Help me pick

UPDATE:

I would like to thank everyone for their input and opinions for my next rebreather. I have managed to make my decision as to what unit it will be. It may not be perfect and I may regret my decision in the future, but I am confident enough at the moment to have already ordered and paid for it. My credit card company was entirely too happy to accommodate the transaction.

Some of the main points for my decision are:

Back mounted counter lungs
No electronics are hardwired to the head.
It has Shearwater Petrel so the battery is user changeable.
Easy to turn into a hybrid (already ordered from Chris Kennedy).
All parts are available for me to buy (exception of motherboard in handset).
Easy to travel with and carry-on airlines.
Trusted and reliable US service.

Obviously I had the field narrowed down to the rEvo micro titanium, JJ, or Defender. It is easy enough to tell that the rEvo did not make the final cut by the previous point about parts available to purchase, but that was not the only deciding factor. Now it is either the JJ or Defender and you will just have to wait to find out.
 
If the battery is user changeable that eliminates the Defender. So between the two you mention I guess you are going with the JJ.


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Christ, its like 2008 all over again...

You can see why the majority of thinking divers are not diving stock units- they are either hobbled by regulation, the personal preferences of the designer or because they copied another unit and have no idea why it is the way it is! :-)

At least we can comfort ourselves that in a niche market with too many suppliers people can at least harvest the good parts from the cream and build their own equipment- the only fly in the ointment remains the Agency and Tour operator Nazi's who seem to believe they have the right to Police what and how we dive.

Don, if what you want is that list you should just build it. Buying any unit is farm animal level crazy because who in their right mind pays $10000 dollars for some hoses and tubes held together with cable ties FFS?!

I am continually baffled to see all the manufacturers trotting down the same route, no innovation, no simplicity or clarity just yet more clones and ECCR complexity and warranty nightmare designs. Its almost as if they have learned nothing after 20yrs of recreational available rebreathers we really have hardly moved forward at all!
 
Keep saying we need some cert cards that say "you're a big boy now, go do what you fookin like and try not to die"
 
Never looked at the Defender before but I am asuming thats what your going for? Both the defender and JJ seem an odd choice given your criterior of redundancy?

Be interesting to see your thaughts on the unit you decide on

ATB
 
I guess it is time to set the record straight about a couple of things involving rEvo.

1. I do not hate my rEvo or think it is a bad rebreather. There are a couple of things about it that have never made me real happy and I was never shy about saying so. The ADV is a crap design and no way to dump water were always the two main concerns to me, but never enough to look for something different since I still thought my rEvo was the best choice for me and my style of diving. The rEvo also has some great innovations that make it a real game changer. I absolutely do not regret buying or diving the rEvo. It has been some of the best dive experiences of my life.

2. I do not now, or ever in the past, have any hard feelings or resentments towards Paul Raymeakers in regards to being able to purchase counter lungs. I have stated this before and I will say it again. I fully understand his viewpoint on this and his policy of it being done at is service centers only. This does not mean that I agree with it, only that I understand it. This only became an issue when it was brought to surface via another diver while I was actively researching for my next rebreather. Yes it did play a small part in my decision, but there were other more important things involved in my decision. Paul has always been available for help and advice to the dive community and his continuing reseach and developments are a valuable asset to our small community.

3. I would not be getting a new unit if my rEvo was a micro titanium and thus much lighter for travel. Due to this I began diligently researching for the best choice to change to. I still find it hard to switch units from this one since it has treated me great and done some really massive dives without issue. It will take a lot of time and dives to develop this kind of trust in a new unit.

4. The reasons I did not pick another rEvo are as follows, but not in any specific order of importantce:

A. Lack of modularity due to case and scrubbers
B. No water traps in lungs
C. No way to clear water from loop
D. Can not purchase internal parts for DIY replacment
E. My lack of faith in US service center
F. Hydrostatic imbalance in lungs
G. Lungs are difficult to find leaks in and harder to repair/replace
 
we definitely have a different taste for humor....

My sense of humor has never been exactly socially acceptable and thus, after careful and deliberate consideration on the matter, I have killed the link to the video. I did not do this as any form of apology to you since I still find it humorous after the facebook postings, but purely out of respect for you and your rEvo business. I do wish you continued success.
 
Defender by SubGravity is my new baby. :-)


So what looks basicly like a Hammer Head unit with Sheerwater electronics ;)

I knew your love afair with Kevin wasnt realy over :)

Cant wait for the feed back

The lads at Sub Gravity must be slashing theri wrists about now :D
 
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