Fiji Rebreather Diving

nagual · 11th August 2007, 13:38

I'm headed to Fiji in November and am looking for a Drager friendly dive operation to get drager tanks and fills and sodasorb. We are staying on castaway island and its all inclusive but I was thinking if the dive operation there cannot accomodate the scrubber maybe I can get some delivered to the airport?? Also if there are no Drager bottles there, I guess I could bring my 27 cu ft bottle and hopefully they have nitrox fills available. Have to think about what adapters I would need etc. Sounds complicated. Whaddya all think??

Thanks,

Nagual

nagual · 29th August 2007, 06:47

Geez, no one out there can help me??

silent running · 30th August 2007, 02:08

Quote: (Originally Posted by nagual)

I'm headed to Fiji in November and am looking for a Drager friendly dive operation to get drager tanks and fills and sodasorb. We are staying on castaway island and its all inclusive but I was thinking if the dive operation there cannot accomodate the scrubber maybe I can get some delivered to the airport?? Also if there are no Drager bottles there, I guess I could bring my 27 cu ft bottle and hopefully they have nitrox fills available. Have to think about what adapters I would need etc. Sounds complicated. Whaddya all think??

Thanks,

Nagual

Hello Nagual, I've kept an eye open for a land based Rebreather friendly place in Fiji for a while and not seen one yet. I'm sure somebody in country has nitrox, but will it be near your spot? O2 is available nearly everywhere there's a hospital, which is most anyplace in the world with a population of more than a couple of hundred. O2 requires no mixing and only simple equipment and procedures to decant to your onboard cylinders. This is one of many reasons why I eventually gave up on SCR and switched to CCR. I dived a Drager SCR for 3 years before I switched to CCR.

As for sorb, I've only once had to pay overweight baggage fees when bringing my cylinders and sorb and it amounted to all of $20US on my last trip to a remote island in Indonesia. If you do find some nitrox near your destination and decide to bring the Drager, try to bring as much of your own supplies as you can. I have found out the hard way that self sufficiency is the key to having a good trip to remote parts of the world.

Have you ever considered converting your unit to am MCCR. I know several people who have done this easily and cheaply. Might be time to consider it... -Andy

***jradomski*** · 30th August 2007, 05:10

Quote: (Originally Posted by nagual)

I'm headed to Fiji in November and am looking for a Drager friendly dive operation to get drager tanks and fills and sodasorb. We are staying on castaway island and its all inclusive but I was thinking if the dive operation there cannot accomodate the scrubber maybe I can get some delivered to the airport?? Also if there are no Drager bottles there, I guess I could bring my 27 cu ft bottle and hopefully they have nitrox fills available. Have to think about what adapters I would need etc. Sounds complicated. Whaddya all think??

Thanks,

Nagual

try contacting Rusty Berry from Scuba Schools of america.. He has run trips to Fiji with CCR divers so he can probably point you in the right directin.. His id here is voodoogas

nagual · 2nd September 2007, 11:26

Thanks Andy and Joe for replying. I will continue my search!!

nagual · 7th September 2007, 10:13

I spoke with Guy from Subsurface who can get me some nitrox and deliver to Castaway Island which is way cool but no one he knows of is stokin' soda out there so I will try to get a hold of an Extendair and bring some soda sorb cartrides. Unfortunately I have an older Drager and the Extendair I have apparently does not accomodate the new scrubber cartridges. Not sure about that but thats what I was told and Extendair has yet to repsond to my inquires.

Anyway, Guy can supply me with 80 cu ft Al or 65 cu ft steel boys but both have k valve yoke screw type which will not accomodate my Drager. My personal Rebreather goddess told me that I can make a whip that goes from the 80 yoke to Drager tank (reverse din) and decant the nitrox right into my drager bottle. Only downside is I'll get only about 2200 psi into my drager bottle from a 3000 psi 80. The other option is to dive with the 65s and use a yoke to din adapter and then a DIN to reserve DIN adapter. He only has two 65s so who knows what the heck I should do. Wish I could just slap on an 80 with the adapters but don't think the Drager shell will hold it.

