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HELM
A helm is mainly worn when cave or
wreck diving, used to protect the head on impact and
also ideal to use as a place to install several lights
or lightheads.
Diving helmets are worn by divers who need to
speak and hear underwater. A normal diving mask and
diving regulator prevent the diver from effectively
communicating. Diving helments are mostly used with
surface supplied diving: the helmet acts as a firm
anchor point on the diver for the umbilical supplying
the breathing gas. Divers do heavy or dangerous work
underwater also benefit from the head protection
provided by the helmet.
There are several types of diving helmets :
- the spherical copper helmets with brass and glass
windows of the historical standard diving dress
- the modern commercial helmet, such as, the Kirby
Morgan (http://www.divingsystems.com/History/ourhistory.html)
Superlite-17B helmet
- light weight, recreational "transparent dome" type
helmets
An alternative to the diving helmet that allows
communication with the surface is the full face diving
mask.
"Diving helmet" sometimes means a hard safety helmet
like a workman's helmet that covers the top and back of
the head but not the face and does not keep air in and
water out.
During the First World War English Army used a very
few number of diving helmets to prevent damages from the
use of mustard gas because it can cause damages even
only with skin contact. |
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MASK
There are plenty to chose from, but a
low volume mask is always preferable.
A diving mask is an item of diving equipment
that allows the SCUBA diver to see underwater. The mask
must be constructed so that the diver can exhale through
the nose into the mask to prevent the "squeeze" caused
by increasing pressure during the descent in water. The
mask must have a durable glass plate in front of the
eyes and a "skirt" of rubber or silicone to create a
watertight seal with the diver's face. A strap keeps the
mask in position.
There are several specialised types of diving
headgear:
- full face diving mask - often worn by working
divers who need underwater verbal communication
ability
- diving helmet - often worn by divers using surface
supplied diving equipment
- hard hat - part of the old fashioned standard
diving dress
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HOOD
Hoods are there for isolation, a
diver loses most heat thru the skin on his/her head.
This can be up to 75% off the total heat loss. Therefore
a good isolation off the head is important, specially on
long decompression dives. The isolation off the
hood has to be adapted to the watertemperture. Remember
that water unless it is over 36 degrees Celsius allows
the body to lose heat. |
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SNORKEL
Tube through which a submarine or
diver can draw air while underwater. When in use, the
top of the snorkel tube extends above the water surface
into the air. The first snorkels were probably devised
in ancient times out of the hollow reeds that are common
to many lakes and marsh areas. Since they are mentioned
by Pliny the Elder, a Roman naturalist of the 1st cent.
A.D., it is certain that such devices
were in use during the early years of the Roman Empire.
The first modern snorkel was devised by Leonardo da
Vinci at the request of the Venetian senate. It
consisted of a hollow breathing tube that was attached
to a diver's helmet of leather. The present-day diver's
snorkel is typically a J-shaped tube that is open at the
top and has a mouthpiece at the other end. Usually no
more than 2 ft (61 cm) long, the snorkel can only be
used as a breathing device when a diver is swimming face
down near the surface. At greater depths, the diver must
hold his breath and keep his tongue over the mouthpiece
to prevent water seepage. When the diver nears the
surface, a strong exhalation will clear the tube of
water so that breathing can begin again. |
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REGULATOR
A diving regulator is a gas pressure regulator
which supplies SCUBA divers with breathing gas at
ambient pressure from a diving cylinder.
Types of regulator
Two stage, single hose
Most modern scuba regulators are of this type.
The first stage is a pressure reducing valve that
takes gas from the diving cylinder at pressures of 200 -
300 bar (3000 - 4700 psi) and reduces its pressure down
to 10 bar (140 psi) higher than ambient pressure in the
hose.
The second stage valve delivers the gas from the
single hose to the place it is required. It can have one
of the following activation mechanisms. It could be a
"demand valve" operated by the diver's inhalation from
the valve. It could be manually operated valve or a
solenoid-operated valve.
Demand valve second stage
The demand valve, second stage or DV is the device
connected to a low pressure hose from which the diver
inhales. It detects when the diver starts inhaling and
supplies the diver with a breath of gas at ambient
pressure. It reduces the gas pressure in the hose from
10 bar (140 psi) above ambient pressure to ambient
pressure. Most modern, open circuit scuba sets use this
type of second stage.
It consists of a chamber, a valve at the end of the
low-pressure hose and a mouthpiece, which the diver
grips between his or her teeth. A diaphragm at the front
of the chamber controls the valve on the low-pressure
hose. The diaphragm operates when the "purge button" on
the front of the demand valve is pressed or when the
diver lowers the pressure inside the chamber by trying
to inhale. In either case low pressure gas is released
into the chamber removing any water in there, allowing
the diver to inhale and pushing the diaphragm back so
that the valve closes. When the diver exhales the
exhalation diaphragm flexes and allow the gas to escape
to the water outside the demand valve.
Some passive semi-closed circuit rebreathers use a
form of demand valve, which senses the volume of the
loop and injects more gas when the volume falls below a
certain level.
Manually operated second stage
This type of second stage is used in buoyancy
compensator inflation valves and in rebreather loop
inflation valves. A simple button allows the valve to be
opened.
