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Rebreather tests

People ask me many times which rebreather is the best one in the market. I usually reply that it depends on the application of the rebreather and the diving experience by the user. Does he/she travel a lot? Does he/she wants to make only recreational dives? Is he/she a cave diver? Or deep diver?

Rebreathers differ a lot. Very important are the “roots” of the manufacturer/inventor. Is he (yes: we have only male manufacturers…) a metalworker, a programmer, a marine, an engineer, …? It can have a big impact on the design of the rebreather.

There is also a difference in build quality, safety features and additional features. And of course: the price.

I have quite a lot of experience (in the field) with rebreathers. Some rebreathers are better than others (depending on the type of dive I make with them). So I tried, based on my personal experience, to rate the rebreathers. Five stars is the highest rate. One star is the lowest. The overall rating is the average of the ratings of the subcategories, which are:

1.  Ease of use (set-up, maintenance)
2.   Buoyancy/trim
3.  Work of breathing (WOB)/automatic Diluent Valve (ADV)/lungs 
4.  Travel (modularity) 
5.  Safety 
6.  Price 
7.  Service/after sales/availability of parts 
8.  Build quality 
9.  Cave diving 
10.   Deep and X-treme diving (deeper than 100 mtr)

All subcategories have the same weight for the total “verdict”.

Regarding safety: this is a difficult category. Does adding safety-items to a rebreather (such as CO2 monitors, auto-breathe-detection, etc.) really increase the safety? Those items can brake and might make rebreather-divers technology-dependent… It’s like cars: safety equipment (like ABS, airbags, brake assist, etc.) makes cars also accessible for bad drivers… Is a rebreather without electronics safer than a rebreather fully loaded with electronics? Check out the tests… I didn’t perform tests on the rebreathers in a lab. E.g. when I talk about the WOB, it is my personal experience and NOT the result of a lab test. I understand that some manufacturers will not be happy with my conclusions and that they want react on the rating. They can do so by sending an e-mail or replying on the forum on my website. Again: the verdict is based on my personal experience and I have personal preferences as well. Those preferences will have an effect on the way I view rebreathers. Another individual might have a completely different view on the rating. Furthermore I want to make absolutely clear that any rebreather manufacturer does not influence me in any way. I’m only interested in their product: rebreathers!

CCR Computer tests 

I have quite a lot of experience (in the field) with rebreathers and CCR computers. Some rebreathers and computers are better than others (depending on the type of dive I make with them). So I tried, based on my personal experience, to rate the CCR computers. Five stars is the highest rate. One star is the lowest. The overall rating is the average of the ratings of the subcategories, which are:

1. Ease of use (set-up, maintenance)
2. Functionality
3. Operating depth
4. Reliability and build quality
5. Price
6. Service/after sales/availability of parts

All subcategories have the same weight for the total “verdict”. 

I didn’t perform tests on the computers in a lab. E.g. when I talk about the batteries, it is my personal experience and NOT the result of a lab test. I understand that some manufacturers will not be happy with my conclusions and that they want react on the rating. They can do so by sending an e-mail or replying on the forum on my website. Again: the verdict is based on my personal experience and I have personal preferences as well. Those preferences will have an effect on the way I view computers. Another individual might have a completely different view on the rating. Furthermore I want to make absolutely clear that any computer manufacturer does not influence me in any way. I’m only interested in their product: ccr computers!

Pim van der Horst

Director Pim’s Tekdiving PTD