CCR Explorers http://www.ccrexplorers.com/ Rebreather Diving with CCR Explorers, Closed circuit rebreather discussion, answers, training discussion in our CCR forums en Sat, 25 May 2013 02:27:47 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.ccrexplorers.com/images/element/misc/rss.jpg CCR Explorers http://www.ccrexplorers.com/ Sentinel Expedition - OLED primary and secondary http://www.ccrexplorers.com/showthread.php?t=15600&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 18:56:52 GMT I have unit 387 for sale, 11 months old, full optocon and oLED Primary and Secondary

The head has gone for a service before i sell it, this was sent back today.

CO2 Monitor
Apeks BOV
5mm Stainless Plate etc. etc.
Off Board gas kit

Only mod is a custom divers harness.

This unit is absolutely as new, selling as i'm never home! I work off the Coast of West Africa which had me away for 9 months of the last 12!

Looking for £5900 including the travel frame which has the qr cylinder clamps.

I can offer training if you need it too.

Steve ]]> Units for Sale stevecowley http://www.ccrexplorers.com/showthread.php?t=15600 Canon G12 housing, which should I get? http://www.ccrexplorers.com/showthread.php?t=15599&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 14:58:27 GMT Hi Guys
I've got a G12 and the Canon-made housing I got with it is going out. Both due to it's limited depth rating, lack of full camera control AND the fact that it is leaking from somewhere that I can't identify.

So does anyone have any suggestions as to which housing I should get?

Right now I'm looking at the Ikelite, but I'm interested in any other suggestions as well.

Thanks
Jacob ]]> Buying decisions JacobT http://www.ccrexplorers.com/showthread.php?t=15599 Counterdiffusion Studies http://www.ccrexplorers.com/showthread.php?t=15598&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 13:47:12 GMT I have put a great deal of CCR dive planning into dealing with ICD. At present I am applying a 5 to 1 reduction rule: reduction of 5% He allows a 1% increase in N2 when bailing out to OC or switching bailouts.

I believe that ICD is a medical diving study still in it's infancy and requires to be researched in great detail.

Does anybody know of such a study so I can stay current?

UweS ]]> Diving Medicine Uwe Sieg http://www.ccrexplorers.com/showthread.php?t=15598 Pee Valve Hose QD http://www.ccrexplorers.com/showthread.php?t=15597&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 09:54:15 GMT Hi Guys not too sure what it is called but i'm after the internal Pee Valve hoses "Quick Disconnect" bit.
And where would someone buy one? ]]> Non-rebreather equipment Rickoz http://www.ccrexplorers.com/showthread.php?t=15597 Female drysuit suggestions http://www.ccrexplorers.com/showthread.php?t=15596&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 08:27:20 GMT Hi Guys
I'm looking for a new Tri-lam drysuit for my girlfriend and was wondering if anyone had any experiences to share.

She's 158cm tall and about 60kg, fairly slim but still with "curves". A lot of the suits we have looked at seem to be made for men or women with no curves which makes them hard to get over her bottom. Or if she can get it easily on, the torso is often very baggy and/or legs/arms way too long.

Does anyone have experience with any particular brands being better at fitting women?

Does it matter if it is front or back zipper?

I have plenty of male friends who are happy with their Seaskin suits, but know only of one Seaskin made for a woman and apparently that was a disaster. Does anyone know if this is the norm for Seaskin, or is it more likely a one off (or poor measurements)?

Any and all suggestions are welcome
Thanks
Jacob ]]> Buying decisions JacobT http://www.ccrexplorers.com/showthread.php?t=15596 Lust4Rust Truk and Bikini Trip 2013 http://www.ccrexplorers.com/showthread.php?t=15595&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 06:29:21 GMT Image: http://lust4rust.co/Gallery/Truk-Lagoon/Truk%20Nov%202011/Truk-Lagoon-Nov2011-32.jpg Image: http://lust4rust.co/Gallery/Truk-Lagoon/Truk%20July%202011/Truk-Lagoon-2011-L4R-18.jpg Counting down to this Thursday - the 30th May 2013 where we head to Truk. We have 19 mad keen people on the trip and cant wait to get back. Also directly after the Truk Trip I have a back to back trip to Bikini. Having only dived Bikini 3 times now, I am super excited about spending a month there to get to know the wrecks that little bit more. We do have a few spots left on the second trip on the 28th June - 11 July to Bikini. Simon Mitchell will be the trip medic so we will be in good hands!! If anyone has got a last minute leave pass and might be keen to come let me know. I still have some lost deposits so you might be in for one hell of a trip for a great price.!! Image: http://lust4rust.co/Gallery/Bikini-Atoll/Bikini-Atoll-Lamson-02.jpg Image: http://lust4rust.co/Gallery/Bikini-Atoll/Bikini-Atoll-Saratoga-16.jpg This is wreck diving at its best. The missus, might divorce you, dog disown you, and you might need to look for another job - but hey. It will all be worth it!!!!!!! Pete Mes