Solenoid operated second stage
This type of second stage is used automated fully
closed-circuit rebreathers to maintain the oxygen
partial pressure of the loop.
Twin-hose
This type of regulator had two wide, corrugated,
breathing tubes. The first and second stages of the
regulator were in a large circular valve assembly
mounted on top of the cylinder pack. One-stage and
three-stage regulators were known. The second, return
tube was not for rebreathing but to balance the
regulator's second stage diaphragm to regulate the flow
of gas. Raising the mouthpiece above the regulator
increased the flow of gas and lowering the mouthpiece
increase breathing resistance.
The relatively large volume of the hoses forced
divers to carry more weight underwater to compensate. An
advantage with this type of regulator is that the
bubbles leave the regulator behind the divers head
increasing visibility. They have been superseded by the
single hose regulator and become obsolete in the 1980s.
The twin hose mouthpiece has reappeared in modern
rebreathers but as part of the breathing loop, not as
part of a regulator.
Constant flow
Constant flow regulators are the earliest type of
diving regulator. They are also used in active
semi-closed circuit rebreathers. With a constant flow
regulator the diver is provided with breathing gas at a
constant rate. The only control the diver has is to open
or close the valve to the cylinder. Constant flow vales
consume gas less economically than demand valve
regulators because gas is provided even when it is not
needed.
With active semi-closed circuit rebreathers, the
diver installs one of a number of different sized
orifices in the valve before the dive. For safety
reasons these should be chosen to provide more gas than
the diver needs, to avoid hypoxia.
There were attempts at designing and using constant
flow regulator before 1939, for diving and for
industrial use. Examples were "Ohgushi's Peerless
Respirator" where the valve was operated by the diver's
teeth, and Commandant le Prieur's breathing sets (see
Timeline of underwater technology).
Parts of a modern single hose regulator
Main components of a diving regulator, which supply
the diver with breathing gas are:
- the first stage
- one or more low pressure hoses
- one or more demand valves or second stages
In order to monitor breathing gas pressure in the
diving cylinder, a diving regulator is usually equipped
with:
- the high pressure hose
- the contents gauge
In some cases, the diving regulator may be equipped
with
First stage valve
The first stage has either an A clamp or a DIN
fitting to connect it to the pillar valve of the diving
cylinder. It has a number of "ports", which allow low
and high-pressure hoses to transport gas to other
components.
The mechanism inside the first stage can be of the
diaphragm-type or the piston-type. Diaphragm regulators
are simpler than piston regulators, but need more
careful maintenance so are less suitable for diving at
locations with limited services. With piston-type
regulators, the piston is rigid and acts directly on the
seat of the valve. On diaphragm-type regulators, the
diaphragm is flexible and lifts the rod opens and closes
gap at the seat. Both types can be balanced or
unbalanced. The performance of unbalanced regulators
decreases as the cylinder pressure falls, so they are
only suitable for divers who only do shallow diving or
for training.
As gas leaves the cylinder it decreases in pressure
in a regulator, becoming very cold. In conditions where
the water temperature is less than 5 °C any moisture
inside the regulator may freeze, preventing the valve
closing, causing a free-flow that can empty a full
cylinder within a minute or two. The modern trend of
using more plastics, instead of metals, within the
regulators encourages freezing because it insulates the
inside of a cold regulator from the warmer surrounding
water. Environmental sealing and teflon coatings are
used to reduce the risk of freezing inside the
regulator.
Low pressure hose
All breathing regulators have a hose that connects
the first stage to the demand valves. Some low pressure
hoses are known as direct feeds. They supply gas to the
diving suit and the buoyancy compensator inflation
valves.
The first stage delivers gas at about 10 bar above
the ambient pressure to low pressure hoses. That is a
between the high pressure in the cylinder and the
ambient pressure, that's why they are sometimes called
medium pressure hoses.
Demand valve
Sometimes a regulator has more than one DV. If it is
simply a spare DV for use by the diver's buddy it is
generally called an octopus. Another possibility
is: it could be a hybrid DV and buoyancy compensator
inflation valve. Both types are called alternate air
sources and more confusingly a DV on a regulator
connected to a separate, independent diving cylinder
would also be given that name.
Pressure relief valve
A pressure relief valve is a safety device
that must be used if no demand valves are present on the
regulator. It allows gas to escape from the first stage
in the event of a malfunction, without over-pressurising
any other regulator components, such as diving suit or
buoyancy compensator inflation valves.
Normally, if present, a demand valve will vent off
safely the excess gas from the first stage malfunction.
This is called a free flow and is designed as a fail
safe feature so that the diver can continue to breathe
for a few seconds or minutes until all the gas is
rapidly exhausted. If there is neither a demand valve
nor a pressure relief valve there is a danger the excess
gas will free flow to the buoyancy compensator or diving
suit resulting in a rapid increase in buoyancy causing a
potentially lethal rapid ascent to the surface.
Performance of regulators
ANSTI (http://www.ansti.co.uk/)
has developed a testing machine that measures the inhale
and exhale effort in using a regulator. Publication of
results of the performance of regulators in the ANSTI
test machine has resulted in big performance
improvements.
