Thinking about joining the CCR club - where to start?

[Merida Cave Diver]

I'm thinking about moving from sidemount to CCR and I'm just beginning to do my research. Any tips on where to start? I pretty much live in caves so that would be the primary purpose. I'm guessing dry suit due to amount of time underwater?

 

[broncobowsher]

Florida caves or Mexico caves? Or other caves?
Do you know anyone who has a rebreather already?

 

[grantctobin]

I'm thinking about moving from sidemount to CCR and I'm just beginning to do my research. Any tips on where to start? I pretty much live in caves so that would be the primary purpose. I'm guessing dry suit due to amount of time underwater?

If you’re in Merida, the answer is probably a Sidewinder and a drysuit. Otherwise, the options are slightly more varied depending on the caves you’re actively diving in.

 

[Madddogggy]

@kierentec posted this thread in 2020. It is a good place to start.

CCR Selection priorities

There have been plenty of "how to choose a rebreather" or "help me choose my first rebreather" type threads over the years, with a couple of great discussions happening recently. So I decided to be completely redundant and start yet another one with what I've deemed some of the most important...

scubaboard.com

 

[Merida Cave Diver]

Ah thank you very much. And yes, Mexico caves.

 

[LFMarm]

Going through the same journey and landing on a DiveRite Optima CM

 

[broncobowsher]

Comptima, Caves, Mexico...
Calling DiveTuscon

 

[grantctobin]

Comptima, Caves, Mexico...
Calling DiveTuscon

Except you have to take it off to fit through proper sidemount restrictions…

 

[Merida Cave Diver]

Yeah, so I did a bit of research and Richard Harris did a great video series. I think I’m sticking with side mount for now. For me it boiled down to these factors (in case it helps anyone else)

• Cost vs benefit - my primary driver was to hit the deeper caves that have yet to be explored. I really enjoy doing that but the cost for proper training, gear, upkeep, etc, I can’t really justify it.
• Task overload - I’m a good diver, I’m not sure I’m a great diver meaning that, I’m not sure I’m ready to tackle the additional responsibilities and management of a system like this. In my research this was called out by a few people.
• Deaths related to diver error / mistakes - the price of failure oddly seems too high for me. I’m very confident I can do it, I’m more concerned about the one time I miss something.
• Personality and style - I’m careful, calm, and logical…. I don’t know if I’m detail oriented enough to own one of these. Call it a personal self assessment and limitation.

All in all I feel good about the decision and a huge thank you to everyone who gave me ideas, data, things to read, etc. I might still do the training just to see what it’s about, but for now I think I’ll be multi tank, tri mix, sidemount.

 

[lostsheep]

Except you have to take it off to fit through proper sidemount restrictions…

But it does come off, easily. It could also potentially be “supermanned”