So whats the future???????????????

[Paul Evans]

Its good to see everybody having a go at something new -Titaniunm,HUBs,Airlock,Redundant Air Source (I dare not mention the word PONY, Opps, Sorry Uncle Pug )-Higher Working tank pressure, Etc Etc.
But what will we be discussing in 20 years time. One thing is for sure, Scuba is becoming a much more mainstream hobby, this means more people, which means big bucks for the manufactures. :frown2: This means more investment in technology.

For my 2 pence worth, In 20 years Rebreathers will be the mainstay of recreational diving, complete computer intergration, disposable CO2 scrubbers you pick up at your LDS, Heads up displays built into fullface masks all with intergrated coms, you'll probably be able to text from underwater :dropmouth




This is not desgined to wind people up!!!
I would love to here the views of the older AND MUCH WISER members of this bored as well as the younger members, things have changed over the past 20 years and they will over the next, but how????

 

[IndigoBlue]

I often think about the rebreathers too. The modern SCRs seem to be attracting a larger following among recreational divers.

In the alternative to rebreathers, it is possible that ultra-high pressure scuba tanks the size of current pony bottles may very well be the future, instead.

Heads-up display may develop along the lines of the hoseless integrated dive computers, with a signal relay device, and a little eye piece that folds down in front of your mask.

Voice communications for everybody, not just for commercial divers, may also take hold, in the future. There seem to be lots of possibilities.

 

[Gary D.]

I have seen a lot of changes in the 42 years I've been at it. I think NASA made the biggest change that gets used the most.

Know what that is?

Way to many improvements to list. But one thing I don't agree with is what was once a Basic Open water card is now Basic open water, Deep diving, Advanced, Rescue and some others all added up. More classes makes for more cash.

A lot of people failed the classes in the early years. But todays gear is so much better you can rely on it where we never could in the past. When the old regs failed it was no, notta, zip, Zero air. Todays regs "should" fail in the free-flo position. Back then you used the top half of your lungs. You never wanted to be caught with them empty.

The invention of Panty Hose was another great improvement. Before the lined suits thats what we used. Just take them off before going for a beer after a dive. If not the fights were on.

No Duct tape, no Zip ties, no Aqua Seal, no fancy stuff and like a model "T" gear came in any color you wanted. Black is a combination of all colors so just think what color you wanted it to be and it would be in the black. Blue and green showed up a little later.

Not only was your weight belt full of lead but so was the paint on everything. Made my first UW watch out of a tuna can, First UW camera from some scrap "used" sewer pipe, 2 wet subs from disguarded wing tanks from a "Starfighter" and most everything else had to be made. You just couldn't afford the stuff. Even future SCUBA tanks were ripped off the walls of buildings. You know those red bottles having something to do with fire supression. They made great cheap SCUBA tanks.

It's a whole different world today and it will be that way again in the next 20-40 years.

Enjoy it to the fullest but don't get reckless.

Gary D.

 

[saying]

I wouldn't be surprised at the rebreather thing.
I'd be less surprised by ultra-high pressure tanks and regs.

I wouldn't be surprised by coms being common, but I can gaurantee that I won't be using it, not for open water, anyway. Part of the reason it's so groovy down there is the ambient sound... I don't want some jackass blathering about something all narced out of his mind and killing my buzz.

 

[Paul Evans]

I often think about the rebreathers too. The modern SCRs seem to be attracting a larger following among recreational divers.

In the alternative to rebreathers, it is possible that ultra-high pressure scuba tanks the size of current pony bottles may very well be the future, instead.

Heads-up display may develop along the lines of the hoseless integrated dive computers, with a signal relay device, and a little eye piece that folds down in front of your mask.

Voice communications for everybody, not just for commercial divers, may also take hold, in the future. There seem to be lots of possibilities.

Cheers IndigoBlue,
Oceanic are already working on a air intergrated (Transmitter) Heads up display which is intergrated into the mask!!!!, Like a fighter pilot but under water!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 :dropmouth







There is only one problem with mega high pressure tanks, The Compressors???

 

[glbirch]

Definitely expect to see more rebreathers. What about a biological component? If someone could genetically engineer an algae that would pull the C02 and return O2, you could have a self-renewing air source. Imagine the bottom times...

Rubbing the fingerprints off my crystal ball, I also see improvements in DPV's. What about something much smaller for the recreational diver. Personal jet propulsion, powered by fuel cells.

Definately underwater communication, so you can talk to each other.

More important though, some smart kid is going to splice a microbe that will live in your bloodstream and consume all that excess nitrogen, eliminating narcosis and bends forever. The patent rights on that one would make someone extremely rich.

 

[rab]

Not too long ago, there was a thread with a link to a talk given about 30 years ago on where scuba diving would be in "the future". I tried to find it again just now, but couldn't. The interesting part was only something like 1 1/2 of the 5 or 6 "predictions" had yet come to pass. I know that one of them that hadn't was underwater communication being "common."
-Rob

 

[robdamanii]

Cheers IndigoBlue,
Oceanic are already working on a air intergrated (Transmitter) Heads up display which is intergrated into the mask!!!!, Like a fighter pilot but under water!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 :dropmouth







There is only one problem with mega high pressure tanks, The Compressors???

That mask looks incredibly interesting. I'd love to get my hands on it to take it for a test run.

Hey Oceanic, wanna send me a beta version?

 

[Paul Evans]

The Oceanic Heads up should be avalable this year!!!!!, its somewere on their web site,

As for NASA, thermal underware???

I think Biotech is more than 20 years of, same goes for Nanotech

I agree completely with the statement about coms gear, Its to beautyful to talk, But in an emergancy???

Russian fighter planes already use Mega high pressure Ti, tanks, (sorry no tech info)

For me Rebreathers will be the biggest change, Complete silence-absoulute serenity, might make us shark food though?

 

[ArcticDiver]

Wouldn't it be great if all the SCBA folks could get together and produce some common products? For example: As a recent issue of Dive Training pointed out there is a lot in common between firefighting gear and scuba gear.

I just got checked out in our new MSA gear. Heads Up Display, Carbon Fiber Tanks, Simple Harness, Redundant Breathing Gas Control, Built In Out Of Air Breathing Gas Connector, Staged Air Supply Alarms, Trouble Alarms to alert the user and those around the user, etc. Wonderful stuff.

Think of how prices could go down and quality go up if we all shared the same technology.