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Are Rebreathers the Future of Diving? — a Report on the State of the Rebreather Nation

Are Rebreathers the Future of Diving? — a Report on the State of the Rebreather Nation

The Crystal Ball, by John William tech talk Waterhouse (1849–1917)

Many industry experts say that the paradigm for is about to change making them Text by Michael Menduno It’s the Couple this , essentially Photos by Rosemary E Lunn, Mark silence that more widely available enhanced independent of depth. Powell, Barb Roy, Peter Symes first catches for recreational divers. commun- As a result, the prospects the atten- ion with the of “running out of gas,” A dive begins before tion, as you “silent world” the number one factor in you enter the water. You strap descend in the water col- with greatly extended bot- open circuit scuba fatali- umn. There are no noisy tom times (a combination ties, is no longer an issue. on the machine, put on your bubbles. You can hear the of gas efficiency and mini- Nor is the stress of watch- mask, or pinch your nose, and soft whisper and rhythm of mizing inert gas uptake), ing a dwindling SPG or “pre-breathe” the unit for five your own and and you can see why buddying up with a heavy minutes while monitoring the almost detect the beat of rebreathers have so much breather. For tech divers, your heart. You relax and appeal. the advantages of a sensors and heads-up display slow down. Often divers Want to spend three rebreather are even more (HUD) for any signs of trouble. It’s don’t notice that they are hours exploring a sys- pronounced, enabling usually one of the last breathing warm moist “air” tem on a “no-stop” multi- them to truly go where items to complete before com- (actually a dynamic mix of level dive from 60 to 100 no open circuit diver has or ) until some- feet? Make two 90-min gone before. mencing the dive depending time later in the dive. You plus boat dives without on the rebreather. Many divers feel warmer in comparison changing out your cylin- A changing find that pre-breathing is center- to scuba and not dehy- ders? Or spend an hour rebreather paradigm drated. at 100 feet with minimal Divers are hearing a lot ing, like a moment of Zazen. “It’s like returning to . You can! more about the virtues You can feel your connection womb of the mother,” said Unlike open circuit of in to the machine as your lungs wildlife photographer and scuba, rebreather dives the media. PADI Inc., the rise and fall in counterpoint to expedition leader Amos are limited by the capac- self-proclaimed “Way the Nachum describing his ity of the scrubber—a can- World Learns to Dive,” your rebreather’s counterlungs. early rebreather dives. To ister containing absorbent is marketing a series of Resistance is futile: you and the the wildlife around you, material that removes the rebreather courses aimed machine are one. The quiet hiss you’re no longer a noisy CO2—not gas volume, specifically at recreational of the solenoid valve firing focus- outside intruder but just and typically provides divers, and is supporting another part of the food up to 3-4 hours of dive the effort with “Tec Xplorer es the mind and everything set- chain, so you can get up time depending on your Day” events and try-dives tles down. close and personal. and the water to promote rebreather div- Are Rebreathers the Future of Diving? — A Report on the State of the Rebreather Nation

wikimedia commons 38 X-RAY MAG : 57 : 2013 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO BARE 2013 participant tech talk test diving an Evolution rebreather by Silent Diving

Many industry experts say that paradigm for ing. They also announced a series rebreathers is about to support rebreather travel, of rebreather change making them many industry experts programs. say that the paradigm Though other training agen- more widely available for for rebreathers is about cies have offered “recreational” recreational divers. to change making them rebreather courses for some time, more widely available for none have PADI’s sheer reach respects, they represent the ulti- recreational divers. and marketing clout with more mate fulfilment of the “technical PADI’s recreational than 135,000 instructors and diving (or mix) revolution” that rebreather protocol is , and nearly 6,000 began in the late 1980s, enabling based on two important affiliated dive centres worldwide. divers to go deeper and stay prerequisites. First, that It’s the silence that first catches the It is expected that they will sig- longer than they could with con- the rebreather con- attention as you descend in the water nificantly expand the market ventional air-based scuba. form to their new “Type for rebreathers. Call it a “Rec Today, rebreather diving rep- R” specification mak- column. There are no noisy bubbles.

