Phil Gray was a respected CCR diver and instructor who paid the ultimate price with his life after failing to replace dated oxygen sensors. A prolific educator and much loved man,...
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Question: It is always recommended to carry a bailout bottle when diving deeper than 18m/60 feet deep, but how would you handle an emergency situation if your bailout second stage was breathing wet and you did not have a BOV on your unit? Answer: Let’s face it. You have had a really bad day if you bailed from your rebreather to your bailout tank only to discover that your second stage is filling up with water. The good news is that you can still access the gas in your diluent tank and bailout tank while breathing with a technique that is…
Pod Diver Radio interviews Simon Mitchell about his recent study into pre-breathing rebreathers. The results may surprise you! Listen to the the interview!
I recently published this short news item in the “In The Loop” newsletter I wrote for Hollis. It examines their efforts to build full face masks for rebreathers. At the international RF3.0 (Rebreather Forum 3.0) event in 2012, delegates unanimously agreed that further study off FFMs was warranted by the industry. As a result, Hollis launched a challenging investigation and design process, while training agencies PADI and TDI decided to begin curriculum development for programs to train CCR users in the safe use of FFMs. Full face masks (FFMs) are specialized enhancements that should only be used by experienced CCR…
Chester the manatee is making his debut! I approved the final proof this morning and placed an order for the first shipment of books. I am really excited to offer up a beautifully illustrated children’s book that will help instill and environmental ethic at an early age. Sometimes I am not sure if it is too late to change the core values and daily practices of adults, but I know I can help kids to love their water resources and want to protect them. I’ll make a post as soon as the books are available of sale. All proceeds continue…
Google Earth Pro is now free Friday, January 30, 2015 Over the last 10 years, businesses, scientists and hobbyists from all over the world have been using Google Earth Pro for everything from planning hikes to placing solar panels on rooftops. I’ve been using it to find caves halfway around the world and discover targets for exploration in my own backyard. Google Earth Pro has all the easy-to-use features and detailed imagery of Google Earth, along with advanced tools that help you measure 3D buildings, print high-resolution images for presentations or reports, and record HD movies of your virtual flights…
When preparing the Explorer rebreather you will eventually reach the point where you are prompted to complete a pre-breathe. If you have difficulties getting through the five-minute sequence, try this tip. Begin by exhaling into the counterlungs until full, then start your pre-breathe in a safe seated position. By launching the sequence with “dirty air,” the unit will quickly jump into action to raise the PO2 and you will easily work through the pre-breathe without getting timed-out for inadequate ventilations. If you want to speed up your pre-dive check, add an optional CO2 sensor and watch the sequence shorten to one…
American Whitewater kayaker and journalist Tom Legere describes how listening to an interview of Jill Heinerth lead him to better understand the risks and rewards of whitewater kayaking. Read the article here. AmericaWhitewater The original interview of Jill Heinerth on CBC Radio program “Q” can be heard here.
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…
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…