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GAUGES
The gauge is a pressure gauge measuring the gas
pressure in the diving cylinder so the diver knows how
much gas remains in the cylinder. It is also known as
submersible pressure gauge or SPG.
There are several types of contents gauge:
- The standard type is an analogue gauge that can be
held in the palm of a hand and is connected to the first
stage by a high pressure hose. Sometimes they are fixed
in a console, a plastic or rubber case, that holds the
air pressure gauge and one or more of a depth gauge, a
dive computer and a compass.
- Button gauges are coin-sized, analogue gauges that
are connected directly to the first stage. They are
often used on decompression cylinders. Due to their
small size, it can be difficult to read the gauge to a
resolution of less than 20 bar / 300 psi.
- Air integrated computers. Some dive computers are
designed to measure, display and monitor pressure in the
diving cylinder . Although this can be very beneficial
to the diver, it does mean that if the dive computer
fails, the diver can no longer monitor his or her gas
reserves. The computer is either connected to the first
stage by a high pressure hose or has two parts, the
pressure transducer on the first stage and the display
at the wrist or console, which communicate by radio
link.
- In the past, some types of diving cylinder had a
mechanical reserve release lever that provided a warning
to the diver that the gas supply was nearly exhausted
High pressure hose
The high pressure hose takes gas, at cylinder pressure,
direct from the high pressure inlet of the first stage to
the contents gauge. |
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COMPUTERS
A dive computer or decompression meter is an
electronic device used by a scuba diver to measure the
dive profile and to display information needed for a safe
dive, avoiding decompression sickness.
Early examples of recreational diving computers, from
1979, are the Hans Hass DecoBrain and Orca Edge.
Dive computers address the same problem as
decompression tables, but perform a continuous calculation
of the partial pressure of gases in the body based on the
actual dive profile. As the dive computer automatically
measures depth and time, it reduces the need for the diver
to carry a separate watch and depth gauge and is able to
warn of excessive ascent rates and missed decompression
stops. Many dive computers also provide additional
information to the diver, for example, the water
temperature, or the pressure of the remaining breathing
gas in the diving cylinder.
Display information
Dive computers display different dive information to
the diver. Most dive computers display the following
information on a LCD:
- Current depth.
- Maximum depth reached on this dive.
- No stop time, the time remaining at the current
depth without the need for decompression stops.
- Dive time, often measured from the end of the last
longer surface interval.
Many dive computers also display additional
information:
- Required decompression stop depth and time.
- Water temperature.
- Ascent rates.
- Dive profile (often not displayed during the dive,
but transmitted to a personal computer).
Some computers are designed to display information from
a diving cylinder pressure sensor, such as:
- Tank pressure .
- Estimated remaining time based on available gas and
rate of gas consumption.
Some information is only shown at the surface to avoid
an information overload of the diver during the dive:
- "Time to Fly" display showing when the diver can
safely board an airplane.
- A log of key information about previous dives.
- Maximum non-decompression bottom times for
subsequent dives based on the partial pressure of the
gases in the tissue.
Audible information
Many dive computers have warning buzzers that warn the
diver of events such as:
- Excessive ascent rates.
- Missed decompression stops.
- Maximum operation depth exceeded.
- Oxygen toxicity limits exceeded.
Operation
Dive computers are battery powered computers within a
watertight case. These computers track the dive profile by
measuring time and pressure. All dive computers measure
the surrounding pressure to estimate the partial pressure
of gases in the human tissue. More advanced dive computers
also include additional information into the calculations,
for example, the water temperature or the diving cylinder
pressure.
The computer then uses the profile and a decompression
algorithm to estimate the partial pressure of inert gases
that has been dissolved in the diver's tissues. Based on
these calculations, the computer estimates when a direct
ascent is no longer possible, and what decompression stops
would be needed.
Examples of decompression algorithms are
Buhlmann's algorithm, the
Multi-Tissue Model, the
Varying Permeability Model,
and the Reduced Gradient Bubble
Model.
Special purpose dive computers
Some dive computers are able to calculate decompression
schedules for breathing gases other than air, such as
nitrox, pure oxygen, trimix or heliox. The more basic dive
computers only support one or two gas mixes for each dive.
Others support many different mixes.
Most dive computers calculate decompression for 'open
circuit' SCUBA where the proportions of the breathing
gases are constant: these are "constant fraction" dive
computers. Other dive computers are designed to model the
gases in rebreathers, which maintain constant partial
pressures of gases by varying the proportions of gases in
the mixture: these are "constant partial pressure" dive
computers.
Cautions
The ease of use of dive computers, however, also
exposes the diver to other dangers. They allow divers to
perform complex dives with little planning. This may lead
divers to exceed their competence and experience by
relying too much on the computer rather than proper
planning, discipline and monitoring.
Many dive computers have menus, various selectable
options and various display modes, which are controlled by
a small number of buttons on the front of the computer.
The diver should become familiar with the control of the
computer on a series of shallow and undemanding dives
before relying on it for more challenging dives.