Revolution.” resents the fastest growing seg- ing them “suitable” for peter symes Since their introduction to sport ment of the tech diving market, recreational diver use. divers more than a decade and and in some place like the United For example, a Type R into the rebreather market will and Technical Divers Inc. (IANTD) to recreational divers in the late a half ago, rebreathers have Kingdom, you’re likely to see rebreather helps automate the help revitalize sport diving and and trained his 15-year-old nineties before the machines become an essential tool in the more divers sporting rebreathers required pre-dive checklist proc- increase the number daughter to dive a rebreather. were discontinued, says that technical diver’s than sets of doubles. ess, and will turn of new divers while “Kids are smarter on electronics rebreathers can meet the stand- arsenal. In many Though a few well-healed rec- itself raising the bar on than we ever were, and they are ard of “acceptable risk” if proper reational divers have purchased on if rebreather training. goal oriented. I say get on board screening is put in place to weed rebreathers, until recently, the They compare rec- now or be left at the gate.” out the unqualified participants. their cost, complexity, user reational rebreath- [Dituri’s views don’t necessarily maintenance require- forgets. ers to the introduc- reflect those of the U.S. Navy]. Not so forgiving ments and poor safety They tion of snowboards However, many industry watch- “Just because you can afford record have limited also in the then stag- ers are concerned that with one doesn’t mean that you pos- their use primarily won’t nant skiing industry their operational complexity and sess the background of experi- to tech divers who operate in the late 70’s. poor safety ence and skills to needed their without a Though resisted at reputation, use a rebreath- extended scrubber first, the technol- the benefits Advocates compare er,” he said. “The range capa- canister ogy attracted of rebreathers recreational rebreathers overwhelming bilities. present needed young may simply not majority of sport But now, or the gas people to the justify the risks to the introduction of divers are better with the turned sport which then for recreational snowboards in the then off on open cir- advent of off and grew by a factor of 60 times over divers. Others stagnant skiing industry in cuit, which is far more user-friend- they have a built-in open the next 25 years. like Technical more forgiving.” ly next-generation circuit bailout valve in case of “You’re too old if you think Diving the late 70’s. But there is machines, a dec- emergency. Second, that diving rebreathers won’t work for rec- International also trepidation. ade and a half of operations are limited to “no- reational divers,” said U.S. Navy (TDI) founder and former Uwatec As the CEO of one rebreather industry training stop” diving within the recreation- Commander Joe Dituri, who CEO, , whose com- manufacturer explained, “I experience, and the rudiments of al envelope of 130 feet. serves as the vice president of the pany marketed the Dräger am worried that it [PADI pro- a global infrastructure in place to Advocates say that PADI’s entry International Association of Nitrox Atlantis semi-closed rebreather gram] will result in a plethora of peter symes

39 X-RAY MAG : 57 : 2013 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO Rebreathers do not eliminate the need for tech talk open-circuit scuba. In fact, you and your team need to carry, or stage all the open circuit gas required to bail out at the worst possible point in the dive.

