am in the process of being trained on the Azimuth rebreather and I now have some concerns. In the real world of Carribbean diving will bringing this gear on and off the boats daily be a real hassle? What about set up and cleaning? I was told to figure about 1 hour to set up the unit for 2 days diving. Does this make sense? Anybody out there own the Azimuth or Drager and feel its too many headaches? I am a photographer and it would be real nice to have no bubbles but I also don't want to have to drive myself crazy with quantum physics every time I want to dive the rebreather. Any and all responses greatly appreciated
Hi Ex Con, if you decide to buy one, u must decide if you are a Rebreather diver or an OC diver, Rebreather diving is a mindset, when I first started using a Rebreather I kept breathing in to control my buoyancy, like you would with OC, guess what it didnt work, now after 25 hours of diving on the unit im starting not to do that anymore, but if I go over to OC I will have to do it again.
Im off on holiday in October, there is no Nitrox or o2 on the island so I have to dive OC and I am not looking forward to it. I no longer like OC, its dry, cold, noisy, & on the boat a lot of hassle, with my RB, while everyone else is faffing changing there cylinders for the next dive, im just chilling out on the boat.
I dive my Rebreather all the time, whether I am in 10m or 40m, because I am a Rebreather diver not an OC diver , I go to a shore site & they look at me funny, one guy said it was a bit OTT for a shore dive, but as I have just explained its a mindset, im not saying you cant swap or shouldnt swap, but I love all the advantages the RB gives me over OC, in the water OC has no advantage over a RB to me.
Out of the water very much yes with the extra time spent preparing the unit, but that comes with the territory, you are either prepared to do it or your not, with a RB any RB there can be no cut corners when it comes to maintenance and preparation
If you think its a hassle to go through those procedures with your RB, then I would advise you to reconsider whether a RB is for you.
You will have spent a lot of money on your unit, DIVE IT.
Whenever and wherever you can.
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