Rebreather Pro

Carl Spencer: We lost an explorer

Tragic diver, Carl Spencer to be honoured by New York based
Explorers Club.

In a statement issued yesterday the Explorers Club, of which Mr Spencer was a respected and enthusiastic member, confirmed that he is to be
formally recognised for his lifetime achievements.

It reads: Carl Spencer was a highly regarded member of The Explorers Club, an international society of professional explorers founded in 1904 and based in New York City. The Club's members have been responsible for an illustrious series of famous firsts – first to the North Pole, first to the South Pole, first to the summit of Mount Everest, first to the deepest point in the ocean, first to the surface of the Moon – often carrying one of 202 specially numbered Club flags, each with its own unique history. As recognition for his significant accomplishments as an explorer and the extreme difficulty of his expedition, Carl had been awarded the privilege of carrying The Explorers Club Flag to the HMHS Britannic. Now the Club is considering an appropriate way to permanently pay tribute to Carl’s outstanding achievements and his substantial contributions to exploration.

In a later statement it was confirmed that flag number #68, which began its career in 1937 and has twice voyaged aboard the Space Shuttle, traveled with Carl and his team to HMHS Britannic and will now be retired permanently and enshrined in his name at the Explorer’s Club headquarters in New York.

A fitting tribute to a genuinely world-class explorer.

Rebreather Pro Podcast: The same, only different

In a lively conversation, Jill Heinerth and Robert McClellan explore rebreather configurations and gear choices.  Jill shares a bit about different cave guideline practices.

Please subscribe to our FREE podcasts in the sidebar.

SmugMug Discovers Tech Diving

The Internet photo site "SmugMug" has featured technical diving images in this month's blog.

Here's the link.

RebreatherPro Podcast: The Learning Process

Jill Heinerth and Robert McClellan discuss the rebreather learning process and how to avoid complacency. Please subscribe to our FREE podcasts by entering your email in the box to the right.  A link to the podcasts will be delivered every time we post a new episode.  Thanks.

Rebreather Pro Podcast Rebreather Diving in Australia

Technical diver Jill Heinerth with a report on the state of rebreather diving in Australia, the rebreather team that is pushing the envelope in cave diving, and just what the heck do they call those things in Australian?  Please subscribe to our FREE podcasts.

Ask Jill: Sidemount Bungees

Hi Jill,
On your armadillo sidemount, how do you make the bungees that hold the tank valve? Do you cable tie them onto the end or use another method?
Hope you can help.  Many thanks,
Kev

Hi Kev,
There are several methods for making your own bungees. After sliding the desired clip on one end, many people use two heavy-duty zip ties and then cover that with heavy-duty heat-shrink. Others have access to industrial stapled machines that do the same trick. Either way, stretch the bungee before securing the ties and it will be very snug. On the other end, I use a stainless quick link that attaches to a drilled hole in the plate. 

Here is a link to a sidemount rig video.

Here is another option for the most secure bungee system money can buy:  Get an old bicycle innertube of the correct length and run it through the loops on the back, lower shoulder region of the harness. Add two quick links to secure the innertube to the chest d-rings. When you need to loop around the valve of the tank, simply stick your thumb in the loop and pull over the valve. This is the way we did it before pre-fab and it worked quite effectively.  Jill Heinerth

Ask Jill: Rebreather Diving Antarctica

Question:

I’d like to ask whether you had any problems diving in Antarctica with a rebreather?
I’m planning an underwater photography trip there myself with a Megalodon and wonder if there are any problems with the cold. I have the 8lb radial canister.
Apart from spare batteries, do I have to watch out for anything apart from always keeping the unit warm and adequately pre-breathing?
Thanks,
Marcus

Answer:

Hi Marcus,

Thanks for your note. You will love diving the rebreather in Antarctica. It will definitely keep you much warmer than OC. We did not experience any free flows on the first stages since there is very little demand for high volumes of gas passing through the first stages. Be careful with your OC bail out bottles and do not breathe them wet in the surface conditions. The chill in the topside air is often enough to trigger a free flow. Check only once submerged and do it gently! In the event that you ever bail to open circuit, remember that the gas passing through the first stage is the water temp, which can be near or even below zero centigrade. Stagger inhalations and other additions of gas like dry suits or wings and keep your breathing rate relaxed. In the event of a free flow, be prepared to shut down and switch to something else while the first stage thaws.

Batteries get eaten up quickly in the cold, so have lots of hand warmers close by for cameras etc. Pre-breathe your loop early and long to start the exothermic reaction in the canister and keep the head and batteries warm. Consider insulating the stack or breathing loop if you want longer durations, otherwise be very conservative with stack time.

After diving, get everything as dry as possible. You may even need to take apart things like the manual addition valves into the counterlungs. If you leave them wet and they freeze, they will likely stick open or closed when you go to dive. Although they will eventually thaw underwater, it takes more time that you might be used to due to the hyper-cold salt water. The last thing you want is a stuck closed ADV when you have just rolled off the boat for a descent!

Finally, keep a close eye on o-ring seals. In the topside chill, anything with an o-ring could start leaking as it gets harder. Frankly, once you are underwater, everything is awesome. It is the topside conditions and the very beginning of the dive that will get your gear and your body.

Have a great trip and send us some shots for RebreatherPro. I'm sure others would love to follow your trip!  Jill Heinerth

New Rebreather Pro Podcast May 2009

Jill shares some insight into Rick Stanton's experience with micro rebreathers, and his unique style of exploration.  We discuss rebreather modifications for specific diving applications, from stock to extreme. All this and men in skirts in this newest episode.  Please Click here to subscribe to our podcasts.  Thanks!  Jill Heinerth and Robert McClellan

Panic Don't Panic

How many of you are familiar with author and new media marketing guru Seth Godin? 

Here is Seth's blog.  He is the guy who coined the phrase "Small is the New Big."

Everything we were taught about traditional "top down" marketing may soon be obsolete. As Seth would say: "Create your Tribe..."