dead dentists, which will set the a scuba regulator as the steam Subtle ways much more rebreather business back just engine of diving. “They’ve been Unlike open circuit, where failures reliable than like the Electrolung in late 60’s.” honed to a high degree and like a free-flowing regulator, burst those of a [Beckman Instruments pulled the are incredibly reliable. By com- O-ring, or simply forgetting to decade ago, $2,500 Electrolung—the first elec- parison,” he said, “a rebreather crank open a tank valve all the probabilistic tronically-controlled closed circuit is like a space way is immediately analysis sug- rebreather—from the sport diving shuttle.” Though obvious; rebreath- gests that a market in 1970 after a series of Thalmann’s anal- Rebreathers require ers often fail in subtle rebreather, high profile deaths.] ogy might seem ways. In fact, the user which is far-flung, many more work and might not even be an electro- The work of (re)breathing people compare discipline than open aware of the prob- mechanical For all their benefits, rebreathers rebreather diving lem, particularly if life support require more work and discipline to instrument flying circuit scuba. they’re distracted, system, is still than open circuit scuba. The a small plane; the until it’s a matter of 20-times more late Dr Ed Thalmann, for senior diver is in essence survival. likely to fail medical director for the U.S. Navy depending on his or her electron- Conversely, a rebreather gives than a set of Experimental Diving Unit (NEDU) ics to maintain and manage an divers many options to solve any doubles due who wrote all the physiological artificial life-supporting atmos- problems that arise at depth and to their com- specs for U.S. Navy breathing phere. either continue or abort the dive. plexity. apparatuses, once described Though today’s rebreathers are However, incorporating redundant systems, e.g. adequate bail out, can miti- gate this risk. Then there is the on-going pre-dive and post-dive mark powell maintenance requirements, i.e. completing the Still need tanks out gas is for themselves and their 20-50 items on a pre-dive check- Rebreathers do not eliminate the buddy,” said TDI instructor trainer, list, which includes a series of pre- need for open-circuit scuba. In . “They also underesti- dive tests and somewhat fewer fact, you and your team need to mate their bailout-breathing rate,

post-dive, which can add up to a carry, or stage all the open circuit particularly in the event of a CO2 total of an hour or more of work gas required to bail out at the hit.” per dive day compared to 30-45 worst possible point in the dive. Finally, in terms of expense, minutes or less for conventional Rebreather veterans say that too rebreathers cost approximately scuba gear. many divers carry insufficient bail- 2-3 times their open circuit equiv- And guess what? If you don’t out. Some rebreather veterans alent, though this differential is complete the checklist each say that you should plan to carry likely to decrease as manufactur- and every time you dive, when as much as 2-3 times the bail out ers’ volumes increase. Operations- Murphy strikes, you could find your gas volume that you think you wise, a dive day on the rebreath- self in serious trouble or even die. need. “People forget that bail er will likely cost you one and

40 X-RAY MAG : 57 : 2013 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO tech talk Rebreathers

file photo: deepsea productions a half to two times as much as large percentage of the world- In 2011, Australian hyperbaric peter symes scuba. wide sport diving market. (No one physician Dr Andrew Fock, an keeps worldwide diving fatality accomplished rebreather diver Rebreather instructor assists a participant prepare to test dive a Hollis Explorer rebreather during the 2013 Bay Area For whom the bell tolls statistics.) On that basis, rebreath- himself, set out to estimate the Rebreather Experience At least one 181 divers died diving er fatalities represent about 15 actual risk of rebreather diving a rebreather between 1998 and percent of the by collecting and we know the number of incidents disproportionately high in the tistics and try to use them to 2010. Rebreather fatalities aver- total each year. Divers are killing analysing data but not the relevant denominator. early phases of many “civilian” argue their case,” said David aged approximately ten per year But now con- from the DAN, Fock’s conclusions? Rebreather adventure sports such as flying Concannon, who represents the prior to 2005 and about 20 per sider that there themselves because they DAN-Asia Pacific, diving may currently be as much small aircraft and hang gliding Rebreather Education and Safety year since, and it appears more are as many made mistakes in their BSAC, Deep Life as 8-10 times more risky than until participants are able cre- Association (RESA). “But they’re than 20 rebreather divers have as 1-1.2 million and Rebreather open circuit diving with a cor- ate suitable safety paradigms; based on faulty statistical assump- died since 2010 making the total active scuba maintenance and pre-dive World databases. responding estimated incident early technical diving is a case tions because we don’t know the number of deaths more than 200. divers in the checks, or during the dive. “They’re really best rate of about 4 deaths/100,000 in point. Using Fock’s analysis to denominator. Many of the deceased were div- United States guest numbers,” dives compared to a rate of .5 compare rebreather diving to Concannon, a diver and ex-pi- ing’s best and brightest, and the alone, accord- Unfortunately, rebreathers explained Fock, deaths/100,000 dives for scuba other adventure sports, diving a lot who describes himself as “CCR toll on the community and par- ing to a 2007 require diligence to detail who presented his overall. Of course, some portion rebreather is an order of magni- Diver Zero” and consequently ticularly those who lost friends has analysis by findings last year of this risk, is due to the fact that tude less risky than base jumping dives open circuit (“I’m 46, thick been particular heavy. No one Undercurrent and are not very forgiving at Rebreather to date rebreathers have been at 43 deaths/100,000 jumps, but in the middle, only in the water has counted the near misses. (again there are Forum 3.0 in primarily used to conduct deeper risker than sky diving at .99, hang 12-20 times a year, and I don’t To put these numbers in per- no hard numbers) but likely no Orlando, Florida. “There are errors and longer “technical” dives. gliding at .86 and horseback rid- take care of my equipment), spective, there was a combined more than 10-15,000 rebreather and incomplete data. We know However, with scant data there is ing at .57. won three of the five lawsuits that total of about 100-120 sport diving divers worldwide. This would sug- the number of fatalities but no no way to quantify this extra risk. have been filed to date against fatalities per year on average in gest that the fatality rate for one knows how many rebreath- Exploding heads manufacturers and agencies, and the United States, Canada, United rebreather diving is significantly ers are in the field, the number of Apples vs oranges? Statistics like this make defence settled a third for nuisance value Kingdom and over the higher than its open-circuit coun- rebreather divers or how many It should also be considered, that attorneys’ heads explode. [one other suit is pending]. same period, which represents a terpart. dives they made.” In other words, historically fatality rates are often “Plaintiffs talk about safety sta- “The more I see, the more I

