I recently got certified on the Prism rebreather and I am currently on the waiting list for my rig. I should be getting it within the next 4 months. I live in Maryland and was wondering if there are any other rebreather divers in or around Maryland that go diving with their rig on a regular basis.
Looking for a rebreather buddy(s)....
- Thread starter urs15
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join the atlantic divers list on yahoo,
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AtlanticDiver/
jeff who is a moderator is a ccr dive in your area.. If you travel up to the NY area drop me a line... I'm an inspiration instructor
http://www.geocities.com/padiscubapro/index.htm
ANDI, PADI, SDI, TDI
Tech and Rec Scuba Instruction
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AtlanticDiver/
jeff who is a moderator is a ccr dive in your area.. If you travel up to the NY area drop me a line... I'm an inspiration instructor
http://www.geocities.com/padiscubapro/index.htm
ANDI, PADI, SDI, TDI
Tech and Rec Scuba Instruction
DrySuitDave
Contributor
urs, out of curiosity, is your Prism going to come with a fully enclosed case like they show in the Steam machines web site anmated drawing?
I am angling for an Inspiration. I like the Prism's smaller size, but I didn't like the non-computerized analog controls and the lack of a streamlined fairing. It also worries me that if Peter Readey move on, there will be no Steam Machines.
I am angling for an Inspiration. I like the Prism's smaller size, but I didn't like the non-computerized analog controls and the lack of a streamlined fairing. It also worries me that if Peter Readey move on, there will be no Steam Machines.
DrySuitDave... I chose the Prism for 3 reasons 1) The O2 solenoid is located outside of the loop. In other units it is located in the loop. In case of a malfunction and the solenoid sticks open, the O2 will dump out into the water instead of in the loop which will shoot the O2 level through the roof in no time. 2) the secondary display is an analogue meter and runs off the current generated by the 3 O2 sensors. In case of a 100% electronics failure or you turn the unit off and operate it manually, you still have readings off of the sensors and you do not have to terminate the dive. My initial cheack-out dive was 2 hours long and i dove the entire time with the rig turned off using no electronics. 3) When I decided on buying the unit a year ago, the US Navy was doing testing on all available CCR rigs on the market, and Prism came out #1. As of this date it is still at the top.... I was in your shoes this time last year and could not decide between the Prism or Inspiration. Both are very good units and both have their good and bad points. If Prism would go out of business tomorrow, I would definitely look at buying the Inspiration. I due believe that the Prism-Inspiration debate is going to last a long time. As far as the case you saw, Peter is currently re-designing a new one because of some modifications made to the main rig. Streamlining is also important to me because I enjoy wreck diving. As with any other piece of tech diving equipment, you can make personal modifications yourself to fit whatever type of diving you do. My Prism instructor just re-directed a few hoses and his rig is more streamlined then my OC rig...At this point I am very curious why 12-19 divers have died on the Inspiration rig. I was not aware of this figure until I logged onto this site just recently. I hope this information helps and good luck with your decision....
I don't think having the solenoid within the loop is a problem, in fact it would probably help the durability.. Its is highly unlikely the the solenoid will fail in a way that would vent gas out of the casing, it is much moe likely that the internals fail, either open or shut.. in the open case it doesn't matter if its in or out of the loop its goinfg to flood the loop with o2.. In either way external or internal you could add a whitey valve to manually shut off the o2 and still have access to the gas for oc deco bailout (assuming a 2nd stage attached) or just reachback and shut off the o2 valve the flow rate is not that high, granted it will rise quickly but it can be managed.. under normal operation you operate the inspiration with the o2 valve just cracked open , so there is little flow into the first stage(also the ip on the 1st stage is lower than usual), and the solenoid is a restricted opening, even if did come apart, unless you were real deep you have time to manage the gas.. in the case of an external unit, unless you have a valve to shut the gas to the solenoid, you cant even fly the rebreather manually adding o2.
Every rb has its pluses and minuses, The main thing I didn't like about the prism is not being able to set your own setpoints on the fly, your only way is to fly it manually, and it many cases you have to shut down the electronics.
My next RB is an infinito by powerbreathe, its a commercial/military unit designed for use to 250meters/820fsw (about $18.5k), I already have it on order and hope to have it for the beginning of dive season.. From all the units I have examined its the best.. Its primarily designed by stuart clough and is an evolution of the ut-240..
I put a few links up on a msg somewhere on this board, they are in italian and spanish but are easily translated using babelfish..
Joe
Every rb has its pluses and minuses, The main thing I didn't like about the prism is not being able to set your own setpoints on the fly, your only way is to fly it manually, and it many cases you have to shut down the electronics.
My next RB is an infinito by powerbreathe, its a commercial/military unit designed for use to 250meters/820fsw (about $18.5k), I already have it on order and hope to have it for the beginning of dive season.. From all the units I have examined its the best.. Its primarily designed by stuart clough and is an evolution of the ut-240..
I put a few links up on a msg somewhere on this board, they are in italian and spanish but are easily translated using babelfish..
Joe
DrySuitDave
Contributor
URS, from what I can read on the deaths on Inspirations so far none of it really looks like equipment malfunction, but rather a lack of proper control and in one case personal health problems.
I also think the Inspiration has to be the most widely sold and used CCR and it is used for deep, technical, mixed gas or all the abovecompared to themore wideley used SCR Dolphins and Rays from Draeger which the sporters use.
I don't have a need to go real deep but Southern Cal locally I do intend on using the a CCR and it's efficiency to become a terror to the local lobster population.
Padis, at 18.5k, why did you hold the purse strings closed .....?
I also think the Inspiration has to be the most widely sold and used CCR and it is used for deep, technical, mixed gas or all the abovecompared to themore wideley used SCR Dolphins and Rays from Draeger which the sporters use.
I don't have a need to go real deep but Southern Cal locally I do intend on using the a CCR and it's efficiency to become a terror to the local lobster population.
Padis, at 18.5k, why did you hold the purse strings closed .....?
I was first shown the infinito about 2 years ago and I knew it was the one I had to get... The inspiration has served me well and is pretty easy to travel with, but if given the choice would you rather drive an escort or a mercedes... I'll continue to use an inspiration when I travel and for a rental unit(I wount be as upset if its stolen and the insurance co probably wouldn't drop me) The inspiration is a fine unit and I'm much more likely to get students who can afford a 7k rebreather, before I'll get students who can afford double that and then some..
DrySuitDave
Contributor
In the pictures of the Inspiro I did notice that in one it showed the o2 bottle and the diluent bottle mounted side by side but on the lower bottom of the unit horizontally. Seems this would stick out backwards quite a bit although all other photos showed the bottles straddling the scrubber cannister.
The way the diluent and o2 bottles are mounted is up to the user.. The unit is capable of accepting the bottles in either configuration..
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