Rebreather Pro

Rebreather Photos in Wired Magazine

Jill's rebreather photos from the Lanzarote expedition with Terrance Tysall, Jim Rozzi and Tom Iliffe are featured in this month's Wired Magazine.

RAID Rebreather Training

I've spent the last several weeks having a look at the new online training program developed by Barry Coleman and RAID (Rebreather Association of International Divers). Essentially, the student signs up online and downloads student materials to review. As they progress through the system, they take small online quizzes and final exams to confirm mastery of knowledge. I started right back at the beginning levels and worked my way through the system. I found the user-interface to be easy and seamless and the materials to be really comprehensive. It was actually fun to go back and review all the relevant materials which combine basic rebreather knowledge with overall diving background. I think the end result will be more well-rounded divers with a solid background in general diving as well as expertise in their specific rebreather.
Once the diver successfully masters the online tests, they may sign up with an instructor for their in-water training and eventual certification. Done this way, I think that divers will be better prepared and more relaxed once they are ready to hit the water. Even if you don't intend on taking another rebreather class, you might want to consider using this resource as a way to expand and confirm your diving knowledge.   www.DiveRaid.com

Jill working on new dive van!

Kaa-BOOOOOOOM !!!

I had a recent experience in Abaco with a burst disk that was a little sobering. I've blown plenty of burst disks in the past. Sometimes it knocks over a pile of standing tanks. It always seems to happen in the middle of the night and wakes me up! So far, I have only blown disks in large, heavy tanks. In Abaco, a small 3 liter diluent tank was carefully laid on the ground while we hiked gear out to the cave site. While we were all taking a much needed water break, we heard a pop, whistle that caught our attention. We looked up to see a small object fly perhaps 50 feet vertically through the air and land with a thud some 50 yards away in the bush. We chopped through dense poisonwood and under brush for a good ten minutes before finding the tank on the ground, valve handwheel sheered from the impact of landing on a rock. I couldn't help wonder what that might have been like if it were inside my van at the time. Make no mistake, tanks can become pretty serious projectiles. Between that incident and my recent rollover on the highway, I have decided to install a barrier between the passenger cab and the potentially explosive tanks I carry in the back! --  Jill Heinerth

Optima Reverse Diluent Flush

If you are diving an Optima rebreather, you may want to consider the technique you use to effectively flush your loop with diluent gas. The standard procedure to accomplish a diluent flush is to depress the manual diluent addition valve on the left counterlung. The gas is added to the counterlung, passes through the mushroom valves on either side of the mouthpiece block, then into the exhalation counterlung. Some gas immediately escapes through the over-pressure-relief valve (OPV) and the rest of the gas is cycled through by vigorous breathing. It takes a lengthy blast of gas to fully flush the loop and purge any questionable gas mixture. It also takes a healthy blast to reach the sensors, which you may be trying to confirm or dry.
A more effective flush may be accomplished in the following manner.
1. With your left hand, crush the left breathing hose beside the mouthpiece block.
2. Confirm the OPV on the right counterlung is open.
3. Depress the manual diluent addition with your right hand.
4. The gas travels through the loop in the reverse direction, quickly reaching the sensors, drying them and allowing for cell confirmation.
5. The gas continues though the loop backwards with the majority being flushed out the OPV. Since the diver is unable to completely crush the breathing hose, they can still sip gas as needed, receiving fresh, breathable diluent.
Try this during your bubble check on your next dive. You will likely find that this technique flushes faster, using less gas and makes buoyancy control more manageable. -- Jill Heinerth

Re-post: Ali Falcone on Kiss Rebreather Modifications

Expedition Files: The Ugly Hairy Truth

Okay, that last post was glamour... this is the real deal. Kenny asked me to shave his head because it was darned hot. (He didn't trust anyone else on the team!) After I did such a great job, he asked if I could take care of his waxing. The ugly truth...Jill Heinerth