41 X-RAY MAG : 57 : 2013 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO tech talk Using Fock’s analysis to compare rebreather diving to other adven- Rebreathers ture sports, diving a rebreather is an order of magnitude less risky than base jumping

believe that rebreather diving is and explorers about the fun- “I’ve yet to do a forensic similar to open circuit in that there damental causes of rebreather examination of a fatal accident are triggers that are the cause of fatalities and what needed to and see where a unit failed. It’s death. The main difference is that be done. Though I found differ- always “diver error,” explained there are more opportunities to ing opinions about the remedies, Gilliam, who has worked as an get in trouble with a rebreather. there was an overwhelming con- expert witness for more than two It’s like flying a multi-engine plane, sensus of views as to causation. decades. “Divers are killing them- or helicopter, compared to a sin- In a nutshell, though some prob- selves because they made mis- Causes often does something go wrong? time, and so we expected prob- gle engine prop plane.” lems can probably be addressed takes in their maintenance and Reading through available acci- Of course, that’s precisely when lems,” said filmmaker, explorer by human factors in engineering, pre-dive checks, or during the dent reports is reminiscent of the Murphy steps in.” and instructor . “We Tales of a non- the fundamental problem is oper- dive. Unfortunately, rebreathers kind of problems that plagued the Bruce Partridge, CEO of were scared all the time and so compliant species ational i.e. the ability of divers to require diligence to detail and early days of tech diving. Divers , which tended to be prepared to make Over the last year, I spoke to properly maintain and operate are not very forgiving. If you, the failed to turn on their rebreather builds rebreather electronics and good decisions when we had a more than a dozen manufactur- their rebreathers, and not neces- operator, make a mistake there (lots of these), and went hypoxic dive computers, and is also a failure. Now the equipment is so ers, engineers, instructors, hyper- sarily a failing of the machines is very little room for error, and and drowned. Divers failed to RESA member calls it the “nor- incredibly reliable, there is nothing baric doctors, defense attorneys themselves. most divers don’t recover. And open their valve, analyse malization of deviation” because to scare people.” that points directly to training and their gas, and/or used a diluent or deviation from experience.” bail out gas inappropriate for the standards become Leon Scamahorn, a former depth. They packed their scrub- normal. “It’s a real Special diver and found- ber canister incorrectly, left out problem,” he said. er and CEO of Inner Space an O-ring, or reused spent scrub- “People go div- Systems Corp, which makes the ber material or forgot to install ing without having Megalodon rebreather, or “Meg,” their canister at all. They went div- completed their compared diving a rebreather ing with only two of three oxygen checklist and noth- to packing your chute and jump- sensors working, or used old sen- ing happens. They ing out of a plane. “If you fail sors, or old batteries. They ignored have significantly to react, or react properly, the visual and audio alarms. They changed their risk, results are the same. Death by carried insufficient bailout gas. but they don’t get terminal velocity, or in the case They were diving alone. Most of any immediate of the rebreather, death by inap- these incidents could have been feedback.” propriate gas mix.” (Rebreather prevented if divers had worked divers typically lose consciousness through their checklist and fol- No longer and drown as a result of having lowed protocol. scared too little or too much oxygen or “The problem is that people The reliability of

