Full helmet rebreather

[vwdevotee]

Every once in a while I see picture of Dive helmets that have been modified for rebreather use rather than surface supply. Does anyone sell these conversions, or are they homebrewed for a given helmet/rebreather combo? I think I've normally seen Kirby Morgan used in teh conversion, but I could be wrong. What special training is required for helmet diving beyond normal rebreather training? Finally, how do these converted helmets work with emergency air bottles? Does the rebreather supply pop out out of the helmet and a standard second stage pop into its place?

Thanks!

 

[netmage]

Every once in a while I see picture of Dive helmets that have been modified for rebreather use rather than surface supply. Does anyone sell these conversions, or are they homebrewed for a given helmet/rebreather combo? I think I've normally seen Kirby Morgan used in teh conversion, but I could be wrong. What special training is required for helmet diving beyond normal rebreather training? Finally, how do these converted helmets work with emergency air bottles? Does the rebreather supply pop out out of the helmet and a standard second stage pop into its place?

Thanks!

Helmet....? Or a modular mask - like the Kirby Morgan or Draeger....?

I'm no expert, and I don't use - but I'm aware of the following:

The Kirby Morgan has a detachable pod that holds the loop. detach the pod, and go to a normal 2nd...

The draeger mask has 3 modules/ports, the center holding the loop, the other two can be fit to normal 2nd stages.

 

[vwdevotee]

The ones I've seen are the actual yellow KB helmets, not just the full face masks. For the life of me I can't seem to find a picture though! Dang it!

 

[Thalassamania]

The only full helmet for a CCR that I'm familiar with is the LAMA built for the BBC a while back. There were (are) scrubber setups for surface supplied helmets like the Desco and a fair number of FFM (like the Widolf) for ccrs.

 

[Codiak]

Do you mean something this?

CCR 2000 Models

 

[vwdevotee]

YES! This is exactly it!

 

[Thalassamania]

That's an SL-17 conversion allright:

 

[vwdevotee]

So I'm poking aorund the site, and it looks like the original KB manifold block and regulator is kept in place as a bailout option. Does it seem like that to anyone else? Or does it just depend on how stuff it hooked up?

 

[Thalassamania]

I suspect that the conversion is to be able to use the CCR2000 as a bailout system for surface (or bell) supplied gas.