Why is a rebreather bad for unexpected depth changes? I think that's where my rebreather excels.
I'd prefer to teach in eCCR. I don't teach while on CCR, but I will once I become a CCR instructor. Here's why.
About two years ago I was teaching a Trimix class at Eagle's Nest. We made our dive to 200'ish feet for the specified period of time. It was basically follow the leader. Everything went off without a hitch until we got to 150'. We all had computers, but were running run-time tables as our primary. We got back to our ascent point about two minutes early, so we were waiting out the clock so our run-time tables were on the money. When it became time to ascend, a student froze. I gave him a thumbs up. Nothing. I asked him if he was okay, he answered okay. He was breathing, awake, eyes open and responding to questions, but would not ascend. He would not move. I finally grabbed a hold of his harness and started moving up, we were already late for our tables. Once we moved up 20 or 30 feet, he seemed to snap out of it. But I'm already worried at this point. I don't know what might happen from here. He could bolt for the surface or the floor, become unresponsive again, who knows. So I'm babysitting him like never before. I've got one hand on him, but of course, I've got my all of my bottles to contend with, gas switches, air breaks, venting the wing, venting the drysuit, etc. I also have to watch to make sure all his stuff happens without a hiccup. Is he breathing the proper bottle/reg. Did he change his computer after the gas switch. Blah blah blah... And there's another student. Now, this is doable, and it's the reason we limit class size, but on eCCR its a lot easier.
On backmounted doubles do I mix the best mix for the planned dive, or do I mix just in case the student ends up on the floor? If I mix for the floor, now our deco doesn't line up. But, if I mix for best mix for the dive, and the floor is 100' below us and something goes wrong, now I risk myself going to rescue him. How many stories are on Scubaboard about students descending way below their instructor. It hasn't happened to me.... yet. But I plan for it. Given the right amount of idiocy, and just about anything can happen, I believe. -- On my rebreather, I can put in 10/60 have the best mix for the dive, and if some goober ends up on the floor, I can go get him. I hope this never happens, and I think I weed out crappy students pretty well, but this is a benefit to the rebreather.
So, lets assume a student is going to freeze, but this time I'm on an eCCR rebreather. What do I have to do? Well I can tell you what I don't have to do. I don't have to manage additional bottles. I don't have to switch gases. I don't have to do air breaks. Both of my hands are free to hold onto my student if necessary. Because when students freeze up, they forget stuff like venting their suit and wing. They forget to change their computer and gas switches. The less I have to do for myself, the more I can focus on them. And eCCR allows me to do that.
I believe diving a rebreather at trimix level depths is safer, especially if you're teaching. That's just my 2cents. I'm sure all of you will disagree. lol
I'd prefer to teach in eCCR. I don't teach while on CCR, but I will once I become a CCR instructor. Here's why.
About two years ago I was teaching a Trimix class at Eagle's Nest. We made our dive to 200'ish feet for the specified period of time. It was basically follow the leader. Everything went off without a hitch until we got to 150'. We all had computers, but were running run-time tables as our primary. We got back to our ascent point about two minutes early, so we were waiting out the clock so our run-time tables were on the money. When it became time to ascend, a student froze. I gave him a thumbs up. Nothing. I asked him if he was okay, he answered okay. He was breathing, awake, eyes open and responding to questions, but would not ascend. He would not move. I finally grabbed a hold of his harness and started moving up, we were already late for our tables. Once we moved up 20 or 30 feet, he seemed to snap out of it. But I'm already worried at this point. I don't know what might happen from here. He could bolt for the surface or the floor, become unresponsive again, who knows. So I'm babysitting him like never before. I've got one hand on him, but of course, I've got my all of my bottles to contend with, gas switches, air breaks, venting the wing, venting the drysuit, etc. I also have to watch to make sure all his stuff happens without a hiccup. Is he breathing the proper bottle/reg. Did he change his computer after the gas switch. Blah blah blah... And there's another student. Now, this is doable, and it's the reason we limit class size, but on eCCR its a lot easier.
On backmounted doubles do I mix the best mix for the planned dive, or do I mix just in case the student ends up on the floor? If I mix for the floor, now our deco doesn't line up. But, if I mix for best mix for the dive, and the floor is 100' below us and something goes wrong, now I risk myself going to rescue him. How many stories are on Scubaboard about students descending way below their instructor. It hasn't happened to me.... yet. But I plan for it. Given the right amount of idiocy, and just about anything can happen, I believe. -- On my rebreather, I can put in 10/60 have the best mix for the dive, and if some goober ends up on the floor, I can go get him. I hope this never happens, and I think I weed out crappy students pretty well, but this is a benefit to the rebreather.
So, lets assume a student is going to freeze, but this time I'm on an eCCR rebreather. What do I have to do? Well I can tell you what I don't have to do. I don't have to manage additional bottles. I don't have to switch gases. I don't have to do air breaks. Both of my hands are free to hold onto my student if necessary. Because when students freeze up, they forget stuff like venting their suit and wing. They forget to change their computer and gas switches. The less I have to do for myself, the more I can focus on them. And eCCR allows me to do that.
I believe diving a rebreather at trimix level depths is safer, especially if you're teaching. That's just my 2cents. I'm sure all of you will disagree. lol