Whew I must really love my rebreather to go thru all of this for a week of diving in FIJI when I could go OC and make life a lot simpler. Wait till I make the jump from SCR to CCR and then I'll really be nuts!!

Nagual

Scuttle · 7th September 2007, 12:29

Try the link below-- the guy runs a live aboard over there, you never know he may just be able to help.

http://www.rebreatherworld.com/desti...n=view&eid=120

nagual · 7th September 2007, 14:10

Thanks but he was the one the referred me to Viti Watersports who referred me to Subsurface.

Thanks for replying!!

Nagual

silent running · 7th September 2007, 17:37

Quote: (Originally Posted by nagual)

Wait till I make the jump from SCR to CCR and then I'll really be nuts!!

Nagual

It's much easier to deal with gas traveling with a CCR than an SCR. I get 16-1900 psi decanting from a full K bottle of O2 and with my aly 19s, I'm good for a day's diving on one fill. One fill per day, no mixing, usually cheaper than nitrox and any industrial gas supplier will have it.

In my experience, SCRs and CCRs are about the same amount of work to set up but a CCR will get you many more hrs of diving for that same work...

11th August 2007, 13:38	#1 (permalink)
nagual New Member Current Rebreather/s: Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Diego Posts: 12	Fiji Rebreather Diving I'm headed to Fiji in November and am looking for a Drager friendly dive operation to get drager tanks and fills and sodasorb. We are staying on castaway island and its all inclusive but I was thinking if the dive operation there cannot accomodate the scrubber maybe I can get some delivered to the airport?? Also if there are no Drager bottles there, I guess I could bring my 27 cu ft bottle and hopefully they have nitrox fills available. Have to think about what adapters I would need etc. Sounds complicated. Whaddya all think?? Thanks, Nagual
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29th August 2007, 06:47	#2 (permalink)
nagual New Member Current Rebreather/s: Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Diego Posts: 12	Re: Fiji Rebreather Diving Geez, no one out there can help me??
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30th August 2007, 02:08	#3 (permalink)
silent running Mature mouth breather Current Rebreather/s: Prism Topaz Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: U.S.A. Brooklyn, New York Posts: 1,873	Re: Fiji Rebreather Diving Quote: (Originally Posted by nagual) I'm headed to Fiji in November and am looking for a Drager friendly dive operation to get drager tanks and fills and sodasorb. We are staying on castaway island and its all inclusive but I was thinking if the dive operation there cannot accomodate the scrubber maybe I can get some delivered to the airport?? Also if there are no Drager bottles there, I guess I could bring my 27 cu ft bottle and hopefully they have nitrox fills available. Have to think about what adapters I would need etc. Sounds complicated. Whaddya all think?? Thanks, Nagual Hello Nagual, I've kept an eye open for a land based Rebreather friendly place in Fiji for a while and not seen one yet. I'm sure somebody in country has nitrox, but will it be near your spot? O2 is available nearly everywhere there's a hospital, which is most anyplace in the world with a population of more than a couple of hundred. O2 requires no mixing and only simple equipment and procedures to decant to your onboard cylinders. This is one of many reasons why I eventually gave up on SCR and switched to CCR. I dived a Drager SCR for 3 years before I switched to CCR. As for sorb, I've only once had to pay overweight baggage fees when bringing my cylinders and sorb and it amounted to all of $20US on my last trip to a remote island in Indonesia. If you do find some nitrox near your destination and decide to bring the Drager, try to bring as much of your own supplies as you can. I have found out the hard way that self sufficiency is the key to having a good trip to remote parts of the world. Have you ever considered converting your unit to am MCCR. I know several people who have done this easily and cheaply. Might be time to consider it... -Andy
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30th August 2007, 05:10	#4 (permalink)