Counting down to this Thursday - the 30th May 2013 where we head to Truk. We have 19 mad keen people on the trip and cant wait to get back.

Also directly after the Truk Trip I have a back to back trip to Bikini. Having only dived Bikini 3 times now, I am super excited about spending a month there to get to know the wrecks that little bit more.
We do have a few spots left on the second trip on the 28th June - 11 July to Bikini.

Simon Mitchell will be the trip medic so we will be in good hands!! If anyone has got a last minute leave pass and might be keen to come let me know. I still have some lost deposits so you might be in for one hell of a trip for a great price.!!



This is wreck diving at its best.

The missus, might divorce you, dog disown you, and you might need to look for another job - but hey. It will all be worth it!!!!!!!

Pete Mes ]]> Travel Petemes http://www.ccrexplorers.com/showthread.php?t=15595 Survivorship bias, do we ignore little known dangers to focus on the ones we know? http://www.ccrexplorers.com/showthread.php?t=15594&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 02:03:53 GMT A very interesting topic that I think is particularly relevant to CCR safety.

Survivorship Bias « You Are Not So Smart

CCR forums are often inundated with "I nearly died because..." no one has ever written "I actually died because...".

Does this skew our perception of the risks of CCR diving away from some of the biggest dangers, the ones that are actually killing people.

Take cells, I know my cells are fine if they all read good. I have confidence that they are not limited if I test for that at the start of a dive. I and a number of others have used dil flushes to understand what our problems are when things are not right, the fact that I could dil flush and know what I am really breathing regardless of what my cells tell me gave me a lot of confidence.

Then Fil died. Subsequent investigation identified that a dil flush alone may not have helped him. In a subsequent discussion at Oztek Paul Raymaekers pointed out that an O2 flush to test for current limiting at the start of the dive also may not have helped. This sparked a lot of discussions about what should be done.

How many potential situations are we overlooking because the people most quailfied to tell us to watch for them are not around to tell us anything, or because of the taboo about discussing or speculating on a fatality?

An interesting article that may stimulate some discussion. ]]> Lessons to learn Iain3 http://www.ccrexplorers.com/showthread.php?t=15594 KISS Rebreathers begins delivery of Orca Spirit http://www.ccrexplorers.com/showthread.php?t=15593&goto=newpost Thu, 23 May 2013 20:35:20 GMT The wait is over.

KISS Rebreathers new, highly anticipated Orca Spirit (OS) rebreather is here!

Following KISS Rebreathers upgrade of the Spirit to full production this spring, not only are all deliveries of all pre-orders well underway, KISS is looking forward to providing delivery of new Spirit orders in a timely fashion.

Since 1998, KISS Rebreathers has been designing, building, & selling rebreather’s with a reputation for being durable, reliable, & safe - a record that speaks for itself!

This experience, knowledge and background is evident in the new Spirit as components are precision machined to exact specifications from solid materials producing a durable, lightweight (weighing less than 44 lbs. fully assembled), fully closed circuit rebreather system that is easy to use, maintain and easy to travel with.

In addition to producing tough, reliable pieces of equipment, KISS Rebreathers also believes divers should also have a choice in what they need when it comes to building the system that is best suited for their style of diving.

At the time of ordering, divers can also choose between getting their new Spirit complete with 14 cu.ft. tank, BOV (rebreather mouthpiece with built in 2nd stage regulator), Dive Rite XT CCR wing, TransPac Harness and oxygen ready first stage regulator in the $6,577.00 USD open water kit, or select the basic kit - perfect for those who already own components like BOV, first stages, and/or displays, with a starting price of $4,890.00 USD.

With Summer almost upon us, wouldn't you like to experience it with a KISS?

