Best CCR in 2025-2030 Rebreather Markets

[Heat Miser]

I think most of us on this board would start by wanting to know the type of diving/expedition/project is being done. i.e. depth, restrictions / overhead / shallow / ice etc. etc. and then match the CCR unit to the task.

The revo is a good versatile unit and most of the cinematographers I have met like it. However in a cave, there may be better suited units. I love my revo, it a pleasure to dive.

I wouldn't know where to get Drager training.

JFD is a big underwater servicing company and do military / off shore oil/gas sefvicing contracts and could be a good point of contact for you.

 

[OTF]

Are you looking for a unit to dive, and looking for a big company to trust for long term product support? If so what kind of diving do you want to do?

Or looking to buy units for some agency or company with specific procurement rules? If so, again, what kind of diving do you want to do?

Or looking for certain types of companies to invest in?

Provide some more information and we can be a lot more helpful.

That said, Hollis is owned by Huish Outdoors which is a huge company.

edit: from OP's post history "Yes, if they want only from the larger business. These are the only two units I am aware of so far. But i am searching for more options to help a family student who want to start instructor career in CCR training and doesn't want to consider any units rely on the mood and life conditions of single engineer or entrepreneur."

 

[old frogman]

Hi Mas,

The Drager FGT 5400 is not a CCR (closed circuit rebreather), it is SCR, that is, a semi-closed circuit rebreather. It does emit a small stream of exhaled bubbles during use however, not as much as open circuit scuba. It is designed for naval explosive ordnance disposal diving and has a low magnetic signature. I am not sure if Drager will sell it to civilians.

Drager did make the Dolphin SCR which is the civilian version of the FGT 5400. Not sure it is still in production as civilian divers tend to prefer CCR over SCR.

 

[Wibble]

You appear to be excluding all recreational scuba rebreathers based upon an irrelevant constraint: parent company size.

Drager rebreathers are non-existent in recreational scuba although their mouthpiece designs are used by several manufacturers including Revo.

ScubaBoard is a recreational scuba forum with very few — if any — posters with any experience of military rebreathers nor commercial rebreathers.


Choosing rebreathers by market sales, the leader would be AP Inspiration as it was first to market. The current world-wide choice would be the JJ. Otherwise it’s the Revo, but they are a tiny company just like all other rebreather manufacturers, most would employ fewer than 20 people in the rebreather department.

Bottom line: the recreational rebreather market is minuscule with (very) low thousands of units sold worldwide each year, maybe even less than 1000 sold per year. Would be interesting to hear from an industry pro who knows this market segmentation.

As a rebreather diver, I know that the $10k++ cost of a rebreather is way way more than the cost of the components. Most of the purchase price would be for amortisation of the research, development and certification costs.

Have you heard of CE certification of rebreathers? Without that they cannot be sold nor trained upon in the EU. The cost of CE certification will be tens of thousands of dollars.

 

[Mas.]

Drager rebreathers are non-existent

Thanks. But I am still gathering information.

Maybe Dräger, Scubapro or Head Sports or any other big companies have something in the pipeline for this coming few years, how would you know without asking. I am still gathering information.

You appear to be excluding all recreational scuba rebreathers based upon an irrelevant constraint: parent company size.

There is nothing wrong with asking if there are any big parent company offering rebreathers this year.

In car racing world, this is like asking which big parent companies will offer high-class racing units this year? The answer will be something like Mercedes and Ferrari.

Choosing rebreathers by market sales, the leader would be AP Inspiration as it was first to market.

When it comes to safety testing or any other considerations, Some might think Mercedes have much more at stake to lose than a small local race shop of 5-10 engineers.
This might appear to you, the question will exculde all other 50 small workshops who doesn't have big parents. That is ok. We still have to gather this important piece of information and then decide to ignore or not.

Bottom line: the recreational rebreather market is minuscule with (very) low thousands of units sold worldwide each year,

Economy of product line is not an excuse not to gather information. If any big companies planning to offer rebreathers, we need to know this important information.

 

[Mas.]

The Drager FGT 5400 is not a CCR (closed circuit rebreather), it is SCR, that is, a semi-closed circuit rebreather.

Are you sure it can not operate as a CCR?

According to their product page it can be switched to CCR mode on Oxygen.

 

[Mobulai]

Data points aren’t the whole story, it’s the context

Dräger or Head Sporta or any other big companies have something in the pipeline for this coming few years

Re: Deager, they withdrew completely from the “recreational” diving scene and focused on military rebreathers; their rebreathers are used by quite a few mila around the world and it’s a low gain high investment to get back into what private individuals seek

Re: Head, well Mares; Mares bought revo, kept revo running as it is (just a small company in their portfolio , keeping their structure…); that allowed Mares (a bigger company) access to the intellectual property, and Mares used that to build on top of it the Mares Horizon SCR
It’s a dumpster fire of e-waste, no body wants that rebreather

Revo OTOH keep their name and their customer base is quite bigger; comparable to their pre Mares/Head days… not much changed

Just because It’s made by a big company it’s gonna succeed in the market

 

[Mobulai]

Are you sure it can not operate as a CCR?

According to their product page it can be switched to CCR mode on Oxygen.

An oxygen rebreather is different from a mixed gas rebreather; limited to 6m depth (10m for mil personnel I hear)

“Full CCR”s allow dilution with a Diluent, so you don’t get OxTox at greater depths

 

[lostsheep]

1- What do you guys think is the best CCR manufactured by big companies and will be available in 2025-2030 rebreather markets for technical/ professional divers?

2- Does anyone have experience with the Dräger FGT 5400 or any other CCR model from big companies available for purchase and training for technical/ professional divers?

We are screening the global market in search for all CCR models currently available from companies large enough in size, employ more than 1,000-1,500 people and report sales of more than $200-300 million. Example of such companies can be anything like:

• Dräger. German company with operations in 190 countries worldwide, employs 16,000 people and reports sales of more than $4 billion
• Head Sport GmbH. American-Austrian company of Mares, SSI, Liveaboard.com, and their original Head brand of winter sports, employs 2,500 people and reports sales of more than $700 million
• Scubapro of Johnson Outdoors. Medium-size family business with operations in 24 locations worldwide, employs 1,400 people and reports sales of more than $315 million

3- How to find instructors for the Dräger FGT 5400 unit in coming few years?

4- What about rEvo III?

According to Wikipedia, Dräger Dolphin is also made in Germany and widely available for professional divers but is not a full CCR model. But the rEvo III is a Dräger Dolphin in a full CCR version. rEvo III is made in Belgium, operated by Head Sport GmbH which is big enough for us. This model is already CE certified so training for this unit will hopefully be available around the world.

Any info about rEvo III comparing to Dräger FGT 5400 would be greatly appreciated.

I’m surprised no one has mentioned the Dive Talk Go, I’m pretty sure they are affiliated with American Express.

 

[Heat Miser]

Thanks. But I am still gathering information.

Maybe Dräger, Scubapro or Head Sports or any other big companies have something in the pipeline for this coming few years, how would you know without asking. I am still gathering information.

Yours is a very top down approach, which doesn't work well with recreational rebreather manufacturers.

Even Head which you seem excited about bought into the micro business rEvo with the objective of broadening its appeal through Mares distribution and making a cheaper Semi Closed version called the Horizon SCR, this was not a commercial success Similarly Hollis which is owned by a bigger scuba equipment manufacturer made an attempt with the Hollis Explorer SCR in years prior

Technical diving is a niche sport/pastime it doesn't attract the sponsorship money of F1. There is no world championship.

Neccessity is the mother of invention, these rebreathers are often maintained/ enhanced and serviced by the people diving them .... If you tell us the objective of the dive/depth exposure/conditions, we can tell you someone who has created what they think is the best rebreather for those specific conditions.

You need a bottom up approach.