Lightest Rebreather

WD8CDH · 24th April 2008, 12:47

I was discussing dive equipment with a diver with a bad back the other day when he saw my homebuilt mCCR. He can't carry a tank bigger than about a 50 on his back. We were thinking that a small, light Rebreather like mine would allow him more down time.

What is the lightest commercially available Rebreather configuration? Changing to 6CF bottles would be OK. So would be removal of a shell if needed. Redundant air not needed. Max depth 30M. Over 1 hour not needed since he would be diving with OC divers. SCR would be OK too if light enough.

He can carry weight on his waist if the rig is buoyant and could move some weight from his waist to his straps once in the water if needed for trim.

Thanks,

Ron Schroeder
Former Commercial Diver, now Lazy Diver

lizardland · 24th April 2008, 12:55

I'd imagine a Ray would be pretty light, the cannister is a titchy 1.25kg of lime and it's all integrated into a BCD. Not sure what the depth rating is, think it's 21m. I converted the guts of one into a CCR (counterlungs in a wing) but I think the scrubber is just too small to be worth the effort. I would imagine it wouldn't be that hard to add the Dolphin's gas delivery system to it for the added depth, it's just a p-port fitting.

paulraymaekers · 24th April 2008, 13:32

Quote: (Originally Posted by lizardland)

I'd imagine a Ray would be pretty light, the cannister is a titchy 1.25kg of lime and it's all integrated into a BCD. Not sure what the depth rating is, think it's 21m. I converted the guts of one into a CCR (counterlungs in a wing) but I think the scrubber is just too small to be worth the effort. I would imagine it wouldn't be that hard to add the Dolphin's gas delivery system to it for the added depth, it's just a p-port fitting.

Ray's also CAME (don't come anymore) with 32% jet

indeed very light, but you must add quite some weight in the counterlung pockets

paul

**Dave1w** · 24th April 2008, 13:43

You can get a 40% orifice for the ray, but you would need to use a bigger tank (The say 7 or so litres)

You'd also want to cut out all the foam, as the extra weight needed to sink the foam would be a hassle.
Dave

Tautaz · 24th April 2008, 14:26

Why don't try a RB80 style CCR with no tanks on back but worn on side mount? A tiny 2l oxy and a 7l diluent air tank could be fines.

So he can jump into the water with the can and lungs on his back, the tiny oxy tank and grab the diluent after to clip it to offboard port.

My 2 cents

seppu · 24th April 2008, 17:02

my girlfriend use the tr300 sc.not bad.
gruss sepp

**nigelh** · 24th April 2008, 17:05

They probably don't come much smaller than the Hans Haas Dräger.
How deep do you need?

OceanOpportunity · 24th April 2008, 17:53

My Drager Dolphin is about as light as they come. On my converted unit, I dive it with an onboard 2L steel bottle for O2 across the bottom. For shallow stuff I'm not even using a BC, so this thing probably comes in at jsut barely 30lbs.

I carry an AL 19cft as a stage for dil that plugs in via a QD. tight, light, lets me change dil if needed, or leave it at home and dive as an O2 rig in the shallows. Very pleased thus far all round in using it as a fun everyday unit.

WD8CDH · 24th April 2008, 19:06

He only needs 30 meters and 1 hour. It looks like that is no problem for the Ray but I can't find weight for the Ray. Any idea what one would weigh with a 13cf tank?

His limit is about 25 pounds top. My homebuilt is 22 pounds with 6cf tanks and a filled scrubber but I don't want to accept the responsability of selling one.

Ron Schroeder

Ben Field · 24th April 2008, 21:42

Cis Mk6, when it arrives and aimed at the recreational depths mentioned....

FWIW I have a bad back, not that bad mind you... on bad days when diving I've finished kitting up in the water, your weightless so makes no difference! That was in bad old OC days with twin 15ltr backgas and two side mount 10ltrs- ouch

24th April 2008, 12:47	#1 (permalink)
WD8CDH New Member Current Rebreather/s: MK 15.X Other CCR Other SCR Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Other CCR Other SCR Home Build Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: NY Posts: 52	Lightest Rebreather I was discussing dive equipment with a diver with a bad back the other day when he saw my homebuilt mCCR. He can't carry a tank bigger than about a 50 on his back. We were thinking that a small, light Rebreather like mine would allow him more down time. What is the lightest commercially available Rebreather configuration? Changing to 6CF bottles would be OK. So would be removal of a shell if needed. Redundant air not needed. Max depth 30M. Over 1 hour not needed since he would be diving with OC divers. SCR would be OK too if light enough. He can carry weight on his waist if the rig is buoyant and could move some weight from his waist to his straps once in the water if needed for trim. Thanks, Ron Schroeder Former Commercial Diver, now Lazy Diver
(Offline)

