Rebreathers

Bailout CCR Course standards outlined

Diver wearing a sidemounted bailout rebreather
Diver wearing a sidemounted bailout rebreather

Rebreathers are great pieces of kit that do away with the need to carry an excessive amount of dive cylinders on deeper dives. However, this advantage is offset by the need to also carry additional open circuit cylinders on which a diver can bail out in case of a rebreather malfunction. Using another rebreather could be a better solution and to that end, a bailout rebreather course has been developed.

APD to open Netherlands warehouse

The British scuba equipment manufacturer has suffered a number of business frustrations following Brexit, and the UK's withdrawal from the European Union on 31 January 2020.

Martin Parker and the team at APD have therefore established AP Diving Europe. This will enable EU customers to purchase products in Euros. The goods will then be delivered by post or carrier direct from mainland Europe. This will mean EU customers will avoid import hassles, paperwork, VAT and customs handling fees.  

Tips for Mixed Teams of OC & CCR Divers

Mixed OC & CCR dive team. Photo by Michael Rothschild
Mixed team of open circuit and closed circuit rebreather dive buddies. Photo by Michael Rothschild

Nowadays, more and more recreational divers are coming into contact with technical rebreather divers, perhaps even being buddied up with one on a dive. What follows are some good things for open circuit divers to know about closed circuit rebreathers. Michael Rothschild gives us a quick glimpse into rebreather diving and what one can expect when diving in a mixed team.

Join Blue Force's liveaboard and test dive the Horizon semi-closed rebreather!

If you are able to travel at short notice, there's a last-minute opportunity to join the Maldives 'Blue Force One'. You could be boarding this premier boat in three weeks' time, and diving the classic 'central Atolls route'. 

The aim is to find hammerheads, dolphins, eagle rays and shoals of colourful fish

Steve Tippetts, Doug Ebersole, Danny Graham, Innerspace, Grand Cayman, rebreather diving, Rosemary E Lunn, Roz Lunn, XRay Mag, X-Ray Magazine, ccr safety news, scuba diving news
From left to right: Steve Tippetts, Doug Ebersole and Danny Graham getting ready to dive at Innerspace 2012, Grand Cayman

RTC advice—use checklists!

After such a long lay-off out of the water, it is not surprising that several agencies are issuing safety statements as Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns are relaxed, and divers around the world get ready to resume diving.

The latest piece of advice has been issued by the Rebreather Training Council

A checklist is probably the cheapest piece of life support equipment a technical diver will own, but it will look after you, dive after dive. RTC

Expired sensors from an Inspiration CCR

Oxygen sensor shortage leaves rebreather divers high and dry

Oxygen sensors, or "cells," which are used in rebreathers have a limited shelf life and need to be replaced every 12 to 18 months. However, new ones are currently not available to the dive community.

In the United Kingdom, oxygen cell manufacturers have been mandated by the UK government to supply cells to the medical industry, leaving the dive community with back orders.