For safety reasons it is recommended that a dive plan
should be established before the dive and the followed
throughout the dive unless the dive is aborted. This dive
plan should be within the limits of the decompression
tables. This increases the margin of safety, and also
provides a backup decompression schedule based on the dive
tables in case the computer fails underwater.
Different brands and models of dive computers use
different decompression algorithms and safety factors.
Some produce conservative decompression schedules and
others produce aggressive decompression schedules. The
main problem in establishing dive computer algorithms is
that the gas absorption and release under pressure in the
human body is still not completely understood.
Furthermore, the risk of decompression sickness also
depends on the physiology, fitness, condition and health
of the individual diver.
A diver wishing to reduce the risk of decompression
sickness can take a number of precautionary measures such
as:
- Use dive computers with a conservative decompression
model
- Use safety factors with dive computers (e.g. using a
high altitude dive mode for a dive at sea level)
- Add additional deep safety stops during a deep dive
- Make a slow ascent
- Add additional shallow safety stops
- Have a long surface interval between dives
Many computers go into a "lockout" mode for 24 hours if
the diver violates the computer's safety limits, to
discourage continued diving after an unsafe dive. While in
lockout mode, these computers display warning signs
telling the diver that the dive computer cannot be used. |
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TANKS
IATD advices the use off steel or
composite tanks only. The tank size or set-up may change
according to the planned dive. However tanks need to
hold enough gas to supply the diver during the whole
dive and remain a reserve off at least 30%.
Aluminium cylinders have a lower density than
steel cylinders. This can be an advantage in technical
diving because it reduces the extra buoyancy the diver
needs to carry many cylinders. It can be a disadvantage
to divers who carry few cylinders due to the extra
weight needed on the diving weighting system to
counteract this buoyancy. |
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BCD
On all technicaldives, IATD advices
to use double bladder wings. On all IATD courses these
are commendatory. Minimum lift capacity is 2 x 30
kilo's.
Features
BCs can have the following features:
- A low pressure direct feed that transports gas
from diving cylinder and diving regulator to the BC.
- An inflation valve that allows gas from the direct
feed into the bladders of the BC.
- A vent valve that allows gas to escape from the
bladders of the BC.
- An over pressurization valve that automatically
vents the bladders if the diver over inflates the BC
by ascending or by injecting too much gas.
- A harness that the diver wears with straps around
the torso and over the shoulders
- A plastic or metal backplate to support diving
cylinders
- Pockets for carrying reels, buoys and
decompression tables
- D rings or other anchor points, for clipping on
other equipment such as torches, strobes, reels,
cameras and stage cylinders
- Emergency inflation cylinders. This can either be
a 0.5 litre air cylinder, filled from the diver main
cylinder, or a small carbon dioxide cylinder. There is
a risk that an emergency cylinder is accidentally
opened during a dive causing a rapid ascent and
barotrauma to the diver. Carbon dioxide, being
poisonous, is a dangerous gas to have in the bag of a
BC because that gas can be inhaled by the diver.
Types
There are three main types of BC:
- Wings consist of inflatable bladders worn behind
and to the side of the diver. They are a recent
development and often used in technical diving. The
diver is strapped to a back plate on to which the
wings are attached. The spacious location of the
bladders allows their volume and therefore their
buoyancy to be high: 30 litre wings are not uncommon.
Heavy equipment such as diving cylinders can be fixed
to or slung from the back plate. A problem with wings
is their tendency to float the diver facedown at the
surface, which could be lethal in the event of the
diver being incapacitated.
- Stabiliser jacket, stab, waistcoat or vest BCs are
inflatable vests worn by the diver around the upper
torso. They typically provide up to 25 litres of
buoyancy and are fairly comfortable to wear. They may
float an unconscious casualty face-down.
- Adjustable Buoyancy Life Jackets, ABLJs or
horsecollar BCs: are worn around the neck with straps
around the waist and between the legs. They are cheap,
light and small, providing up to 15 litres of
buoyancy. They float an unconscious casualty face-up.
But they are old-fashioned, uncomfortable with a strap
between the legs and provide less buoyancy than the
other types. The diver must use a separate cylinder
harness as a platform for the aqua-Lung.
Attitude in the water
The attitude of the submerged diver is influenced by
the BC and by other buoyancy and weight components and
contributed to by the diver's body, clothing and
equipment. The diver typically wishes to be positioned
face-down while under water, to be able to see and swim
usefully, but face-up, to be able to breathe, when on
the surface.
The attitude of a static and stable object in water,
such as a diver, is determined by its centre of buoyancy
and its centre of mass. At equilibrium, they will be
lined up under gravity with the centre of buoyancy
vertically above the centre of mass. The diver's overall
buoyancy and centre of buoyancy can routinely be
adjusted by altering the volume of the gas in the BC,
lungs and diving suit. The diver's mass on a typical
dive does not generally change, although it is possible
if the weight belt is jettisoned or a heavy object is
picked up.
Generally, the diver has no control of the position
of the buoyancy in the BC, only its quantity. By
inflating the BC at the surface the conscious diver can
easily float face-up. By deflating the BC underwater,
the diver can easily be positioned facedown.
