Rebreather Pro

Jill Heinerth Rebreather Seminar at Beneath the Sea

Upcoming Seminar at BTS I still have a few spots left in the Rebreather Fundamentals Workshop with Rebreather Pro Jill Heinerth - Sunday March 25 from 9am - 4pm at the Beneath the Sea Diving Symposium.

Meadowlands Exposition Center, Seacaucus New Jersey Classroom session: $95 will include many educational resources to take home. Tickets available online at: www.BeneathTheSea.org (space is limited) Enjoy a full-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 of CCR diving, then this seminar will offer an opportunity to gather new information. If you want to prevent yourself from joining the ranks of 20 or so people who perish each year on rebreathers, this workshop will inform you about accident analysis and prevention. If you want a day with an expert who will carefully answer your questions and help you find solutions, then this is your best opportunity to spend a day with Jill. If you want to see how rebreathers are being used in exciting expeditions around the world, this full-day road show will entertain and motivate you to participate in CCR diving.

The workshop is non-denominational… all training agencies and all manufacturers are welcome. All levels of divers are welcome from recreational through technical divers.

Topics: Rebreather operations and procedures Basics, types, operation and essential care Selecting a rebreather: comparing apples and oranges Selecting an instructor Understanding CE testing Myths and misconceptions about rebreather diving Carbon dioxide: dangerous and ignored Reducing oxygen issues Planning for the future: deep mixed-gas operations Accident analysis and prevention: beating the complacency trap Traveling with rebreathers: tips and warnings Lots of time for questions...and answers

See you there -- Jill

Video: Critical Rebreather Pre Dive Checks by Paul Heinerth, Brian Kakuk and Jill Heinerth on NOAA Research Mission

This is a good little sample video shot and edited by Nic Alvarado. It gives a sneak peek into our pre-dive regimen on the Bermuda Deep Water Caves Project. We all use checklists to prepare our rebreathers as well as signed gas logs for every tank. Each diver must also have a witness for critical points in their pre-dive check such as inserting a fully packed canister into the rebreather. On the boat, prior to leaving the dock, we go through a group check where each diver touches and verifies that their tanks are onboard, personally analyzed and checked in the gas log. Check lists are cool and they save lives.  -- Jill Heinerth

Here is the video link. You can download whichever version will best play in your browser.

 

Jill Heinerth on Deep Ocean Rebreather Expedition

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Follow Jill and a team of divers and scientists on NOAA's latest deep ocean adventure at:

http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/welcome.html

Jill is diving a Sentinel, Brian Kakuk a Meg, and Paul Heinerth an Optima to some deep ocean caves!

Rebreather Diving Consumables

I get asked about the cost of consumables for rebreathers quite often. Here is a breakdown based on an average rebreather. Many variables exist for particular units and tank sizes.

Oxygen - in North Florida a tank is filled for about $4 - $6 and lasts up to ten hours, independent of depth
Diluent - depth dependent, but lasts for a good day of diving for $4
Bailout - these are likely plumbed to your inflator and/or dry suit, but won’t be used for anything beyond safety checks, practice or open circuit bailout, therefore will last up to months prior to refilling unless you have had an incident
Batteries - depends on your unit. Mine is rechargeable, so extremely low cost. My first rig had batteries that were $100 for about 40 hours of use!
Sorb - averages between $25 and $30 per fill or cartridge for most people. These may last from two to six hours depending on your unit, although it is always advisable to start fresh for deep.
Trimix - local prices vary dramatically, but you will likely only need 13 cft (2 liters) of mix for a deep dive. If you keep a filled pair of bailout tanks, you’ll only be refilling the onboard tank for dives. It is cheaper to store an extra set of bailout tanks than fill and dump on a regular basis.
Service - don’t forget to factor service into your life. Don’t wait for something to break. Be proactive.  Jill Heinerth

CCR Rebreather Summit November 22, 2009

A one day workshop and roundtable discussion.  Rebreather manufacturers and experts discuss techniques and address controversial issues while offering an opportunity to see the latest features coming to the rebreather diving community.  Tom Mount, Leon Scamahorn, Jakub Rehacek, Lamar Hires and  Brett Hemphill and many others including Silent Diving and VR Technology will participate. Jill Heinerth will serve as moderator and host.  Presented by the NACD World Cave Diving Conference. Same location as last year: Camp Kulaqua, High Springs, Florida. $10 includes lunch and seminar.  Sunday, November 22, 2009 beginning at 10 am. Contact Debra Green at the NACD. More info at:  www.SafeCaveDiving.com

Cave Divers and Rebreather Featured on Wired Science

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/09/gallery_cavediving/

WIRED magazine has a wonderful article looking at rebreather technology and cave diving.  Lots of pictures, too. Click the link above, or cut and paste to your browser.

Rebreather Diving Summit

Rebreather Diving Summit from Robert McClellan on Vimeo.

Jill Heinerth, Tom Mount, Lamar Hires, Leon Scamahorn, Bruce Partridge, Jakub Rahacek, Brett Hemphill and others at the NACD Rebreather Summit in High Springs, Florida. Represented are IANTD, RebreatherPro.com, NACD, Dive Rite Optima, Innerspace Megalodon, Shearwater Pursuit, Hammerhead Golem Gear, Kiss, Orobouros Sentinel, Inspiration, US Navy.

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

Dive Rite Optima Stands Out

Dive Rite has recently released a new stand for their popular Optima rebreather. The sturdy skeleton holds the rig firmly in the vertical position on work benches and boats, making it even easier to do pre-dive checks and post-dive maintenance. The heavy-duty rig also employs two outrigger d-rings for clipping on bailout bottles, offering improved comfort for diver's over the Nomad butt plate. The improved unit is shipping on all new rebreathers, but it is an easy upgrade for those who want to "pimp their rig." Check out the Dive Rite blog for info and special offers.