too much CO2.) ”I tell people, take short cuts and don’t follow today’s rebreathers everything depends on your level the guidelines and best practic- can give divers a of preparation and training,” said es,“ explained Steve Lewis, author false sense of confi- Scamahorn. and X-Ray Mag columnist dence. “In the early “They get 40-50 hours and nothing days, the equip- happens because the units are ment broke all the so well made. So they stop using Leon Scamahorn, Inner their . They say to them- Space Systems Corp - selves, I know I should, but how JIll Heinerth, film- maker of the Megalodon maker, explorer rebreathers, peter symes and instructor barb roy

42 X-RAY MAG : 57 : 2013 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO The question is whether the sport tech talk diving community is willing and Rebreathers able to make the changes needed to accommodate this technology with- in acceptable levels of risk.

ket—I decided to focus on three Kevin Gurr, principal of VR Tech- it’s okay to go. You don’t have to areas of innovation that seem nology, which makes the Sentinel remember to turn on your brakes most promising in terms of diver rebreather and is working with before you drive away. We con- The technology also safety. Hollis, which is manufacturing and cluded that rebreathers would enables people to dive distributing Gurr’s latest creation, benefit from the same type of beyond the limits of their Automating the checklist “The Explorer,” an electronic semi- automation,” said Gurr. training and experience The first major area of improve- closed rebreather designed for Accordingly, the Explorer, and level. “The rebreather ena- ment is automating the checklist recreational divers. other units like the Poseidon Mark bles people to make expe- process. “The aviation and auto “When you turn on your car, VI, not only walks the user through ditionary dives without the barb roy industries have long recognized you’re actually turning on a com- the checklist via their display but necessary operational sup- that humans are fallible and puter, which then checks the makes sure that he or she com- port, and they get into trouble,” divers and more lawsuits, and trial verdict is brought forward susceptible to external influences brakes, the engine management pletes the steps like turning on the pointed out Fock, who identified it will only be a matter of time in the public record. This raises and , and have em- system, fuel injection and other O2 or pre-breathing the unit, and the Human Machine Interface before land-owners and boat the conundrum, “How do you braced automation,” explained safety systems and tells you that not let the user pass until checks (i.e. maintenance, training and captains will no longer allow improve diver safety if no one will high risk behaviors) as the source rebreathers,” she said. tell you what caused the fatali- of most problems in part of his It may all come down to ties?” safety analysis work. “We found changing the mind-set of the that in two-thirds of fatalities, community. “We need to get Engineering in safety divers exercised what could be to a place where it’s cool to do Manufacturers say that some considered high-risk behaviours checklists, and people aren’t of the problems that have trig- [such as ignoring checklists, solo afraid to say to a buddy—don’t gered accidents, for example, diving, or pushing limits].” get in the water with only 2 of 3 failing to turn the unit on, or reas- This begs the question that if sensors working,” commented sembling a unit incorrectly, can the technical diving community, Partridge. “I really believe it’s a be engineered out of rebreath- which is presumably more expe- community problem. If you’re fly- ers thus improving diver safety rienced, better trained and able ing an aircraft, we can make a and making the machines more to deal with more complex div- rule. If your equipment isn’t work- accessible to a wider range of ing situations has been unable to ing properly, you divers. Indeed, that reduce rebreather fatality rates, can’t fly. But we The problem is that is the focus of PADI’s how will recreational divers fare? can’t do that with people take short cuts TYPE R specifica- divers.” tion, which requires Checklist mistress The problem and don’t follow the that a “recreational” Finding is easier said than is compounded guidelines and best rebreather have cer- done. “We are a non-compliant by the fact there tain features to be species,” lamented Heinerth who is no adequate practices. included in their pro- has been called the ‘Checklist community gram. Mistress.’ “How do you change reporting system in place at the Though all of the manufacturers that?” She says that training is present time and rebreather inci- that I spoke with have incorporat- partly responsible, but more of the dent data, particularly regarding ed unique features and innova- issue is a matter of culture. fatalities has become increasingly tions in their machines—there’s no “I know that some of my stu- scarce as a result of an increas- doubt that rebreathers represent dents have stopped doing their ingly vitriolic media environment a dynamic and innovative mar- checklist. But I don’t know the and the fear and expense of cure. We have to police each litigation. And if a lawsuit is filed, Rosemary E. Lunn preb- other. If we don’t, we’re liable to everything gets closeted in con- reathing a Hollis Explorer at wind up with minefield of dead fidentiality agreements unless a InnerSpace 2013 held at DiveTech, Grand Cayman rosemary e lunn