Traditionally, weight belts or weight systems are worn
with the weights on or close to the waist and are
arranged with a quick release mechanism to allow them to
be jettisoned to provide extra buoyancy in an emergency.
It is possible to make an unconscious diver float
face up on the surface by placing buoyancy and weights
so that the buoyancy raises the top and front of the
diver's body and the weights act on the lower and back
of the body. An inflated ABLJ invariably provides this
attitude. On the other hand, an inflated stab or wings
BC generally floats the diver facedown because the
centre of buoyancy is not close enough to the diver's
head. Potential solutions to this problem are: fixed
weights on the diver's cylinder or the use of large,
high-density cylinders such as a 300 bar twinset. Both
solutions move the centre of mass further behind the
diver resulting a face-up attitude.
Many other factors, such as the number, position and
density of diving cylinders, the type of diving suit,
the position and size of stage cylinders, the size and
shape of the diver's body and the wearing of ankle
weights influence each individual diver's attitude in
the water.
History
The ABLJ was developed by
Maurice Fenzy in 1961. Early versions were
inflated by mouth underwater. Later versions had their
own air inflation cylinder. Some had carbon dioxide
inflation cylinders, a development which was adandonned
when valves that allowed diver's to breathe from the
BC's inflation bag were introduced. Since 1969 most
modern BCs have used inflation gas from one of the
diver's main gas cylinders. In 1971,
Scubapro developed the
Stabilizer Jacket, the first jacket-style BC, and in
1972 Watergill developed the Atpac wing.
More recent innovations for jacket BCs include,
weight pouches to adjust attitude underwater,
integrating weights on the BC rather than a weightbelt,
and inegrated diving regulators. Innovations for wings
include, weight pouches to adjust attitude underwater
and the stainless steel backplate. |
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BACKPLATE
A backplate is a component of a buoyancy
compensator used in scuba diving to support diving
cylinders on the diver's back. Heavy-duty, metal
backplates are mainly used in technical diving where the
diver typically carries two main cylinders on the back
and two stage cylinders slung on each side of the body
throughout the dive.
A backplate is generally constructed of stainless
steel or aluminium, although there are variations made
from plastic ABS, titanium and brass. The backplate has
a raised ridge running down the centre, and one or more
pairs of holes with 11 inch / 27.5 cm centre-to-centre
spacing between the holes. These holes are used to mount
either a set of doubled scuba tanks / twin diving
cylinders, or an adapter for diving with a single tank.
Backplates are generally paired with a wing - an
enclosed air cell that allows the diver to add or remove
gas to control buoyancy. A harness, with shoulder
straps, a waist strap and possibly a crotch strap, is
threaded through the backplate to link the backplate to
the diver's back.
Backplate designs differ from manufacturer to
manufacturer, however some incorporate slots for tank
camstraps, as some wings allow camstraps to be threaded
through them to hold a single tank.
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WEIGHT
Divers wear weighting systems, weight belts
or weights, generally made of lead, to counteract
the buoyancy of other diving equipment, such as diving
suits and aluminium diving cylinders.
The weights provide a useful rescue mechanism - they
can be dropped in an emergency to provide instant buoyancy
which may return the diver to the surface. The rapid
ascent caused by dropping weights increases the risk of
barotrauma and decompression sickness due to the rapid
ascent to the surface. This risk can only be justified
when the emergency is life threatening. Very often divers
take great care to ensure the weights are not dropped
accidentally, and many heavily-weighted divers arrange
their weights so subsets of the total weight can be
dropped individually, allowing for a somewhat more
controlled emergency ascent.
The quantity of lead weight required is determined by
the overall positive buoyancy of the diver. It normally is
in the range of 2 kg to 18
kg.
The weights are generally made of lead because of its
high density and low cost. The lead can be cast in blocks,
cast block with gaps for straps or shaped as pellets often
named "shot".
There are several types of weight carrying and securing
mechanisms:
- Weight belt : a nylon belt 5 cm wide
that holds the weights around the diver's waist.
- Shot belt : This is a hollow belt made of
nylon webbing and filled with lead shot. Unlike
shotgun ammunition, each pellet of this shot should
have a protective coating to stop sea water from
corroding it into powdery lead chloride.
- BCD Integrated weights : are stored in
pockets built-in to the buoyancy compensator. Often a
velcro flap holds the weights in place. They have
handles, which must be pulled to drop the weights in an
emergency.
- Weight harness : a belt around the waist with
shoulder staps for extra support and security. Often a
velcro flap holds the weights in place. They have
handles, which must be pulled to drop the weights in an
emergency.
- Some rebreathers (e.g. the Siebe Gorman CDBA) have a
backpack weight pouch full of lead balls each a
bit over an inch diameter. The diver can release them by
pulling a cord.
- Non-ditchable weight : in addition to the
weight that can be dropped ('ditched'), some divers add
additional fixed weights to their gear, both to decrease
the weight placed on the belt and to shift the diver's
center of mass to minimize the tendency of the gear to
hold the diver in one orientation.
- Tank weights are attached to the diving
cylinder to shift the center of mass backward and
upward or downward, depending on placement.
