Rebreather Demo question

jepuskar

I have had a couple rebreather experiences, but because of logistics ie: sharing with others...I have been unable to get any real water time on a unit to make a decision. It takes awhile to really adjust to the new sensations as you all know/remember.

So this weekend I managed to setup a private pool session on the Evolution. I would like to get the most out of this session....so I am asking the more experience members here for hints on demo'ing a unit for a newbie.

It sounds like I am going to have some decent pool time in about 13 feet of water. I realize this is a personal decision based on numerous factors....and it could just come down to it just feels right/good to dive with.

What are things you would do when trying out a unit? Different body positions, etc...

Please enlighten me with the knowledge I have yet to obtain.

Jason

Mark Chase

Look at the single display and linkage to the processor's and consider the all eggs in one basket issue?

Consider the transportation of the unit?

Take a stage cylinder with you (you will always have off board bailout right?) and practice using it clipping unclipping etc.

Consider the issue of the cylinder size and the use of the unit on trips requiring a plain flight to get there.

Be amazed at how much lead you need to sink it

See how comfortable you feel in terms of trim in the water?


Then order a travel rEvo with Shearwater head

Crap trim is not merely a case of inexperience on a CCR.

ATB

Mark

__________________
See my "Doing It Chasey" video where I'm locked into a padded room, naked, with two ball bearings and within an Hour, I manage to lose one and break the other!!!

Kevin Juergensen 16/11/08
[/quote]

jepuskar

Thanks for the unbiased opinion.

I am not a technical diver so I don't have any stages to bring or clip/un-clip.
But yes I do plan on using offboard bailout.

J

kevin stone

You are now!

ScubaDadMiami

See how the unit trims out (but give it a fair evaluation by moving the weight around the best you can before reaching your conclusion).

See if you can look between your legs and then get back to horizontal without too much difficulty.

Turn over on your back. See if there is a big difference in how the unit breathes. Turn on your side; repeat. Turn head down; repeat.

See how much effort it takes to breathe.

See just how well the unit handles flooding and clearing.

Position the equipment, such as handsets, as you will use them in the real world. Is everything a nice fit?

Take part in prepping the unit and doing the pre-dive testing. See just how long it takes, and, more importantly, if it inspires confidence in the unit after seeing just what is involved.

__________________
Howard Packer
IANTD CCR Instructor
Miami Beach, Florida
CCRDiveTraining.com

Mark Chase

Try and borrow one, even a 3ltr will do but an AL40 or 7ltr would be better.


I forgot to mention, look at how and where you would mount your canister torch and or suit inflation bottle if these are relevant to you. A suit inflation bottle is a definitely should have item if running a dry suit. Evo cylinders are small and its not good to have all your buoyancy and dill off a single 2ltr tank. (or any single gas source for that matter)


PS: I hope the unbiased comment was a joke because I dive a KISS. I used to own / dive an Inspo. I have also dived an Evo & rEvo and know what they are like.

Inspos are much maligned units but a lot of the build quality criticism is undeserved. However having put in a few hundred hours on a Classic Inspo I am familiar with the issues of ownership. You don't hear of people rushing out to buy travel frames or Jan boxes for Megs or rEvos and there is good reason for this.

I am assuming your after a unit for traveling with seeing as you opted for the small Evo rather than the Vision. In which case, the rEvo is more compact, lighter, easier to obtain cylinders for, has the most efficient /economical use of sofnalime of any unit and in hybrid from (assuming an ECCR is your weapon of choice), far less likely to leave you with an undivable unit.

When I dived an Inspo I had a spare Hammerhead I took on trips with me. A spare head for a Vision is £3,400 so thats a tad expensive. There is no provision for separate unit monitoring on a Evo Classic or Vision. If you do modify the unit for off board monitoring AP will take the mod out if you send the unit in for a service. As a result you have to use something like the Beeny adapter so its removable. The rEvo has provision for a forth cell monitor built in.

I would definitely NOT dive a Vision or a Evo without a forth cell type monitor. This is because you only have a single display showing you life critical information and I would want this confirmed independently.

You can view this information as bias if you wish. Or you can see it as just the opinion of one diver who has gained just enough experience on ECCR to be able to look at the available options on the market and make some educated comment on them. Having opted for a compact ECCR you have ruled out pretty much all the other available units on the market except the Shearwater rEvo and the mini meg. Given that choice and for the same money as the Evo I'd go for the Travel rEvo with titanium frame.


ATB

Mark

__________________
See my "Doing It Chasey" video where I'm locked into a padded room, naked, with two ball bearings and within an Hour, I manage to lose one and break the other!!!

Kevin Juergensen 16/11/08
[/quote]

caveseeker7

Important IMHO.
Make sure you're around for the prepping, pre-dive and post-dive of the unit.
Gives you a better idea what you're getting into.

__________________
Cheers
Stefan



"Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority,
and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media,
which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.!"

ScubaAl

Mark, very useful information. I will be doing a rebreather demo on the 12/13 with Ron Benson at "Going Under Dive Center" in Minnesota. On the 12th we will be in the class room, Ron will present information on over 9 different rebreathers that he has personally owned and trained divers on, as well as additional models that Ron has dove or field tested.
Then on the evening of the 13th it will be Pool only and there will be 4 different rebreathers for us to pool test as many times as the evening allows.
I'm hoping this will (along with information from RBW) help me decide which rebreather I should go with.
Thanks jepuskar for starting the thread.
Al

jepuskar

Mark, yes that was a joke!

Hey Al,

I wanted to go to that, but its held in the middle of the week and I just cant swing that with the travel and work. If it was on a weekend I would be there.

J

cramerdn

You should already be a tech diver. CCRs require certs for 100% O2 use as a prerequisite, right? Especially with an Evo and its small bottles you have to have a bailout bottle cliped on somewhere.

If you are going to let you job interfere with your diving you may not be ready for a CCR

Make sure you buy it before you tell you wife what it and the training costs.

__________________
"Its better to live one day as a tiger than an entire life as a worm."

"But who's ever heard of a worm skin rug?"