Bobby F:
This is only my opinion and some will disagree but I feel that if you are a recreational diver moving towards rebreathers then SCR to CCR is an important step. When you do dives (and are trained for) that require decompression with stages and gas switches then going straight to CCR may be considered. The reason for this is task loading. When moving into CCR's the task loading for monitoring all three to four of your O2 sensors as well as gas preassure's and boyancy issues can over whelm a recreational diver very quickly. It is not the 90% of the time that things go correct that is the problem. It is the 10% that a small issue gets out of hand due to task loading. I am not saying that one type of diver is better than the other what I am only trying to point out is that divers that do deco & stage have the type of experience that lends to what you need with a CCR. You can buy used dolphins in good condition for $1,000.00 to $1,500.00 and if you care for them sell them for about what you bought them for. A dolphin or other SCR will kill you just as quick if you do not fallow all of your procedures but when you get under water there is less task loading than on a CCR. Just my 2cents and take it for what you paid for it.
Bobby i couldn't agree with you more.
Even though i planned and have done decopresion diving before on OC, i would not even consider it on any rebreather until i fully was trained for it on the rebreather i was going to use for that purpose.
For me, even though alot of people suggest getting into CCR at the begging, i wanted to start in SCR, and when i have the knowladge and money, as right now im VERY new, only researching rebreather here for the past 2 month's, will i goto CCR.
I choose to go SCR and only dive it withen rec limit's, and just simply use the rebreather to replace and of my rec diving for next year, maybe alittle more or less, but simply untill i research and know exactley what i want when i comes to CCR diving, i'll then make that step.
Also at this time, i cannot see diving a CCR on 60' reef's, and using a $8,000.00 CCR rebreather for the purpose of only diving withen rec limit's. So cost was a big factour in choosing SCR for now, and diving them withen rec limit's.
When i do decide to dive beyond rec limit's, i will then choose the best CCR rebreather for the type of diving i will be more likley be doing. I like the Meg, Prizm, and Insperation alot, as im reading and researching more bewteen there differnce's.
But for now, i simply could not see spending $8k right off the start,. to simply replace my rec OC diving with a CCR rebreather for that type of diving. Cost was a major factour why i decided to choose SCR.
I can very easy see why alot don;t choose to dive them, simple reason, Cost, if i were only diving 30-40 times a year,i wouldn;t consider a rebreather. there not for eveyone in the sport, but they are becoming more popular and alot safer then ever, i think there will be a trend in a few year's like there is now, everyone wanting to be a tech diver, switching over to rebreather's as cost come down, and as seeing them alot more common on the recreational diver's alot more.