- Ankle weights are used to counteract the
positive buoyancy of wet suit leggings and positively
buoyant fins. Many divers prefer negatively buoyant
fins.
- Weighted backplates made of stainless steel
move the center of mass upward and backward.
- Steel dive cylinders are preferred by some
divers over aluminum because of their more negative
buoyancy, and shift mass upward and backward.
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SUITS
Wetsuits are cheap simple diving suits that are
typically used when diving in water between 10 and
30 ºC.
A modern wetsuit is mostly made from thin neoprene,
which provides limited thermal protection, and lined
with a nylon fabric to strengthen it and to make it easy
to put on and take off. Some newer wetsuits, usually
marketed as "superflex", contain spandex in addition to
neoprene to allow the suit to stretch (the panels of a
wetsuit of this type typically contain 15-20% spandex).
This counteracts neoprene's tendency to shrink with age
and also allows the wearer to grow slightly without
making the suit uncomfortable.
A wetsuit allows a small amount of water into the
suit, but traps this thin layer of water between the
skin and the neoprene, and the body heat then warms it.
The neoprene insulates the warm water layer against the
surrounding cold water. The wetsuit must fit close to
make the suit work efficiently, as too loose a fit will
simply allow the warmed water to flush away and be
replaced by cold water. The suit loses buoyancy and
thermal protection as the neoprene is compressed at
depth.
There is some controversy over who invented the
wetsuit. Most say it was Jack O'Neill who started using
neoprene, which he found lining the floor of an
airliner, to make a simple vest. He went on to found the
successful wetsuit manufacturer, O'Neill. But
Bob and Bill Meistrell,
two kids from Manhattan Beach, California, claim to have
started experimenting with neoprene around 1953. Their
company would later be named Body Glove.
Wetsuits come in different thicknesses depending on
the conditions for which it is intended. The thicker the
suit, the warmer it will keep the wearer. A thick suit
is stiff, so mobility is restricted. A wetsuit is
normally described in terms of its thickness. For
instance, a wetsuit with a torso thickness of 5 mm and a
limb thickness of 3 mm will be described as a "5/3".
Different shapes of wetsuit are available, from the
"shorty" that covers the torso and has short arms and
short legs, the jacket covering the torso and arms, the
"long johns" that covers the torso and legs only and the
"full suit" or "steamer" that covers the torso and the
full length of the arms and legs. Some suits are
arranged in two parts; the jacket and long johns can be
worn separately in mild conditions or worn together to
provide two layers of insulation around the torso in
cold conditions.
Usually they have no feet or hood, and the diver must
wear separate boots and hood made from wetsuit material.
Drysuits are used typically when diving in water
temperatures between 0 and 15 ºC (32 to 60 ºF).
Seals at the wrists and neck prevent water entering
the suit. Even so, the diver will be damp after a dive
in a drysuit due to sweat and condensation. The seals
are either made from latex rubber or neoprene. Latex
seals survive for a maximum of two years but are supple.
Neoprene seals last longer but let more water enter
because, being stiffer, they do not make effective seals
in the contours of the wrist and neck.
A modern drysuit has an air inflation valve, which
lets the diver control the buoyancy of the suit by
injecting gas from the diving regulator to avoid squeeze
during descent. Some old-type frogman's drysuits had a
small "jack cylinder" to be inflated from, or the
frogman (who was using an oxygen rebreather and so
limited to about 30 feet (10 m) depth) had to put up
with the suit squeeze.
A drysuit is intended to be worn over an insulating
undersuit such as a Thinsulate (http://www.dui-online.com/newsite/dw_thinsulate.htm)
or Polar Bear (http://www.polarbears.co.uk/).
Some divers wear a wetsuit under the drysuit instead.
A typical drysuit has an air vent valve , which lets
the diver vent off higher pressure gas from the suit
during the ascent. Vent valves can be automatic ,
operating as pressure relief valves, or manual , where
the diver must raise the valve to vent. Automatic vents
are generally located at the shoulder and manual vents
are located at the wrist. Some drysuits have no vents,
but the diver must pull one of the wrist or neck seals
open to vent the drysuit.
Most drysuits have built-in boots, but some have
ankle seals instead.
Modern drysuits have a zipper, for entry and exit,
across the back of the shoulders, or diagonally across
the front of the torso, or straight down the middle of
the front. At least one make of old-type British
frogman's drysuit was one-piece with a wide neck hole
for entry; the bottom of the hood and the edge of the
suit's neck hole were clamped together by a large
circular steel clamp around his neck; there was a
watertight seal in the bottom of the hood.
There are two types of drysuit:
- Membrane dry suits are made from materials with
low thermal insulation such as vulcanised rubber or a
trilaminate of nylon, butyl rubber and nylon. So the
diver must wear an insulating undersuit. Membrane
drysuits are comfortable to put on, get off and wear.
They can be unreliable because the suit’s buoyancy and
insulation depends on the air trapped in the under
suit: if the suits is punctured the buoyancy and
insulation is lost. Some divers in warm water wear a
membrane drysuit without an undersuit. Membrane
drysuits may also be constructed with a waterproof and
breathable membrane to enable comfortable wear for
periods out of water.
