Using Rebreathers in Caves

[Thalassamania]

I don't cave dive, but I've a fair amount of RB time. The idea of caves make me a little nervous, the idea of using a RB in a cave leaves me wanting to carry a lot of bailout gas, but then I've never had a RB problem and having all that time kinda balances my worry, at least intellectually.

 

[bletso]

For those with some interest my unit can be seen starting from www.airheadsscuba.com/rbrsprt.html and the link to Dale's mod..

When I get some time I'd be glad to discuss our protocols for MCCR diving. Needless to say the most basic is always and I do mean always have OC bailout capability in any diving venue. We lost an accomplished diver just last years in part I believe due to a lack of OC bailout. In cave it is not as hard as one would envision. I do like the ability to have lots of time to solve a problem is lost.

Safe Diving

Dale

 

[down4fun]

i had done my cavern oc but knew i was going to a RB so i did not do cave oc. I waited until I got my rEvo. I had somewhere around 75 hours on the unit and had completed mod 3 already.

 

[Cave Diver]

For those with some interest my unit can be seen starting from www.airheadsscuba.com/rbrsprt.html and the link to Dale's mod..

When I get some time I'd be glad to discuss our protocols for MCCR diving. Needless to say the most basic is always and I do mean always have OC bailout capability in any diving venue. We lost an accomplished diver just last years in part I believe due to a lack of OC bailout. In cave it is not as hard as one would envision. I do like the ability to have lots of time to solve a problem is lost.

Safe Diving

Dale

That was an interesting write up, thanks for sharing. I look forward to your discussion regarding protocols.

 

[Doppler]

Old thread but worth reviving.

I was enrolled in an instructor program for my CCR before going into a cave with it. I believe I had logged around 120 hours on it in open water and wreck. I also had in excess of 500 logged cave dives.

Regarding your question about bailout... plenty of it, the volume of which is determined by four factors:

• Experience cave diving with OC on past dives
• Tests doing simulated bailouts with the unit on my back from various waypoints within the cave
• Padding the RMV to account for higher consumption because one would be in a bailout scenario
• Carrying a redundant gas source