For more information email KISS at info@kissrebreathers.com or visit their website at KISS Rebreathers - Home to locate a KISS dealer or Sales Rep near you.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Spirit_2.jpg (269.6 KB)
]]> KISS Walt Stearns http://www.ccrexplorers.com/showthread.php?t=15593 Silicon vs O2 compatible Greases http://www.ccrexplorers.com/showthread.php?t=15592&goto=newpost Thu, 23 May 2013 17:06:44 GMT According to the DR manual, all O-Rings on the O2ptima should be greased with an O2 compatible Grease (recommended: Tribolube 71) Silicon greases contain carbon based ingredients which, if brought into contact with O2 *under pressure*, could lead to an O2 flash explosion. This however is not possible with components which contain O2* not under pressure*. So why are we then using Tribolube when assembling the loop? The loop never contains O2 under high pressure as found in first stages. (Here I agree. We *must* apply an O2 compatible grease) So my question is, why are we using an expensive O2 compatible grease for the loop when in my mind a normal silicon based grease will do the trick which by the way seals better then O2 compatible grease? Your thoughts are appreciated. According to the DR manual, all O-Rings on the O2ptima should be greased with an O2 compatible Grease (recommended: Tribolube 71)

Silicon greases contain carbon based ingredients which, if brought into contact with O2 under pressure, could lead to an O2 flash explosion. This however is not possible with components which contain O2 not under pressure.

So why are we then using Tribolube when assembling the loop? The loop never contains O2 under high pressure as found in first stages. (Here I agree. We must apply an O2 compatible grease)

So my question is, why are we using an expensive O2 compatible grease for the loop when in my mind a normal silicon based grease will do the trick which by the way seals better then O2 compatible grease?

Your thoughts are appreciated. ]]> O2ptima Uwe Sieg http://www.ccrexplorers.com/showthread.php?t=15592 Technical datas Explorer http://www.ccrexplorers.com/showthread.php?t=15591&goto=newpost Thu, 23 May 2013 13:08:27 GMT Hi folks.

Could somebody provide the technical datas of the Explorer? If possible in metric (KG, Meters...). What's the price on continental Europe? 5000 €? ]]> Hollis Explorer Pat413 http://www.ccrexplorers.com/showthread.php?t=15591 Trust your instincts but dont forget the rules http://www.ccrexplorers.com/showthread.php?t=15590&goto=newpost Thu, 23 May 2013 07:55:25 GMT Today we dived the Andaman out of Dover in 53m

Things didn't start well when I couldn't get into my CCR properly and it turned out the counter lung was fully inflated. Most odd, so I vented it and tried again only to find the counter lung inflating all on its own.

Obviously an 02 leak

I isolated the manual add and sucked 19/35 dill in to the loop but the PP02 kept on rising.

It looked like day over but I had one last thing to try. I de kitted and turned off the 02, blew off all 02 pressure, and cracked the 02 open fast.

Success

No more 02 was bleeding into the lungs. The leek had been at the solenoid. I switched from a 0.19 set point to a 0.7 and settled in to let the solenoid fire and see if it overshot. I repeated this three times and the solenoid stopped firing at 0.7-0.8. A final wanking of the manual 02 add to make 100% sure it wasn't that and I settled in for a pre breath on a 0.7 set point to see how the unit reacted.


All good but I was no a bit late for getting in.


Nigel assisted getting my stages on and I staggered to the back of the boat keeping a close eye on my computer. All good at 0.7 so I blasted in 02 to .98 and prepared to jump. With JPT as my buddy.


I was expecting to be handed the deco station line but despite an outstretched hand I had received nothing and wasn't in a position to turn round and ask why. At that point I was told to go. So I did.


At the Shot I checked pp02 manually injecting 02 again to ensure 100% on the surface. JPT turned up and I looked but couldn't see a deco station line on him. Conditions on the surface were a min 1.5m swell so we descended fast.


Cells spiked to 1.7 so I switched my focus to equalizing and going down after a healthy in breath of diluient. PP02 is good and not spiking so it looked like the solenoid had sorted its self out. I slipped my hand on to my 02 tank valve just to convince my self I could find it OK and carried on down.


Viz was awful. I was hoping that it would clear as we got deeper but it was less than 1.0m all the way. We tagged ourselves at 21m and I realised we didn't have the station line and it wasn't loose sliding down the shot so I hoped that the other two divers had realised the cock up and sorted it out.