24th April 2008, 12:55	#2 (permalink)
lizardland Yak Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Ray Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Ray Home Build Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: North... Posts: 1,148	Re: Lightest Rebreather I'd imagine a Ray would be pretty light, the cannister is a titchy 1.25kg of lime and it's all integrated into a BCD. Not sure what the depth rating is, think it's 21m. I converted the guts of one into a CCR (counterlungs in a wing) but I think the scrubber is just too small to be worth the effort. I would imagine it wouldn't be that hard to add the Dolphin's gas delivery system to it for the added depth, it's just a p-port fitting. __________________ Can you imagine drifting along in the sea with your mouth open and a load of f***ing plankton going in? You'd like it, would you? www.westons-cider.co.uk Azerbaijani Association of Technical Divers Publicity Officer and Goat Wrangler
(Offline)

24th April 2008, 13:32	#3 (permalink)
paulraymaekers rEvo's daddy Current Rebreather/s: rEvo Other CCR Home Build Other Rebreather/s: rEvo Other CCR Home Build Join Date: May 2005 Location: belgium Posts: 1,349	Re: Lightest Rebreather Quote: (Originally Posted by lizardland) I'd imagine a Ray would be pretty light, the cannister is a titchy 1.25kg of lime and it's all integrated into a BCD. Not sure what the depth rating is, think it's 21m. I converted the guts of one into a CCR (counterlungs in a wing) but I think the scrubber is just too small to be worth the effort. I would imagine it wouldn't be that hard to add the Dolphin's gas delivery system to it for the added depth, it's just a p-port fitting. Ray's also CAME (don't come anymore) with 32% jet indeed very light, but you must add quite some weight in the counterlung pockets paul __________________ www.rEvo-rebreathers.com .... the earth is flat, Elvis is alive, and radial scrubbers give longer dwell time than axials...
(Offline)

24th April 2008, 13:43	#4 (permalink)
Dave1w Born Again Diver! Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Dolphin Ray Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Ray Home Build Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: China / UK Posts: 315	Re: Lightest Rebreather You can get a 40% orifice for the ray, but you would need to use a bigger tank (The say 7 or so litres) You'd also want to cut out all the foam, as the extra weight needed to sink the foam would be a hassle. Dave __________________ This message may contain spelling mistakes as it was generated by an idiot.
(Online)

24th April 2008, 14:26	#5 (permalink)
Tautaz New Member Current Rebreather/s: Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Home Build Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Colomiers France Posts: 62	Re: Lightest Rebreather Why don't try a RB80 style CCR with no tanks on back but worn on side mount? A tiny 2l oxy and a 7l diluent air tank could be fines. So he can jump into the water with the can and lungs on his back, the tiny oxy tank and grab the diluent after to clip it to offboard port. My 2 cents
(Offline)

24th April 2008, 17:02	#6 (permalink)
seppu i ko nix dafüa Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other CCR Home Build Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: bayern Posts: 182	Re: Lightest Rebreather my girlfriend use the tr300 sc.not bad. gruss sepp
(Offline)

24th April 2008, 17:05	#7 (permalink)
nigelh New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other CCR Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Brighton, Sussex, UK Posts: 787	Re: Lightest Rebreather They probably don't come much smaller than the Hans Haas Dräger. How deep do you need? __________________ nigelh
(Online)

24th April 2008, 17:53	#8 (permalink)
OceanOpportunity for a world of water Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Dolphin Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Inspiration Classic Other CCR Dolphin Home Build Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Providence, RI USA Posts: 465	Re: Lightest Rebreather My Drager Dolphin is about as light as they come. On my converted unit, I dive it with an onboard 2L steel bottle for O2 across the bottom. For shallow stuff I'm not even using a BC, so this thing probably comes in at jsut barely 30lbs. I carry an AL 19cft as a stage for dil that plugs in via a QD. tight, light, lets me change dil if needed, or leave it at home and dive as an O2 rig in the shallows. Very pleased thus far all round in using it as a fun everyday unit. __________________ Michael Lombardi Oceans of Opportunity www.oceanopportunity.com Elected Director, Society for Human Performance in Extreme Environments MN'07, The Explorers Club Project Manager, Diving a Dream
(Offline)

24th April 2008, 19:06	#9 (permalink)
WD8CDH New Member Current Rebreather/s: MK 15.X Other CCR Other SCR Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Other CCR Other SCR Home Build Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: NY Posts: 52	Re: Lightest Rebreather He only needs 30 meters and 1 hour. It looks like that is no problem for the Ray but I can't find weight for the Ray. Any idea what one would weigh with a 13cf tank? His limit is about 25 pounds top. My homebuilt is 22 pounds with 6cf tanks and a filled scrubber but I don't want to accept the responsability of selling one. Ron Schroeder
(Offline)

24th April 2008, 21:42	#10 (permalink)
Ben Field CK+Shearwater Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: London, England Posts: 1,451	Re: Lightest Rebreather Cis Mk6, when it arrives and aimed at the recreational depths mentioned.... FWIW I have a bad back, not that bad mind you... on bad days when diving I've finished kitting up in the water, your weightless so makes no difference! That was in bad old OC days with twin 15ltr backgas and two side mount 10ltrs- ouch __________________ www.hugsac.org.uk Beware Fridge Suck
(Offline)

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