I aligned myself with a good instructor and an agency with a good training program that over time I could learn and absorb what I might miss by going direct to CCR.

John

jkaterenchuk

Gill

I will be expecting that kind of reaction in the future. When I was doing my research and considering the decision I had more than one OC Tech Instructor try to steer me away from CCR. Some were considerate in how they voiced their opinion and others told me directly that I would kill myself with that Box of Death. Frankly, it scared the s**t out of me. Especially since I knew about a local death on SCR a few years earlier. I guess the net result was that the comments caused me to have more resolve to get to the bottom of things and sort out the fact from the fiction.

For someone new and unfamiliar with CCR's this is a monumental task but thankfully there were resources available to help. I read everything on rebreatherworld. I went to a local rebreather event sponsored by Jason (The Scuba Connection). I also did a familiarization dive in a pool with Jason and a Classic Kiss. I read about the fatalities on CCR from the Diver Mole website. I researched the standards and course materials from each of the certifying agencies. I talked to several instructors asking endless questions. In the end I came to the same conclussion regarding the pros and cons that you outline and felt I was making a decision with my eyes wide open.

John

MGI

I'm sure that everyone will agree that CCRs are not for the rank and file. As a commercial diver I look at a CCR as a tool. You use the right tool for the job at hand. CCR is not always practical for every job. I do however see the attraction. If the decision works for you, so much the better. You have approached this issue with intensity and that's a good sign. Enjoy!

JasonF

On behalf of The SCUBA Connection and Staff, your very welcome. We hope to do some diving with you in the near future.

Cheers

__________________
Jason R. Fisch

Training Director
The SCUBA Connection
Instructor Development and Diver Training Division
jasonf@tscscuba.com

rigdiver

My suggestion is go the CCR route and forget the twins/doubles. It's a money saving issue. Others have done it both ways and suggest CCR from the beginning. Some did not have much choice as there were really very little choices 10 yrs ago as far as CCR's go.
My opinion;
Bill

diverbrian

Thanks for the responses to this gentleman.

I am now waiting on money select a Rebreather and instructor before going to full Tri-mix.

My dive buddy is getting pressure to take the courses involving doubles and such from her local dive shop and (bless her heart) she keeps telling them no as she wants to save money and wants a CCR to see more fish . As it stands now, I don't get to dive with her that much anyways. She lives too far away and does not yet do the type of stuff that I am currently using double 130's for (I will be soooo glad to retire those things although it will cost me a season of deep wreck diving to acquaint myself with the CCR : ) ). So in Lake Huron, I dive deep wrecks. In Lake Ontario and Brockville, I dive doubles and don't change out tanks, LOL.

Well, I have lots of posts to read.

Brian

rogeringebo

Most of my friends use their twins to store diluent in
One guy traded them for sofnolime

/R

c5vette13

I live in Baltimore and frequent BSC and Guppy Gulch between wreck/cave dives. Jeff Johnson is my instructor on the Optima and a long-time dive buddy, and I will be finishing up the course with my cousin as soon as my unit arrives. If you ever need dive buddies let me know.
Happy diving
Nick Mislak
mislakdiving.com