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a little more, I learnt that they did not have any (apart from medical Look no further What exactly is meant by " Friendly"? emergency O2), nor Emperor Maldives and Emperor any Sofnolime, nor have the boat to suit you! And oh such experienced teams! had any CCR tanks, Your liveaboard in the Maldives Text and photos by Pete Mesley With the advent of PADI’s recreational higher risk, higher maintenance divers AND all dives would be limited to one Emperor Serenity - 26 guests Emperor Orion - 24 guests Emperor Leo - 24 guests closed circuit rebreather (CCR) dive wanting to spend longer time in the hour. So I was a little confused. “Rebreather Friendly” dive programmes announced in late 2011, it water, be guided by rebreather dive This was not exactly the “rebreather was anticipated that there would be a guides, which would increase the dive friendly” I had in mind. What they centres—what exactly does Emperor Voyager - 20 guests Emperor Virgo - 18 guests Emperor Atoll - 12 guests tidal wave of interest by the diving pub- stores costs? meant was unknown. Maybe a this mean? With emerging lic learning on to capitalise rebreather had come to dive with technologies becoming more on the advantages of , Six years on... them in the past, brought all his or her and dive shops would be able to offer Now that the dust is fully settled, just own gear and dived within the param- Your liveaboard in the Red Sea mainstream in the diving world Emperor Elite - 24 guests Emperor Superior - 25 guests Emperor Asmaa - 20 guests these days, more and more rebreather training and fully-supported how easy is it to plan a dive holiday eters of the dive centre's boat. So, I CCR operations to their clients. where you can take your rebreather? guess the store thought that they were people are making the invest- It turned out not to be such an easy Recently, I tried to organise a trip to a “Rebreather Friendly”, but that is where ment in rebreathers. Everyone thing. To be able to properly support tropical location. One of the things that it stopped. I ended up not diving with QUALITY RATING knows the advantages of these a CCR diver, a dive store would need I have learnt when corresponding with that operator nor heading to that des- The norm, not the exception… 5 by our guests to invest heavily not only in plant gear dive stores in different countries is, what tination. With increases in rebreather • Great value & variety of boats +20 122 2340 995 pieces of kit—extended dive • Quality & service LIVE CHAT: via our website (O2 gas boosters, blending panels, they say and what actually happens diver numbers globally, this is becoming • Iconic routes [email protected] time capabilities, reduced gas Sofnolime, CCR tanks, etc) but also are two different things. an all too familiar situation. • Also perfect for snorkellers and non-divers usage, quieter and less obtru- have to increase their staff training I contacted a dive store (whose On another occasion, a dive opera- sive to the aquatic world, etc. levels, anticipate higher risk in accom- name is irrelevant because I have tor responded that they would gladly emperormaldives.com emperordivers.com But are dive operators thinking modating rebreather divers (rebreath- come across the same circumstances in accommodate my group on rebreath- Leading the way er diver fatality statistics were really many other shops) and enquired about ers with longer dive times, but I would for over 24 years on the same lines? Do they see high for the first 12 years of their entry diving with them on my rebreather. They have to charter the with a Quality | Excellence | Service | Flexibility | Value the potential of increased busi- into the main diving arena) and also said that this was not a problem, and group booking. On top of that, I would ness opportunities? change their diving model. Why would stated on their website that they were have to bring all my own gear, CCR a dive store want to accommodate “Rebreather Friendly”. When I inquired and stage tanks as well as arrange my