Up till now I am feeling absolutely fine.


We hit the wreck and it's obvious the shot has gone through a slot less than 1.0m wide and down into the heart of the wreck. I put my strobes on the line and switch them on. The tie in line is near the shot weight and I cant reach it. I think we are near the side of the wreck and I managed to drop over and find a hole big enough to let me inside the wreck. I had to let go to go over the edge but as soon as I am inside I find and grab the shot and follow it down possibly 10m to the sea bed but still inside the wreck.


Space is good I am not feeing stressed but there's metal all around me so the shot is my only way back to clear water. I faf with the tie in line and triple wrap it and double tie it as if I lose the shot I loose my way out. I try and stay still not to make the viz worse than it is. But then I have a world spinning round event.

I hold the shot and close my eyes till it passes

I have had issues like this before but they pass quickly. I put it down to equalisation inner ear balance issues. This event seemed longer.


The shot was sacrificial (big bag of rocks) so I cut the rope to the bag whilst holding on to the shot.


Time to find JPT


I ascended at a slow rate but another shorter wave of dizziness came over me and I felt a little nauseous. I checked my PP02 and it was still on low set point 0.7. I stopped moving and switched to 1.3 watching the numbers rise and hold station.


I followed the shot up a little more hurriedly but still well under control and upon reaching the slot it had dropped through I tried to wiggle through the slot. I suddenly seemed to come to my senses and realise there was no way on earth I was going to get through this slot kitted up. John was there shining a torch for me which was a great comfort as I had to let go and drop back in to find the hole. BTB the hole was massive and right next door to me but I felt scared none the less. I don't often feel scared diving, so this was a concern.

I made it through the hole easily and drifted up and over the edge to come face to face with John and his well placed torch which showed me the way clearly.


John was sorting out a reel to line off from the shot and this made me consider carrying on for a while as most of the time my buddies leave laying the line up to me and I didn't feel up to it today. However as he was sorting things out I had an overwhelming feeling things were not right.

So I squeezed Johns hand to get his full attention and signalled him good by I was going up.

Johns a competent solo diver and he decided to stay which was fine by me.


Thoughts of missed dives and wasted money went through my mind and I was starting to feel better but I decided staying down could cause confusion so ill stick to my plan and go up. Going up was hard there was rope drifting everywhere in the slack water, pulling it up or down just meant I ended up with floating rope all around me. I got briefly tangled once but managed to get free with little drama.

Then around 20m the nausea and urge to vomit hit me. 02 PP02 was still good, breathing rate was fine, I am 20mins into a fresh fill of lime, I just felt like crap.

By 6m I have 10mins of stops and I am starting to realise I am actually in trouble. Yet still bailing out to OC hadn't occurred to me. In my mind I was convinced the issue was with me, not the unit. I was just recovered from a bad cold on the Wed through to the Saturday and was still a littlie snotty, Id been on Nigh Nurse to keep blocked noses at bay whilst I slept all the way till Monday 48 hours before. Could this be a factor?


I am now at 3m with 5mins to go and I feel week. I wrapped the line around my wrist several times and clipped it in place with the big baby pants clip from Narked @ 90 I use for my strobe. If I was going to pass out I was buggered if I was going to sink.


5 mins took for ever and with 1.0min to go I couldn't wait any more and I went up to the surface.


I am on the main shot and the station and loads of floating line is between me and the dive boat. It was a ways off but fortunately Nigel was on the ball and saw me quickly. I didn't want to move but I had to swim away from the station and floating line. This took huge effort.


Nigel realise I was in difficulty and threw me a line which I used to get to the lift. It took all my remaining energy to get on the lift and stagger to the kit bench I was retching badly by now and everything hurt. Nigel got some of my kit off but I had to just sit there motionless for 10mins to gain enough energy to de kit fully. I couldn't take my dry suit off I just didn't have it in me, but the neck seal was choking me so I just sat there holding the neck seal out and sipping a hot drink. I don't know how long this was for but the other divers came back so id guess an hour during which I threw up several times.


Eventually I gathered the energy to remove my dry suit which was blessed relief and I went to the forward cabin to lay down on the bed and fell almost instantly to sleep.


