Tank-less diving

[lmorin]

There is an old thread on the topic of diving without tanks, getting oxygen directly from the water.

Here is a new twist suggesting that there is a new reality to the proposition. An oxygen absorbing/releasing material has apparently been invented.

"This could be valuable for lung patients who today must carry heavy oxygen tanks with them," explains Professor McKenzie. "But also divers may one day be able to leave the oxygen tanks at home and instead get oxygen from this material as it 'filters' and concentrates oxygen from surrounding air or water. A few grains contain enough oxygen for one breath, and as the material can absorb oxygen from the water around the diver and supply the diver with it, the diver will not need to bring more than these few grains."

Mods -- merge with original thread, if appropriate.

 

[captain]

Several issues with doing this. First if you are breathing pure oxygen then the same depth limit rules apply as they do to a pure oxygen rebreather. Second if the system is closed circuit then a CO2 scrubber would be required. The only feasible way is with a closed circuit electronically controlled rebreather to adjust partial pressure and in the end all you are accomplishing is eliminating the oxygen cylinder and replacing it with the oxygen releasing material. Considering the main limitation in diving is the depth/time/decompression issue a tankless unlimited oxygen supply is not much of an advantage.