- Neoprene dry suits are constructed from neoprene,
a buoyant and thermally insulating material. This
built-in buoyancy and thermal protection makes them
safer to wear than membrane dry suits when punctured
because they keep some of those properties when
flooded. Being made of a fairly rigid heavy material,
they are difficult to get on and off, and their
buoyancy and thermal protection decreases with depth
as the neoprene is compressed. Neoprene also tends to
shrink over the years. An alternative is crushed
neoprene, which is less susceptible to volume changes
when under pressure and shrinks less.
Semi-dry suits are used typically when diving in
water temperatures between 10 and 20 ºC (50 to 70 ºF).
They are effectively a thick wetsuit with
better-than-usual seals at wrist, neck and ankles.
The seals limit the volume of water entering and
leaving the suit. The diver gets wet in a semi-dry suit
but the water that enters is soon warmed up and does not
leave the suit readily, so the diver remains warm. The
trapped layer of water does not add to the suit's
insulating ability. Any residual water circulation past
the seals still causes heat loss. But semi-dry suits are
cheap and simple compared to dry suits. They are made
from thick neoprene, which provides good thermal
protection. They lose buoyancy and thermal protection as
the trapped gas bubbles in the neoprene compress at
depth. Semi-dry suits can come in various configurations
including a single piece or two pieces, made of 'long
johns' and a separate 'jacket'. Semi dry suits do not
usually include boots, so a separate pair of insulating
boots are worn. |
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GLOVES
Gloves either wet or dry are to be
used with enough isolation the dive the planned dive in
comfort. |
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BOOTS
Gloves either wet or dry are to be
used with enough isolation the dive the planned dive in
comfort. |
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FINS
Fins should be able to propel the
diver with all equipment needed during the dive |
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REELS
All divers must carry at least 3
reels one for every smb and 0ne for the liftbag. During
dives these reels may be used for other purposes such as
cave or wreck penetrations. also
called
distance line
A distance line is an item of diving equipment
used by SCUBA divers as a means of returning to a safe
starting point in conditions of low visibilty or where
pilotage is difficult. They are often used in cave
diving and wreck diving where the diver must return to
open water after a penetration when it may be
difficult to discern the return route.Distance lines
are often wound on to a spool or a reel. Typically 50
metres / 165 feet of thin polypropylene line can be
stored on a single reel, which has usually a locking
mechanism and a winding handle. Lines are also used to
deploy surface marker buoys and decompression buoys
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SMB
All divers must carry 2 surface
marker buoys, one must be red and to be used during
normal ascents. The second must be yellow and only be
used on ascents when problems evolved and assistance is
needed. Both smb's must have a lift capacity off at
least 25 kg and both must have there own reel. During
dive where there are many divers it is advisable to have
you're name on the top end off the smb.
A Surface Marker Buoy, SMB or simply a
blob is an inflatable buoy used by SCUBA divers,
with a line, to mark the diver's position to their
surface, safety boat whilst the diver is underwater.
SMBs are inflated on the surface before diving to
mark the diver's position in these circumstances:
- during a drift dive or night dive so the dive boat
can follow the divers
- where there is boat traffic making diving more
hazardous
Divers need to consider some configuration options
and features when using SMBs:
- A closed SMB, with a valve which you blow through,
is likely to be more reliable, by remaining inflated,
than an open ended buoy or a delayed buoy which seals
itself as it inflates
- To avoid losing the reel, the reel needs a lanyard
to attach the diving reel to the diver: this can :
- either clip to the buoyancy compensator or go
around the wrist
- or be long enough to float above the diver and
stay out of the way. If the lanyard clips to the BC,
take care to release if there are boats around
(boats on the surface have been known to drag divers
up by their SMB reels).
The DIR diving philosophy generally considers
unsafe any attachment to equipment or objects
which end above the water surface, due to high risk
associated with dragging the diver upwards in spite
of their decompression obligation or maximum ascent
speed limit.
A specialised form of SMB is the decompression buoy.
decompression buoy, deco buoy or
delayed SMB is an item of diving equipment used by
SCUBA divers to mark their position whilst underwater
doing decompression stops. They are similar to Surface
Marker Buoys but deco buoys are launched whilst the
diver is submerged. Alternative solutions to marking
one's position while doing decompression stops are
diving shots and decompression trapezes.
Deco buoys are inflated underwater before or
during the ascent phase of the dive. A reel and line
connect the buoy on the surface to the diver beneath the
surface. The buoy marks the diver's position underwater
so the boat safety cover can locate the diver.
There are at least four methods of keeping the air in
the inflated deco buoy. The buoy can be be:
- open ended (preferably with small independent
weight to keep the opening submerged)
- open ended self sealing buoys (the air in the buoy
expands as the buoy ascends closing a neck at the
bottom of the buoy)
- sealed, with an inflation valve and a pressure
relief valve
- sealed, with a built in air supply and a pressure
relief valve
Divers of some training organisations carry two
differently coloured deco buoys underwater so that they
can signal to their surface support for help and still
remain underwater decompressing. For example, a red buoy
indicates normal decompression and a yellow buoy
indicates a problem, such as shortage of gas, that the
surface support should investigate and resolve. Some
types of buoy provide an attachment for a strobe,
cyalume stick or writing slate, which can convey signals
to the surface support.