13 X-RAY MAG : 78 : 2017 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO travel news

own consumables (O2 and Sorb). So I Their wants and needs are guess this was accommodating us... in minimal. Everyone is happy if a way. they do a 35-45 minute dive following a guide pointing out Rebreather Meeting So what happens now? a few fish. Operators know Should dive stores make the investment this and have embraced it 4-7 May 2017 to entice rebreather divers? Sounds by offering two-tank dives in great, but then why would they want a the morning and then a new Ponza Island, Italy group of high maintenance divers who group doing a two-tank dive The fifth edition of the annual Rebreather Meeting need more gear than most, want more in the afternoon. Everyone will be held on Ponza Island, located in the time in the water, need the dive guides will rent their gear. Their staff Mediterranean Sea off the Italian mainland. Enjoy to be able to spend longer periods in all know how the gear works. good diving, good food and presentations from the water and at greater risk? Its SIMPLE, it WORKS, why leading researchers and technical divers, as well Make no mistake, the numbers of change it? Definition interval at the same site. as a chance to do a try-dive with some new advanced and technical divers is What is good to see is that it is not all So what is my definition of “Rebreather  It is preferably (but not essential) to equipment. In addition, DAN Europe will set up increasing globally. This increase in doom and gloom for the rebreather Friendly”? Here are some thoughts. I have dive guides on CCR. This would be a medical research station. Package deals include numbers will put more on dive diver. There are dive operators (slowly think if an operation offers the following the most challenging of requirements. transfers from Rome. operators. But then again, the majority emerging, scattered round the world) basic products and services, they would As long as the CCR divers are suitably of the dive market is made up of rec- who have bitten the bullet by offering be well on their way to supporting CCR experienced and get a detailed dive SPEAKERS INCLUDE: reational “holiday divers” who will do proper rebreather support and making divers. briefing, CCR divers (most of the time) Pasquale Longobardi – Medical Director of 10-20 dives a year, while on vacation. it part of their mission to offer special-  Keep a range of CCR dive cylinders do not need guiding. If CCR divers want Centro Iperbarico Ravenna and President of SIMSI ised, experienced diver for hire (most CCRs use 3-litre Fabre a guide, then it will fall under normal Mark Powell – CCR Instructor diving products, which steel cylinders) and some use the small- diving times and requirements, unless Phil Short – CCR Instructor encompass all the advan- er 2-litre Fabre cylinders. previously arranged, and additional David Thompson – One of the foremost experts tages of rebreather diving.  Be able to offer high pressure oxygen charges will incur. in CCR design It is anticipated (and fills. It is not essential to have a booster  Keep a supply of stage bailout tanks – Associate Professor of the also proven over time) that pump, but high pressure O is a must available for hire: 5-litre (40cf) tanks are 2 Department of Anaesthesiology at Aukland CCR diving will always be (decanting is another option, but higher the norm (most just require stage rigging University a niche market and not for numbers of O tanks are needed for and people can use AL80s, if need be, 2 Alessandro Marroni – President of DAN Europe the masses (recreational this). which are in plentiful supply in any dive Gabriele Paparo – CCR Divers holiday divers). Dive opera-  Keep personnel trained to handle operation). Claudio Carnello – on technical SIAD gas tors who have embraced high of O (this is essential for  There is no need to keep spares for 2 Matteo Amadori – of MPS Technology will talk this technology will grow, any operation to keep safe and mini- CCRs or other consumables (O cells, 2 about gas boosters but at the same time, the mise problems). batteries, etc), but it would be nice. majority of the recreational  Offer Sofnolime fills and have a mini- These are the things that CCR divers During the dive, you can test: dive market will keep doing mal stock level of sorb. can easily take with them, to be as self  Scooters by SUEX what they have been  Be able to accommodate CCR divers sufficient as possible.  Drysuit, heated vest and gloves by SANTI doing. Maybe operators on any charter, on any given day. will change their minds if  Be able to be flexible enough to offer All in all, it is a mindset for operators to  Torches by XDIVE more pressure is put on longer dives for CCR divers. It is not dif- get on board and support CCR diving. I them by customers (you). ficult to plan to get CCR divers into the think that it is likely only a few operators Register today! Go to: It is much like the chicken water first, and even if they do 90-min- will ever embrace rebreather diving in and the egg scenario! ute dives, the single tank recreational their businesses—unless their clients put Ponzadiving.it divers can take part of their surface a lot of pressure on them to change. 

14 X-RAY MAG : 78 : 2017 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO