first rebreather: AP inspiration EVP to buy or not to buy?

[DiveLikeAMuppet]

Check your overall budget. These things are fun but expensive - service, sensors need replacing, handsets break, sofnolime can be really pricey in locations with no established market. It’s not jus about buying the unit.

 

[sheeper]

I've got experience on a number of CCR units and I'm 5 years into my AP inspiration. Definitely my favorite unit. I recently traveled to Truk with the unit and though i made sure i had a large inventory of spare parts, the unit performed flawlessly. I have mine built with a travel frame and replaced the AP BC with a DiveRite wing and backplate. I'm tall and the AP harness just did not fit me well.
From 3 hour dives on shallow recreational reefs, to 250fsw trimix technical wreck dives the Inspo has worked well for me.

The Inspo (like most CCRs) are basically simple units. One great thing about the AP is that they have been in the CCR business for a long time (AP is 50 years old!). Nearly everything on the Inspo is made by AP and parts/service is pretty easy to find globally.

 

[Seefa]

I've got experience on a number of CCR units and I'm 5 years into my AP inspiration. Definitely my favorite unit. I recently traveled to Truk with the unit and though i made sure i had a large inventory of spare parts, the unit performed flawlessly. I have mine built with a travel frame and replaced the AP BC with a DiveRite wing and backplate. I'm tall and the AP harness just did not fit me well.
From 3 hour dives on shallow recreational reefs, to 250fsw trimix technical wreck dives the Inspo has worked well for me.

The Inspo (like most CCRs) are basically simple units. One great thing about the AP is that they have been in the CCR business for a long time (AP is 50 years old!). Nearly everything on the Inspo is made by AP and parts/service is pretty easy to find globally.

This is the kind of answer I was hoping for!

What makes it your favorite unit?
What annoys you about it?

 

[Germie]

I own an Inspiration and I am Inspiration instructor as well. I also own a sidekick and have for 9 different ccr brands a user level.
I have dived my Inspiration up to 135m depth, done dives of 6 hours, so it works for me. I prefer on some narrow caves the sidekick, but the WOB is bad if you know how it can be on an Inspiration or JJ.
I don't feel any differences between the JJ and the Inspiration, but I have seen that the alu scrubber pot of the JJ was deformed after being in a plane, something that is almost impossible with the Inspiration.
I do not like the bulkyness of the Megalodon. And also the XCCR is very heavy to travel with. It dives ok.
Also the Poseidon dives ok, but I hate all that automatic tests before you can jump in the water and if you are too slow, then the computer has turned off and you have to climb on board again to do all the tests again before you can dive. This was very annoying with this machine.
The prism2 dives ok, but the quality of the lungs feels like it is cheap thin material.

I have used the Evolution/EVP on my ccr instructor course in Florida when I did not bring my complete unit, only the electronics. And also that smaller machine dove ok and I am 1.82m, so quite tall.

If I have a question about an Inspiration, an email is answered most times the same day. If you call them you get the answer directly. If you sent files from the unit to them to analyse, they will do.

So for me no need to change to another brand and even if my unit is from 2009, it is completely supported (not like Megalodon did after 10 years), and I can buy all upgrades, spares, etc. I have the 2020 handset as upgrade. But the first stages are still the same, never replaced, only serviced sometimes. I also upgraded to BMCL, but the FMCL's were not bad, only bulky.

 

[evandroairton]

I am an AP instructor and Sidewinder (sold mine) diver.
Love AP, and, except on SM caves (doing on OC for now), there's nothing i can't do with my machine compared tô others rebreathers
AP service is to notch! And their CCRS are quite dependable, reliable.
Só if it fits you, you don't have a why not

 

[Nitrogenius]

I wouldn't bother with a classic, it'll not be worth the upgrade costs.

Why not? Epecially if budget is a topic?
And what upgrade cost?
Surely an upgarde to a newer unit based on the classic does not make a lot of sense.
The issue with the classic are the fragile handsets and the wiring and that AP does not service these anymore. But I am sure one can still source Heads and handsets for rather cheap. There is also some folks that rebuilt the PCB. There is "aftermarket" homebuilt housings as well..
etc.
surely a classic is way old school and thus pretty outdated, but other than the electronic issues it was a solid unit and big dives have been conducted. so why not?

If you were to go that route. I'd buy two complete units and then look for sourcing a bunch of extra heads and then just source from those to keep a working unit..
I'd say a complete classic should likely not be more than 500 EUR these days and a head maybe 200? So all in 1600 for two completes and 3 addional heads?
Likely cheaper than a Vision yet?

 

[Norseman1]

I can tell you with certainty that a used unit can be the proverbial money pit. Ask me how I know, lol! Especially an older, used rebreather. The manufacturers tend to be much more accommodating to the original purchaser in my personal and professional experience.

 

[Norseman1]

FWIW, I just ordered a new EVP.

Actually switched my order to an XPD. You stick with what you know you like. I already have lots of 3L cylinders on hand too. It should be here any day now.