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Jan 10
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Rebreather Quiz – Sensor Failures

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Q. If one sensor reads higher than setpoint at 1.6 and two sensors read 1.2, what should you do? What do you suspect? A. Begin with a diluent flush. If all sensors are now in agreement, don’t stop there. If it happens again, you may have a dual sensor failure. If you are using sensors that are old, they may not be able to achieve high values. The voting logic on your rebreather may reject two good sensors in this case. The best bet when you are suspicious of sensors is to bail to open circuit. If you are in…

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Jan 05
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Rebreather Workshop in Dallas – January 24

By | All Posts, Cave Diving, Rebreather Diving, Underwater Photo and Video, Women Underwater | No Comments

Rebreather Fundamentals Workshop – Saturday January 24 from 8am – noon at Our World Underwater – Dallas Classroom session: $75 Tickets available online at: http://www.ourworldunderwater.com/in-depth-workshops-lone-star-state/ (space is limited) Enjoy a half-day academic session with CCR expert Jill Heinerth. Using fascinating stories and a multimedia presentation, Jill will cover all the essentials of rebreather diving. If you are looking to purchase a rebreather, this is an opportunity to learn how to be a wise consumer and make the choice that is right for you. If you already own a rebreather and want a review of academics, new trends and the future…

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Jan 01
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Mixing Rebreathers with Open Circuit

By | All Posts, Cave Diving, Rebreather Diving, Women Underwater | No Comments

When CCR divers and open circuit (OC) divers dive together, they are referred to as a mixed team. OC divers are often shy about asking a CCR diver how procedures may differ so it is up to you to ensure that gas management and emergency procedures are clear prior to entering the water. 1. Orientation Show how the rebreather is donned and how it can be removed. Demonstrate how the wing is inflated and, if it is attached to an onboard cylinder, discuss how this limited supply could be easily exhausted during a rescue. Determine whether oral inflation of the…

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Dec 29
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Using the Hollis SE500 Regulators for Sidemounting

By | All Posts, Cave Diving, Sidemount Diving, Women Underwater | No Comments

I often get remarks from divers inquiring about my SE500 side exhaust regulators. I’ve always been a fan of this design, having owned similar Oceanic Omega regs since the late 1980s. Rather than clipping the regs in place, I store them in a bungee loop on the shoulder of my SMS75 Sidemount Harness. They are quick to deploy and lay very flat. The purge will never activate in high flow caves and they breathe like a dream. I’m a fan of upright SPGs as long as they lay snug against my chest or are nestled against the clavicle region. Tank valves hang…

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Dec 22
0

Snagging Miflex Hoses

By | All Posts, Cave Diving, Rebreather Diving, Sidemount Diving, Women Underwater | No Comments

If you own a flexible LP hose such as Miflex brand, you might enjoy the comfort over a standard rubber breathing hose. The increased flexibility may offer less jaw stress and better hose routing. But, if you use these hoses, I want you to try something next time you are in the water. A soft flexible hose crimped or snagged can almost completely cut off airflow. I caution students with these hoses to understand that if the hose gets snagged in your equipment and bent in half, or if it is caught on a rock while you swim in cave, then…

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Dec 20
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Women Underwater with Rick Stanton

By | All Posts, Cave Diving, Sidemount Diving, Women Underwater | No Comments

My friend, British explorer, Rick Stanton was never certified as a diver. He was never certified as a cave diver either. I met him in 1997 when we were preparing for an expedition with the U.S. Deep Caving Team. He already had a formidable reputation for his talent in cave and sump diving. Today, so many years later, it was a pleasure to dive again with him in Florida. He mostly dives alone, even on some of his most epic projects which have taken him deeper inside the planet that any human being (30,000 feet+ cave penetration). After a wonderful relaxing cave…

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Dec 13
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Bailout Bottle Trim for Rebreathers

By | All Posts, Rebreather Diving, Sidemount Diving, Women Underwater | No Comments

A Lesson from Sidemount Divers Sidemount diving has taken the diving community by storm. The popularity of this style of carrying tanks has grown tenfold in the last few years. Now rebreather divers are taking a lesson from sidemount divers to help them streamline their bailout bottles. Standard stage rigging generally hangs bailout tanks nearly perpendicular to the diver’ s body. This is neither streamlined nor conservation-minded. It is far more effective to mount your tanks in a way that aligns them with your body. There are numerous ways to achieve this, but here are two simple solutions: 1. Use…

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