43 X-RAY MAG : 57 : 2013 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO Rebreathers tech talk Rebreathers

improvements in safety. Ambient Diving, the oldest and largest sport diving rebreather manufacturer, developed their “Temperature Stik” array in par- allel to the NEDU. According to are done properly. breather diver must managing director, Martin Parker, The second innovation is in oxy- be able to do is read “We’ve seen a dramatic reduc- gen control. When cave explorer their oxygen sensors tion in incidents relating to over- and engineer Dr Bill Stone and his and know when to use of the scrubber since we colleagues were originally ap- trust the results,” said introduced the Stik. “There’s some- proached by Poseidon Inc. to de- ichthyologist Dr Rich thing very comforting about being velop a rebreather that could be Pyle, who co-devel- able to see your scrubber working safely used by recreational divers, oped the Poseidon properly, and we’ve developed it they spent focused thinking about Mark VI rebreather to give warnings of high failure modes and concluded the with Stone. “It’s easy PCO2 to give them plenty of time most important thing was knowing to build a system that to ascend and bailout.” exactly what the diver is breath- triggers an alarm The second break through is ing at any point in time, especially when the oxygen due to Gurr at VR Technology with respect to oxygen levels. With values deviate by who developed the first onboard open circuit, a diver’s breathing some amount. The gaseous CO2 sensor, which meas- mix is fixed and known but with hard part is knowing ures the PCO2 in the loop. VR uses a rebreather the breathing mix is when the sensors are the sensor in conjunction with a dynamic. lying. That takes intui- simple (scrubber) timer, a me- “One of the keys things a re- tion and lots of experi- tabolism monitor (which measures

ence.” canister loading based on O2 Galvanic consumption), and a temp array, oxygen sen- which each measure slightly dif- peter symes sors, which ferent variables. VR offers the CO2 measure profile package as part of the

the PO2 in the breath- rate or not. virtually all other closed circuit hyperventilation, convulsions, sentinel. It will also be available ing loop, are the most As a result, said Pyle, the elec- rebreathers past and present: unconsciousness and eventually on the Hollis Explorer. “Profiling the

critical component of tronics are able to “think better” the logic being, if at least 2 of 3 death. For that reason, PADI has CO2 removal system is complex

a rebreather, and are than a well-trained diver. “With sensors agree within a specified included CO2 sensing in its re- generally regarded as the Mark V, there were a dozen tolerance, they are regarded as breather specs. the weakest link of the incidences where my brain and correct. Jill Heinerth calls it an ex- The first break through was the system and can fail the computer disagreed on what citing advancement. “Without it,” “temperature array,” which was either high or low. Pyle I was breathing. In each case, she said, “Divers are facing a bit invented and patented by the said this led them to when I went back and analysed of crapshoot as to what they are U.S. Navy’s NEDU and measures developing their “active the log data, I was right and not actually breathing.” the exothermic reaction as it sensor validation” tech- the machine,” he said. “Now with progresses through rebreather’s