Feeling smooth sea beneath the boat I realised we were back in harbour. I felt 100 times better.

C02 was offered as a cause of my issues and it could well have been. I had air topped my dill from something like 14/65 down to 19/30 and I considered contaminated air from my compressor. I did have a oily taste in my mouth post dive and will get a Stoddard test done ASAP.

One thing which every one said was "did you bail out?" the logic of this was blindingly obvious to me now but It hadn't occurred to me at the time. A massive error in my judgement.

I bagged up all my stuff and it wasn't till I tried to carry my CCR to the car that I realised I was still way below my best. I needed another 10min sit down on the boot of my car after that effort.


As I sit here now I feel 80%

Looking back two things are obvious.

1: Thank goodness I decided to go up and stuck to my guns. No way could I have coped with significant deco.


2: FFS bail out to OC next time.



I will now make like a F1 driver and offer my excuses.


1: I was self analysing and my SAC was not just normal I made a point of stopping and thinking and my SAC felt very smooth and relaxed. I was analysing my SAC for elevated levels to signal C02 and it wasn't happening QED in my mind,,,, no C02


2: I became a bit fixated on retreating my strobes and tag from the shot line and deco station. I was determined to get these off the line so people knew id gone up. This felt very important to me at the time.


That's all the excuses I can think of. If I come up with better ones ill edit it later. :D


I have always said if I should cop it on a CCR it will be because I screwed up rather than some mystical unit failure. Today was a good example of how true that is. I did what I felt I needed to do under the circumstances and I achieved my ultimate goal of getting back on the boat but in truth I have no idea how close I came to being another statistic due to not doing the obvious and bailing out to a safe known gas


I hope I learn from this and don't make the same mistake again.

Ill probably just make a different one.

ATB

Mark ]]> Incident Reports Mark Chase http://www.ccrexplorers.com/showthread.php?t=15590 Cave Diving Exploration in Sistema Huautla (now deepest cave in Western Hemisphere) http://www.ccrexplorers.com/showthread.php?t=15589&goto=newpost Wed, 22 May 2013 20:32:49 GMT ww.underwaterjournal.com/cave-depth-record-achieved-using-kiss-rebreather/

ww.facebook.com/cavedive

Hi all,

Just wanted to spread the word on this recent expedition. This was the cave that Bill Stone developed the original CIS Lunar rebreather for so seems appropriate the talk about it on a CCR forum. The last big exped here was in 94 using the MK4.

19 years later we put a team of 5 divers beyond sump 1 and 2 and between the two lead RB divers reached 81m, 440m in to sump 9. This re-established Sistema Huautla as the deepest cave in the Western Hemisphere at 1,545m. Our rebreather approach was very different to that in 94 - simple and manual using the KISS approach.

See links above for more info, photos etc..

Finally for anyone in the NW of England I'm giving a talk in the evening on Thursday 30th May at DiveLife in Manchester.

cheers,
Chris ]]> Cave Diving casjcave http://www.ccrexplorers.com/showthread.php?t=15589 Hello CCRx http://www.ccrexplorers.com/showthread.php?t=15588&goto=newpost Wed, 22 May 2013 18:51:15 GMT Well, didn't know this place existed, I've been 'out of the loop' for a while due to the patter of tiny feet but I'm back :woot: ]]> Introductions Ivon http://www.ccrexplorers.com/showthread.php?t=15588 Hello !!! http://www.ccrexplorers.com/showthread.php?t=15587&goto=newpost Wed, 22 May 2013 10:21:53 GMT Hello to all from a rookie who has just begun with rebreather. rEvo III mini RMS Hello to all from a rookie who has just begun with rebreather.
rEvo III mini RMS ]]> Introductions Màrius Simply http://www.ccrexplorers.com/showthread.php?t=15587 How long before you bought a new unit? http://www.ccrexplorers.com/showthread.php?t=15586&goto=newpost Wed, 22 May 2013 00:25:55 GMT For those of you who are now on your 2nd, 3rd or 4th CCR unit, how long was it after you purchased your first unit that you purchased a new model, upgrade or new brand of rebreather? For those of you who are now on your 2nd, 3rd or 4th CCR unit, how long was it after you purchased your first unit that you purchased a new model, upgrade or new brand of rebreather? ]]> Buying decisions Randy Thornton http://www.ccrexplorers.com/showthread.php?t=15586