Rebreathers Make a Comeback with Recreational Divers!

Over the last ten years, recreational Scuba Diving has become one of the fastest growing sports in the world. The Scuba or "Open-Circuit" unit is currently the dominant underwater breathing apparatus. But did you know that rebreathers were among the first Scuba units? Rebreather units have always been the apparatus of choice for military diving and now they are making a comeback at the recreational diver level.
To help you better understand how a rebreather works, we've complied a list of FAQS about rebreathers. This information can get rather technical so do the best you can and email us with any questions.

A Few FAQS

1) Are there differant types of Rebreathers?
There are actually two types of rebreathers (RBs) on the market. The first and most popular are the semi-closed units such as the Dräger Dolphin or Dräger Ray. The Dräger units will produce a tiny stream of bubbles, use nitrox and are priced far less than the more technical completely closed units (CCRs.) These are mixed gas units used by cave divers, underwater videographers and photographers. They require much more training and maintenance than the semi-closed systems and are priced much higher.
Back to Top of Page

3) How long can I stay underwater and how deep?
A trained professional diver can stay down at depths of over 300 feet for over six hours on a CCR like the Pacific Dive/Juergensen MK15. An average diver can use a Dräger unit to 130 feet for a period of over two hours. Rebreather divers are subject to the same rules of decompression as open circuit scuba divers.
Back to Top of Page

4) What are the benefits of diving a rebreather?
Herein lies the heart of the question as to whether or not you should dive a rebreather. The benefits of diving an RB are numerous, and for most RB divers, outweigh the additional requirements of training, maintenance, and set-up. The first thing that most new rebreather divers come to realize is the feeling of "freedom" from the time limitations of Open Circuit. All OC divers have to keep a close watch on their gas comsumption, which changes with depth. The deeper you go, the less in-water time you have. With a CCR, your gas consumption is so low, that the concerns about using it disappear.
The second big benefit of diving an RB is the sheer amount of time you can spend underwater. If you are not subjecting yourself to large amounts of decompression, then you can spend many hours underwater with an RB.
The third benefit of an RB diving is the quiet. Diving an RB is one of the most amazing experiences you can have underwater. With the silence that accompanies diving an RB, you begin to hear a myriad of sounds that you didn't know existed underwater. Since you are releasing no bubbles, you only hear your own breath sounds, and the sounds of the ocean around you. Marine animals that normally shy away from the sound of loud bubbles begin to come closer to you. For photographers, an RB enables them to get much closer to their subjects than ever before.
There are many other topics that are generally covered in a training course, such as bailout strategies, decompression benefits, etc.
Back to Top of Page

5) If a rebreather adds Oxygen, how come there are no bubbles?
When the diver breathes the air in the closed loop, the Oxygen is actually absorbed by his body, and the exhaled CO2 is absorbed by the Scrubber material. This lowers the total volume of gas in the closed loop, so when Oxygen is added, it merely replaces the gas volume lost to both these systems (the human, and chemical system).
Back to Top of Page

6) How do I get trained to dive a rebreather?
Training for a closed circuit rebreather is, by necessity, rather extensive. These units are complicated devices that require thorough knowledge and understanding before they can be dove safely. The only difference between success and failure is in the training and discipline of the individual diver.
CCRs are not for the average recreational diver. These units are complex machines requiring extensive routine maintenance. Training on the MK15, for example, generally runs about 7-10 days of intensive classroom, practical, and in-water drills. Every possible failure-mode should be practiced by the student-diver. Currently, courses are offered by IANTD and TDI.
Once initial training is accomplished, the new rebreather diver should attain at least 100 hours of dives no deeper than 60-100 fsw on the unit before attempting to go deeper.
Since the introduction of the Dräger Dolphin and Ray rebreathers, recreational divers can enjoy the benefits of diving an RB unit that requires very little training in comparison to the CCRs. Pacific Dive offers a three day course that is very practical for the recreational diver. Upon completion of the course, a Dräger Dolphin or Ray unit can be purchased through Pacific Dive at a discounted student rate.
All Pacific Dive rebreather training is conducted by a highly qualified rebreather instructor.
Back to Top of Page

7) Is it expensive to own and dive a rebreather?
That depends on the type of diver you are. With all the benefits and features of a rebreather, professional divers find the MK 15 (at a price of about $10,000) invaluable. With the introduction of the Dräger Dolphin and Ray rebreathers, recreational divers can enjoy most of the same benefits and features of a professional type of RB unit for a cost of about $3500.00.
Back to Top of Page

8) How much maintenance is required?
Basic routine maintenance should be performed on the units prior to any dive. Once you have done this routine maintenance, not much else is required during your diving operations. Most CCR divers perform the maintenance prior to a dive trip, and then perform only minimal daily maintenance for up to 3 weeks during diving operations.
Back to Top of Page