nology: the software the Mark VI, I had six disagree- Sensing CO2 scrubber canister. As such, arrays automatically validates ments, and the electronics were The third major innovation has give a reasonable estimate of the

the response of a pair right every time. So you could say been in CO2 sensing. Experts now life remaining during normal div-

of O2 sensors, which are that the Mark VI thinks better than say that CO2 build-up, or hyper- ing (e.g. no canister floods), but exposed to known on- me.” capnia, a result of a spent or cannot respond to rapid changes board gas in one and Pyle said that they are close to compromised scrubber for ex- in temperature, depth and work- five minute increments, perfecting the technology, which ample, is much more of a load. and determines whether he believes is superior to the three than originally thought and can As a result, some manufacturers the sensors are accu- “voting” sensor system used by result in disorientation, , say that they have already seen peter symes

barb roy

44 X-RAY MAG : 57 : 2013 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO Posedon MKVs Briefing on the lined up and MKVI at Poseidons tech talk ready for a class facilities in Gothenburg, Sweden

Automation as an initial qualifier, and that’s pool of instruc- With increased automation and one reason why things unravel so tor trainers and

improved O2 and CO2 sensing in quickly when a problem mani- instructors to a single machine, users will be fests. Until the agencies wise up serve a wider able to know exactly what they and put proper prerequisites back audience of are breathing with a high degree in place, we’ll continue to see divers while of certainty, which should help a disproportionate amount of maintaining improve diver safety. However, deaths.” quality. “We’ll insiders warn the responsibility still Others say that good training is have a prob- rests with the individual diver. available but there needs to be lem if we, as an “I agree you more consistency. industry, allow can engineer “Manufacturers can “Some of the train- the quality of out some prob- ing has become a instructors to lems, but the user do quite a bit to make little too personal,” dilute in order can’t get com- their machines require observed Heinerth. to build num- placent,” said “Everyone runs their bers,” warned Inner Space’s less training, but I do own courses. That Lewis. “The Scamahorn, feel there will be a harsh may be okay for instructors who “They have to learning curve until the someone like me fast-tracked act appropriately with lots of experi- their experience when something instructors get on top of ence but what are the ones goes wrong.” the important issues and about the new who are not instructor?” Some prepared when Training emphasize the parts of of the instructors I Murphy comes Though insid- the course that will keep spoke to also said calling.” ers say that there is a wide rebreather the diver alive.” range of quality in The future training has training materials, of diving peter symes improved over the last decade, and some of it is not so good. From Walter there continues to be some ten- Many people I spoke to are Stark’s first dive on the Electrolung Blueprint for survival sion between manufacturers and excited about PADI’s entry into in the late 60’s, or Bill Stone’s The situation is arguably parallel training agencies. “Manufacturers rebreather training and felt they foray into the depths of Wakulla to the early days of can do quite a bit to make their would help raise the bar. “PADI Springs sporting his first Cis-Lunar where there were an unaccept- machines require less training,” has specific standards and very rebreather prototype 20 years ably high number of fatalities. In acknowledged APD’s Martin high quality learning materials,” later, it was inevitable that response, the community came Parker, “but I do feel there will said Heinerth. “They will rebreather technology would find together to create a set of ”best be a harsh learning curve until other agencies to follow suit.” its way into the hands of so-called practices” based on accident the instructors get on top of the Others like Steve Lewis also recreational divers i.e. diving con- analysis pioneered by the late important issues and emphasize give PADI high marks. “I just read sumers. It’s a basic unstoppable great explorer in his the parts of the course that will through the PADI Tec 40 CCR paradigm of technology, whether book, Blueprint for Survival (1979). keep the diver alive.” Diver manual. It was enlighten- its aircraft, trucks or computers. In essence, the community

