Russian Rebreathers?

[Zed]

... and it is sooo inexpensive! I'll take two

 

[PAdiver93]

The Soviet Socialist Republic's philosophy was that their equipment, be it re-breathers, aircraft, tanks, or assault rifles had to be (1) reliable, (2) simple to maintain by the draftee from the far reaches of the hegemony, (3) able to resist incredibly adverse condiditions, and (4) easy to produce.

Consequently, their stuff is not fancy looking, (even down-right crude looking at times), but it is double-tough and as reliable as a John Deere tractor.

The problem is, as has been pointed out, that some of these re-breather units are not suitable at all for re-habbing and conversion.

Those that are suitable require a lot of sweat equity, some extra parts, and a fair amount of DIY skill.

I greatly admire those folks who can build one of these into something that (1) works properly, and (2) is as safe to use as any ordinary piece of diving equipment.

For next summer looking for a crew to dive Baltic and Black seas... Unknown WWII wrecks. With boats permits and airfair - looking at $2500 each per diver (14 day trip) - ANYONE INTERESTED????

 

[Pawel]

Then again, if your Italian gauges are as accurate than the ones in my Fiat Spider were ...

It is more like a Ferrari: it does not need a gauge

Cheers,

Pawel

 

[Mverick]

I have a IDA 71 and IDA 72. This is neither... LOL

Both of mine are converted CCR's..

This, I wouldn't waste time on...

 

[Anthony Appleyard]

Someone told me that the IDA71 in its original Russian mode lasts for about 4 hours on a filling. He said that if both of its canisters are filled with sodalime, and a second oxygen cylinder is put in the bottom of the backpack casing (in the empty space intended for an underwater ultrasound communicator), it would last 8 hours.

The breathing tubes can be tethered down to the shoulder straps to stop them from trailing all over the place snagging on things.

The attached images:-
(0) See my avatar image.
(1) "No, pretty-kit, my set's on/off valve ain't there where you're reaching. Around 'ere diving's work and for the armed forces. You're under arrest. Patrol skipper'll say what to do with you. #@% sport gag-mouthpiece so you've got to be landed to be questioned. If I had a dollar for every hundredweight of sport scooby kit that's ended in my patrol base's destroy skip...".
(2) Someone set up a secret office too near the sea.

 

[H2Andy]

WOW - So much anger!!!

well, no, not at all... i'm not angry at the Soviets. god knows Cuba got a
good deal out of them, as long as it lasted.

i think the millions of Ukranians Stalin starved, and the millions of people in the gulags,
and the millions of lives ruined through their dictatorship probably do have a right to
be angry... but not me

i'm just saying, their consumer goods were not very good at all back in the 70's
and 80's... as i said, maybe things have changed

 

[ChrisA]

The difference is that the radio, TV and refrigirator were not _millitary_ goods. The stuff they made for civilan use was junk They put all thier money and skill into millitary equipment

ok... maybe things have changed since the fall of the Soviet Union, but when
I was growing up in Cuba, all the Soviet goods we got SUCKED

radios broke in a few weeks, t.v. sets in a few months, refrigirators were
a 50-50 thing: they either worked well, or they blew up

their cars were pieces of crap (Ladas and Muskovits alike)

so... if it were me, i would be very cautious of buying any Russian stuff... unless
they have changed things radically over the last few years

they had quite nice engineering, but their quality control sucked (i mean, these
guys could build the Su-27 and the MIG-29, it's not like they didn't have the
know-how)

 

[H2Andy]

yeah, i agree with you and PAdiver93

these rebreathers must then be ex-military, right?

 

[BigJetDriver]

Andy, et al,

Their IDA rigs are Soviet military, usually Soviet Navy, hence my comments on the quality of the equipment apply.

I have now seen several re-builds of these pieces in the flesh, so to speak, and they were really good jobs. The work required a TON of sweat-equity, and a lot of DIY handiness, as well as a really good knowledge base about re-breathers in general.

Even then, when completed, they were nowhere near as capable as the modern versions available on the civilian market, but they were really neat vintage diving units!

If you like neat, old military equipment, and you want to put the time, effort, and money into the project, "Como no?" as we say here in Tejas!

I know some folks who can help a lot, if someone wants to get into one of these projects. PM me and I'll pass the info on.

You are right though, Andy, about the quality of their civilian market stuff. All I can say is: "Aieee!" :11:

Cheers!

 

[BigJetDriver]

Someone told me that the IDA71 in its original Russian mode lasts for about 4 hours on a filling. He said that if both of its canisters are filled with sodalime, and a second oxygen cylinder is put in the bottom of the backpack casing (in the empty space intended for an underwater ultrasound communicator), it would last 8 hours.

Anthony,

I'm afraid someone told you a very funny story!