*jradomski* Moderator Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Sport Kiss Optima rEvo Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Evolution Megalodon Classic Kiss rEvo Other CCR Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: "Da" Bronx Posts: 3,110	Re: Fiji Rebreather Diving Quote: (Originally Posted by nagual) I'm headed to Fiji in November and am looking for a Drager friendly dive operation to get drager tanks and fills and sodasorb. We are staying on castaway island and its all inclusive but I was thinking if the dive operation there cannot accomodate the scrubber maybe I can get some delivered to the airport?? Also if there are no Drager bottles there, I guess I could bring my 27 cu ft bottle and hopefully they have nitrox fills available. Have to think about what adapters I would need etc. Sounds complicated. Whaddya all think?? Thanks, Nagual try contacting Rusty Berry from Scuba Schools of america.. He has run trips to Fiji with CCR divers so he can probably point you in the right directin.. His id here is voodoogas __________________ Joe Radomski CCR Trimix Instructor Trainer ANDI Instructor Trainer Director #10 All posts are personal opinions and DO NOT reflect any affiliated agency unless specifically stated.
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2nd September 2007, 11:26	#5 (permalink)
nagual New Member Current Rebreather/s: Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Diego Posts: 12	Re: Fiji Rebreather Diving Thanks Andy and Joe for replying. I will continue my search!!
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7th September 2007, 10:13	#6 (permalink)
nagual New Member Current Rebreather/s: Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Diego Posts: 12	Re: Fiji Rebreather Diving I spoke with Guy from Subsurface who can get me some nitrox and deliver to Castaway Island which is way cool but no one he knows of is stokin' soda out there so I will try to get a hold of an Extendair and bring some soda sorb cartrides. Unfortunately I have an older Drager and the Extendair I have apparently does not accomodate the new scrubber cartridges. Not sure about that but thats what I was told and Extendair has yet to repsond to my inquires. Anyway, Guy can supply me with 80 cu ft Al or 65 cu ft steel boys but both have k valve yoke screw type which will not accomodate my Drager. My personal Rebreather goddess told me that I can make a whip that goes from the 80 yoke to Drager tank (reverse din) and decant the nitrox right into my drager bottle. Only downside is I'll get only about 2200 psi into my drager bottle from a 3000 psi 80. The other option is to dive with the 65s and use a yoke to din adapter and then a DIN to reserve DIN adapter. He only has two 65s so who knows what the heck I should do. Wish I could just slap on an 80 with the adapters but don't think the Drager shell will hold it. Whew I must really love my rebreather to go thru all of this for a week of diving in FIJI when I could go OC and make life a lot simpler. Wait till I make the jump from SCR to CCR and then I'll really be nuts!! Nagual
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7th September 2007, 12:29	#7 (permalink)
Scuttle 1 Grumpy ole skipper Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Join Date: May 2005 Location: Jan Juc, Vic, Australia Posts: 242	Re: Fiji Rebreather Diving Try the link below-- the guy runs a live aboard over there, you never know he may just be able to help. http://www.rebreatherworld.com/desti...n=view&eid=120 __________________ sold CK182 now its CK243
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7th September 2007, 14:10	#8 (permalink)
nagual New Member Current Rebreather/s: Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Diego Posts: 12	Re: Fiji Rebreather Diving Thanks but he was the one the referred me to Viti Watersports who referred me to Subsurface. Thanks for replying!! Nagual
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7th September 2007, 17:37	#9 (permalink)
silent running Mature mouth breather Current Rebreather/s: Prism Topaz Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: U.S.A. Brooklyn, New York Posts: 1,873	Re: Fiji Rebreather Diving Quote: (Originally Posted by nagual) Wait till I make the jump from SCR to CCR and then I'll really be nuts!! Nagual It's much easier to deal with gas traveling with a CCR than an SCR. I get 16-1900 psi decanting from a full K bottle of O2 and with my aly 19s, I'm good for a day's diving on one fill. One fill per day, no mixing, usually cheaper than nitrox and any industrial gas supplier will have it. In my experience, SCRs and CCRs are about the same amount of work to set up but a CCR will get you many more hrs of diving for that same work...
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