First CCR Unit Suggestions

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professorpaddle

New Member
So here we go another newb ... I could take it to SB but it seems like the real knowledge might be here with perhaps a bit less of the nonsense.

My Pre-Ramble
I am enrolled in a Fundies Tech course, have never dove past 150fsw, and I know that I want to pursue CCR. Being completely UN-experienced I of course have been a web reader digging through page after page on the interwebs, and here also. It seems as though it is fairly hard to get an UN-biased perspective as there are people locked into a specific platform and of course people that bounce around but ultimately if they are instructors or dealers they are going to favor what they rep. Places like https://www.silentexplorers.com/rebreather seem to be more un-biased but then again a quick read on the Se7en then a glance at what they rep bring back the same conflict. Maybe that is just how the cookie crumbles.

My Question
Knowing I want to go CCR I have opted to go a rental path on my doubles for instruction and begin saving for the big wallet drop on CCR. The more I read about the JJ the more I find out that this unit might not be for me. I like the idea of both manual and electronic units and multitasking on manuals is not a factor for my reasoning. While I know this should not be "the" determining factor, where the instructor and dealer are does make a good amount of difference to me. That is why I am hear because my next class being CCR is kind of going to be made based on the initial unit I want to purchase.

I am in Seattle, WA and I am leaning towards the Meg, or the Se7en. Both have shops and instructors that are local however it would mean that I would have to yet again bounce agencies as GUE is locked on the JJ. Should I stick with GUE and go JJ, Move to the unit I want and let that determine my course?

I like the instructors here for all 3 units.
 
Who are your buddies and what do they dive.

I dive with guys on inspos, so the amount of experience and spare kit on a dive boat is awesome.
 
I certainly can appreciate that... unfortunately most of my buddies are OC and I have only met a few guys on both JJs and Megs, none on the Se7en. I figured the further I went down that path the more relationships I would make based on my trajectory. I completely agree though, it does appear that tighter "groups" begin to form around the units. Not in bad terms, just for the reasons you point out. Ultimately I am not "in" a group... Most of the folks I dive have 2 distinct views on the subject. Folks that think CC is trying to kill you and that the maint. and reliability don't warrant the possible advantages, then others that are sold on the various aspects but are not interested in the investment.
 
The Meg is a great CCR and well-supported in the US. I know quite a few Meg divers here in the UK and they are all happy with their units. It's a bit of a cult thing here if I'm honest, more so than other CCRs (with the possible exception of the rEvo) but it's a very friendly community and they support each other very well.

I wouldn't consider a Se7en - it's chalk & cheese compared with the Meg. There's nothing about that unit that appeals to me.

I'm on my third JJ-CCR so I'm obviously very happy with my choice. I'm not sure what the support is like in the US but guess that it must be quite comprehensive, given that it's the rebreather of choice for GUE - although in a very different configuration (which wouldn't suit me).

If I were in your shoes, I'd see if I was going to stick with GUE/DIR after your Fundies training before making any further decisions. I did Fundies 16 years ago and it's a great course with the right instructor but I never had any intention of diving within the rigid confines of the agency. I do know plenty of GUE divers of all levels and it definitely appeals to a certain type of person - just not me.
 
Hi Professorpaddle,
I know the difficultues choosing and finding the right path as well. I did some training with several agencies (IANTD, TDI, SSI, PADI, ISE, GUE, CMAS) as I wanted to have an opinion of my own. I followed-up on the GUE and IANTD/TDI path, however discovered again and again that GUE is my place to be...However, when I started by rebreather training, I went for the rEvo (hybrid rebreather, really small, easy to travel with and light), as the main advantage for me was that the factory is more or loss round the corner (1h drive) and my local diveshop where I usually fill knows all about it. I dived it for +/- 2 years. Then I did, just for the fun of it, a JJ trial dive - and discovered that that is the unit which I like much better! So I changed. In the meantime, I also configured it the heavy GUE way. But I like that it's versatile and can easily change it back, I can travel with it, I like its robustness, well, I love it.
But of course, every unit has its advantages/disadvantages. But here you can either go/continue the GUE way, or change it to your preference. But as the others said, it's also important to have buddies or places to go to where they dive the same way.

About the Meg I don't know anything, so I cannot judge.

Good luck with your choice!
 
nickb said:
The Meg is a great CCR and well-supported in the US. I know quite a few Meg divers here in the UK and they are all happy with their units. It's a bit of a cult thing here if I'm honest, more so than other CCRs (with the possible exception of the rEvo) but it's a very friendly community and they support each other very well.

I wouldn't consider a Se7en - it's chalk & cheese compared with the Meg. There's nothing about that unit that appeals to me.

I'm on my third JJ-CCR so I'm obviously very happy with my choice. I'm not sure what the support is like in the US but guess that it must be quite comprehensive, given that it's the rebreather of choice for GUE - although in a very different configuration (which wouldn't suit me).

If I were in your shoes, I'd see if I was going to stick with GUE/DIR after your Fundies training before making any further decisions. I did Fundies 16 years ago and it's a great course with the right instructor but I never had any intention of diving within the rigid confines of the agency. I do know plenty of GUE divers of all levels and it definitely appeals to a certain type of person - just not me.
Click to expand...


Just curious........on your third.....I guess I wonder why?
 
DepthCharge said:
Just curious........on your third.....I guess I wonder why?
Click to expand...
First was a pre-CE analog. Second was a DiveCAN version in 2015. I had an opportunity to buy a new one at a good price in 2023 and only lost £500 on the old one (after 8 years of ownership) - no brainer.
 
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