peter symes Gilliam said that agencies need ing for a PADI manual, and I learned from diver deaths and to increase their prerequisites was impressed. By the end of Are we ready to change? was able to use that information because there are several com- tidal CO2 at the mouthpiece. both for instructors and divers. “I Chapter One, I must have read ‘If The question is whether the sport to improve safety for other divers ponents including valves, the ab- “And yes, we are working on it.” think that an overall perspective you screw up, you’re going die’ diving community is willing and by encouraging, supporting and sorbent itself and the seals,” Gurr [Editor’s note: As this issue goes to should be a wake-up call to eve- numerous times. The quality of the able to make the changes need- reinforcing best diving practices. explained. “As a result, the sensing press, Diving has ryone that too many instructors material was extraordinary.” ed to accommodate this technol- The early technical diving com- method must be multi-faceted.” introduced a CO2 monitor. It is and divers are being turned out Echoing Gilliam’s point, several ogy within acceptable levels of munity also faced significant The ultimate he says is a described in the New Equipment that are not qualified,” he said. people expressed concern about risk. safety challenges with open sensor that would measure end- section in this issue.] “Their experience is too limited the challenge of growing the circuit mix diving and took a

45 X-RAY MAG : 57 : 2013 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO Taking the first plunge. BARE 2013 tech talk participant is assist- ed into the pool with an Evolution rebreather by Silent Diving

similar approach with Blueprint for However, to date, no one has College, Phuket, , which standards makes it difficult to Survival 2.0 a decade later. compiled a Blue Print 3.0. provides factory training for the incorporate new information, for Recently, there has been some Another approach might be JJ-CCR, Sentinel/ Oroborous, example, improvements to pro- discussion among some rebreath- to create “operational stand- Megalodon and Inspiration/ cedures on the basis of accident er veterans that a similar set of ards” for rebreather diving similar Evolution, has taken with his analysis. Though this is potentially voluntary “best practices” for to what groups like the Global Association of Rebreather Training one of the drawbacks of having rebreather diving, call it Blue Print Underwater Explorers (GUE) and (ART). More than just a rebreath- standards, how can improve- for Survival 3.0 should be created other DIR (Doing It Right) groups er-training agency, Partridge has ments based on new information and promulgated. Codifying a set have done for open circuit diving. developed a set of operational be effectively disseminated and of “best practices” for rebreather That is the approach that diving standards for rebreathers implemented when individual diving is the first step towards cre- explorer and educator Mathew akin to GUE’s standards for open divers are left to their own devices ating a standards-based model. Partridge, owner of Pro-Tech Dive circuit diving. to do whatever they believe is The standards include specifi- best? Another problem is that cations for rebreather configura- standards-based diving is likely tion, diluent and not applicable to bailout selection, Nevertheless, standards- all sport divers, the check lists and majority of which emergency pro- based rebreather groups do not belong to a tocols. ART also may help to inform and membership organ- adheres to team raise the bar for others ization. diving. To date, Nevertheless, ART has trained in the sport diving com- standards-based several hundred munity to follow as they rebreather groups rebreather divers may help to inform and conducted have, to some degree, and raise the bar numerous work- with open circuit for others in the shops. Though sport diving com- the organization technical diving. munity to follow is still in its infan- as they have, to cy, the work that Partridge has some degree, with open circuit done shows promise for improving technical diving. It’s not incon- rebreather . ceivable that organizations like

Unified team Diving (UTD) PADI, the BSAC or other training peter symes also offers a standards-based agencies, may eventually take a rebreather training program. similar approach in creating their has proven to be effective way to into the mainstream of sports div- GUE is currently in the process of own set of operational rebreather improve diving safety in a variety ing, and coined the term “techni- developing a standards-based standards to be used after the of communities. ■ cal diving.” He also organized the closed circuit program, which will class is over. first Tek, EuroTek and AsiaTek con- likely be released in the next few Individuals may also form local Writer and technologist Michael ferences, and Rebreather Forums years. user groups or rebreather clubs Menduno published and edited 1.0 and 2.0. Menduno, who is Some people argue that hav- that agree to adhere to a set aquaCorps: The Journal for based in Palm Springs, California, ing operational diving standards of rebreather diving standards. Technical Diving (1990-1996), USA, remains an avid diver. create rigidity, and that having Historically, standard-based diving which helped usher tech diving

rosemary e lunn

46 X-RAY MAG : 57 : 2013 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO

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