Member of the dive team training in a Mexican cenote Text by Sergey Baykov Photos by Sergey Baykov and Anna Loznevaya On August 14 in Dahab this year, our team of three divers dived a distance of 10km in eight hours using rebreathers. The purpose of this experiment was a practical test of human capabilities and the per- formance of rebreath- ers on a long dive, while under the influence of physical activity. It was in autumn 2010 that my colleague, Sergey Gorpinyuk, proposed the original idea to me: to dive a distance of 7km. As to a location for the experiment, we chose the colorful Mexican cenotes (caves) because they have long passages, calm current and stable direction. In addition, they have markup distances and many exits. We needed only to mark the way in the caves with guidelines. The rebreather was chosen as a technical means for the realization of the project. I was already certified as a Full 10k on a Rebreather— Making the Long Dive Cave Diver, but at that time, I SERGEY BAYKOV had just begun to dive on closed- circuit devices. Gorpinyuk, at that a good kit with which to embrace with the apparatus in cold water To Mexico cenotes Mexico were comfortable was But, as fate intervened, a long time, had already acquired some the dream. and in overhead environments. Two weeks later we flew to putting it mildly. The air tempera- dive didn’t happen. Firstly, it good experience diving with a After testing the new rebreather Two days we spent under the ice, Mexico. It was the beginning of ture was 25ºC, the water was appeared, that diving in the local rebreather. The task was clear, in January and February, we trav- with the air temperature at -37ºC March and the jungle was bloom- 25ºC, and the visibility was amaz- caves required CCR Cave Diving so two months later, I bought my eled to the White Sea in north- and one day we spent in flooded ing. After the trip to the White ing. Plus the beauty of the ceno- certification, even if the diver has rebreather—an Inspiration Vision, western Russia to practice diving tunnels—it was good training! Sea, saying that conditions in tes was astounding. Full Cave and CCR certificates. 58 X-RAY MAG : 63 : 2014 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO Test in the hard conditions of the White Sea (below) Training in a Mexican cenote (right) feature 10k Rebreather SERGEY BAYKOV Sergey Baykov and the first modi- fication of his SERGEY BAYKOV rebreather (left) SERGEY BAYKOV Still, for greater We had to exert more energy to streamlining, keep the horizontal position of To remedy the situation, we took Back to the drawing board I moved my the body. Well, of course, it was three days to complete the addi- Periodically, we dived on our rebreather’s lung extra physical work and effort. I tional course. During the training, rebreathers, we made measure- bags back to should mention that I made the we found out that the frames of ments and analysis of what was the shoulders. shoulder lung bags in 2014 and our rebreathers were very cum- happening. I moved towards The idea was tested them over the summer in bersome, and, in fact, we spent upgrading the supporting frame not new, but in the Barents Sea and in the Baltic. a lot of energy on overcoming of my rebreather. The new con- the standard Indeed, it turned out to be a the apparatus’ drag underwater. struction allowed for the use of configuration of good and necessary device. Moreover, our experience with different tanks and, with the right the Inspiration Gorpinyuk also worked on the the equipment was not a good approach, saved on weight as rebreather project. For example, in the sum- one. well as improved the streamlining there were front mer of 2012, he made a long dive However, the conclusion we of the apparatus. lung bags. The in Dahab—lasting six hours. He reached at the time was that I spent a lot of time making a manufacturers proved that a long dive was really the trip to Mexico was not done plastic prototype, measuring mil- changed the trim, possible. in vain even though we had not limeters of gaps and then made adding buoyancy Even then, he brought with him completed the task we set out the product from stainless steel. to the shoulders underwater some condensed to accomplish. The “long dive” I tested the prototype during one and decreasing milk snacks and water in plastic did not happen. But we did not of our trips to Dahab in the spring the buoyancy of bottles, and he also worked out let ourselves get bothered by the of 2012 and I was satisfied with its the legs. a surface detection system. Every delay. The process of preparing performance. After that I made a This problem hour he threw a buoy to the sur- was something we enjoyed. titanium version, which was more was especially face for three minutes. robust and lightweight at 2.5kg. SERGEY BAYKOV felt in a wetsuit. I also checked the perfor- The beauty of the Mexican cenotes was astounding. Above is an entry into a Mexican cenote 59 X-RAY MAG : 63 : 2014 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO feature 10k Rebreather SERGEY BAYKOV Dahab Coast, Egypt (above); The Three Sergey’s (top left) preparing for the long dive—Sergey Baykov, Sergey Zakhvatov and Sergey Gorpinyuk ANNA LOZNEVAYA diving rebreathers since Despite the fact that all the a safety-diver, whose task was are moored in the lagoon, and 2011. He was an athletic equipment was prepared and to observe the sea surface and the place of our entry into the person with good sports facility. checked the day before, we always be ready to rescue a diver water was 15km from the dock. So The Three Sergey’s with three woke early and met at 6 AM at in need. rebreathers set out, with three dif- the dive club, Planet Divers. Once At 8 AM we embarked onto Taking the plunge ferent configurations of frames, again, we tested the rebreathers, the dive boat. After a brief The site we chose from which to to test the physical capabilities of spoke about the details of the administrative examination by start the dive was El Bells, which the police, we headed out to is the most northern dive point in sea. We sailed northeast along Dahab. For one and a half hours, the coast. If you’ve ever been to we journeyed into the wind (in Dahab, you know that the boats Dahab the wind is almost always ANNA LOZNEVAYA mance of the rebreather. I dived Dahab in different conditions and with Conclusions were drawn and different lengths of duration details were specified. And so it underwater in various locations was on 14 August 2014 that we ANNA LOZNEVAYA such as the Maldives, Egypt, the took the plunge for the “long Barents Sea, the Baltic, local dive” in Dahab. both human being and machine, upcoming dive and coordinated ponds, Orda Cave, and other At that stage, Sergey Zakhvatov on a long dive, compounded the dive with a security team, locations. joined our team. He had been with physical exertion. which included a dive boat and ANNA LOZNEVAYA LOWER LEFT TO RIGHT: Final check; Entry into the water; Photo op before the dive 60 X-RAY MAG : 63 : 2014 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO Member of the dive team under- water (left) with clear view of altered rebreather rig from above; Emersion of dive team member, 10k Rebreather feature Sergey Zakhvatov (right); National Russian energy drink (below) dens, gorgonians and other reef As I wrote earlier, we wanted life. to test the human body under- water, and so we continued our Current issues journey. The experience gained After some time, we figured out during the previous dives allowed that the current wasn’t helping us. us to adequately observe the situ- How so? According to our calcu- ation. In the case of excess car- lations, it should have carried us bon dioxide, we could switch to four hours more. But nature has open curcuit and safely go to the its own laws. And because of the surface from the 10m depth. We topography of coastline, current do not advise others to repeat can go in the opposite direction. ANNA LOZNEVAYA our actions! Experiments always As a result, for two hours we swam went half of the way, and over sible to rate the performance of involve risks. without current. We were still the next five hours, we covered the absorbent by warming of the The end point of our trip was ANNA LOZNEVAYA deploying the buoy every hour, the second half, because the cur- tempsteak (special temperature near. It became clear after rent affected the time it took to sensor, that is mounted inside the the passage to the dive site El northerly) until we came to the travel the distance. powder and shows in what place Garden. Many places in Dahab dive site. We quickly threw on it is warming). One segment we know by heart. After the next our rebreathers and jumped into Scrubber warning was still working and, therefore, 30 minutes, my computer started the water. With us was Anna At the end of the seventh hour, we decided to continue to the to “swear” at me too.