nl_carey
Guest
Having dived a Dolphin for a bit, and now owning a Sport KISS, I would never, ever suggest that someone should actually own an SCR. Maybe get training on a Dolphin to see if they actually like the idea of an RB, but definitely not outlay the money for one.
Why? Because, despite opposing opinions, IMO SCR does not give enough benefits over OC to be worth it. When you have one you realise that they are bulky, heavy pieces of kit, with many many more things to go wrong, additional ongoing costs due to sorb, O2 sensors (if you use them), extra regs etc. They also require considerably more planning for repetitive diving than OC, and your computer won't likely track with your SCR as well (though you can fudge it). It's terribly frustrating to have a small leak, then have to can your dive due to something as simple as a bit of a leaky O-ring. This is particularly relevant if you dive with OC buddies, or you are on your own.
As an aside - I would not recommend diving solo on an SCR. When you do your training, you'll find out how important bubble checks are. Doing a bubble check on an SCR when you have a buddy is easy - any bubbles can be matched up to where they came from. When you solo dive, assuming you don't take your unit off to check bubbles (it would be a real pain) then the only diagnostic you have is bubbles going to the surface. I have enough trouble verifying if bubbles have worked their way up the case and bubbling up, on an SCR you'd have the problem of bubbles being vented making diagnosis much much harder. People will say that leaks don't matter as much considering an SCR is by design a slightly positive pressure unit - but I wouldn't trust it, particularly without PO2 monitoring. I know people who have dived SCRs without monitoring and not died, but the real variation in what you breathe is simply scary in practice when you can watch it via the Oxygauage, for example. And I hate the fudging you have to do, giving you less nitrox benefit than you should have, as well as artificially restricting your depth over the PO2 actually in your loop.
And what do you get? Warm moist air, fewer bubbles. Whoop de doo. When you really compare the durations you get with the RB and weights with appropriate bailout, you could generally be using twins and have a simpler setup. I don't consider the 'nitrox benefit' touted as anything special, just put nitrox in your twins. I imagine I sound jaded about SCR, which really I'm not - it's just that when you have other options either in the case of simple use in twins, or so much more advantages when CCR than SCR is a bit like the poor cousin.
Now, when you get into CCR you get no bubbles, all the benefits of constant PO2 deco, less weight to carry, no need to plan ahead for depths on dive boats, less gas used (big big big benefit when you go to trimix) and good PO2 monitoring as standard.
Considering the price differential and the minor additional training required, it's really not a big stretch to go for something like the Sport KISS over the Dolphin, or Azi. I know people modifying both to CCR, and they both consider the Sport KISS a no-brainer option.
For me, the Sport KISS really came through on all the things I had thought the Dolphin would be. The difference in SCR vs CCR is huge, and really worth the trifling extra cash you'll outlay. In fact, if you start using Trimix, likely you'll make that cash difference up very fast.
Now, if you HAVE to go SCR, the Dolphin is nice, but cheap. The Azi is a much much more capable unit, and the comfort while wearing, as well as trim and general quality is far above the Dolphin.
Cheers,
Nathan
Why? Because, despite opposing opinions, IMO SCR does not give enough benefits over OC to be worth it. When you have one you realise that they are bulky, heavy pieces of kit, with many many more things to go wrong, additional ongoing costs due to sorb, O2 sensors (if you use them), extra regs etc. They also require considerably more planning for repetitive diving than OC, and your computer won't likely track with your SCR as well (though you can fudge it). It's terribly frustrating to have a small leak, then have to can your dive due to something as simple as a bit of a leaky O-ring. This is particularly relevant if you dive with OC buddies, or you are on your own.
As an aside - I would not recommend diving solo on an SCR. When you do your training, you'll find out how important bubble checks are. Doing a bubble check on an SCR when you have a buddy is easy - any bubbles can be matched up to where they came from. When you solo dive, assuming you don't take your unit off to check bubbles (it would be a real pain) then the only diagnostic you have is bubbles going to the surface. I have enough trouble verifying if bubbles have worked their way up the case and bubbling up, on an SCR you'd have the problem of bubbles being vented making diagnosis much much harder. People will say that leaks don't matter as much considering an SCR is by design a slightly positive pressure unit - but I wouldn't trust it, particularly without PO2 monitoring. I know people who have dived SCRs without monitoring and not died, but the real variation in what you breathe is simply scary in practice when you can watch it via the Oxygauage, for example. And I hate the fudging you have to do, giving you less nitrox benefit than you should have, as well as artificially restricting your depth over the PO2 actually in your loop.
And what do you get? Warm moist air, fewer bubbles. Whoop de doo. When you really compare the durations you get with the RB and weights with appropriate bailout, you could generally be using twins and have a simpler setup. I don't consider the 'nitrox benefit' touted as anything special, just put nitrox in your twins. I imagine I sound jaded about SCR, which really I'm not - it's just that when you have other options either in the case of simple use in twins, or so much more advantages when CCR than SCR is a bit like the poor cousin.
Now, when you get into CCR you get no bubbles, all the benefits of constant PO2 deco, less weight to carry, no need to plan ahead for depths on dive boats, less gas used (big big big benefit when you go to trimix) and good PO2 monitoring as standard.
Considering the price differential and the minor additional training required, it's really not a big stretch to go for something like the Sport KISS over the Dolphin, or Azi. I know people modifying both to CCR, and they both consider the Sport KISS a no-brainer option.
For me, the Sport KISS really came through on all the things I had thought the Dolphin would be. The difference in SCR vs CCR is huge, and really worth the trifling extra cash you'll outlay. In fact, if you start using Trimix, likely you'll make that cash difference up very fast.
Now, if you HAVE to go SCR, the Dolphin is nice, but cheap. The Azi is a much much more capable unit, and the comfort while wearing, as well as trim and general quality is far above the Dolphin.
Cheers,
Nathan