Several common problems are encountered when
deploying deco buoys :
- The diving reel jambs after the buoy is inflated
(dragging the diver up). To avoid this:
- use a simpler system or a reel which cannot jamb
(e.g. a weighted spool of line)
- detach the lanyard connecting the diver to the
reel before inflating the buoy (and ensure no
equipment is trapped in the buoy or reel)
- attach two reels to each other in series. If one
fails the other is unlocked to reel out its line.
- Part of the diver's equipment gets trapped in the
deco buoy (dragging the diver up). To avoid this tie
the lanyard of the reel to something solid on the sea
bed before inflating the buoy (so you have time to
sort the problem out)
- The diver removes the primary demand valve from
his or her mouth to inflate the buoy, and is therefore
at a disadvantage in dealing with any other problems
that might arise as the deco buoy goes off. There are
a number of ways to avoid this:
- Use a deco buoy with its own air supply
- Use a secondary demand valve, such as an
octopus, to inflate the buoy
- Use a sealed buoy with an inflation valve, which
is filled by blowing directly into the valve inlet
or by attaching a medium-pressure inflation hose
from the buoyancy compensator or dry suit. The valve
does not retain the hose connector, like the BCD or
suit inflator valve, and the hose can be easily
pulled off the valve when the buoy is sufficiently
filled.
- Hold an open ended buoy above the primary demand
valve and direct several exhalations up into the
open end of the buoy. This technique is also useful
in cold conditions to prevent freeflows caused by
pressing purge buttons.
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LIFTBAG
A red liftbag must be carried with a
liftcapacity off at least 65kg. |
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SCOOTER
A Diver Propulsion Vehicle or a DPV is an item of diving
equipment used by scuba divers to increase their range
while underwater where their endurance is restricted
due to limited availability of breathing gas and need
to avoid decompression sickness.
A DPV generally consists of a battery-powered
electric motor which drives a propeller. The machine
should be is designed to avoid some predictable
operating problems. It should be neutrally buoyant in
the water. The diver should not be able to
accidentally start the motor. The propeller should be
shielded so that it does not damage the diver, the
diver's equipment or marine life.
DPVs are useful for long journeys at constant depth
where navigation is easy. Some divers engaged in cave
diving and technical diving use DPVs. The machine
helps move the bulky equipment the divers carry. It
also allows them to make better use of their short
underwater time because they have greater
decompression requirements due to deep diving.
For many recreational divers DPVs are not useful.
Buoyancy control is vital for diver safety: the DPV
has the potential to make buoyancy control difficult
and cause barotrauma if the diver ascends or descents
under power. Navigation in visibility of less than 5
metres using a DPV could be difficult. Also, many
forms of smaller marine life are very well camouflaged
or hide well and are only seen by divers who move very
slowly and are very vigilant.
Diver-tugs, tow-behind, scooters
The most common sort of DPV is where a diver is
towed behind it holding onto one of its two handles on
its stern and/or tow leash. The diver could wear an
harness and backplate or BC with a front crotch-strap
D-ring where the scooter is clipped by means of
special safety spring-clip and tow leash with proper
length. These types of scooters are efficient because
the divers rides in the slip stream of the scooter
body as opposed to a "ride-on- top" which must be
ridden and increases drag, which effects scooter
battery burn time.
Miscellaneous
There are DPV's where the diver holds on in some
other way. One example is the Protei-5 Russian
diver-rider where the diver is clamped on top of it.
Wet-subs
As DPV's get bigger, they gradually merge into
submarines. A wet-sub can be classed as a small
submarine where the pilot's seat is naturally flooded
and he must wear diving gear. Covert military
operations use (SDV) swimmer delivery vehicles to
deliver and retrieve operators into harbors and
near-shore undetected.
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REBREATHER
Inspiration
closed circuit diving rebreather
Description
A rebreather is a type of breathing equipment
that provides a breathing gas containing oxygen and
recycles exhaled gas. This recycling reduces the volume
of breathing gas used, making a rebreather a lightweight
and compact breathing set for long durations in
environments where humans cannot safely breathe from the
atmosphere.
Rebreather technology is used in many environments:
- underwater - where it is sometimes known as
"closed circuit scuba" as opposed to Aqua-Lung-type
equipment, which is known as "open circuit scuba".
- mine rescue and in industry - where poisonous
gases may be present or oxygen may be absent.
- space suits - the outer space is a vacuum where
there is no oxygen to support life.
- hospital anesthesia breathing systems - to supply
controlled proportions of gases to patients without
altering the atmosphere the staff breathe.
- submarines and hyperbaric oxygen therapy chambers
- where the gas in the habitat must remain safe. Here
the rebreather is big and is connected to the air in
the habitat.
As a person breathes, the body consumes oxygen and
makes carbon dioxide. A person with an open-circuit
breathing set typically only uses about a quarter of the
oxygen in the air that is breathed in. The rest is
breathed out along with the nitrogen.
With a rebreather, the exhaled gas is not discharged
to waste. The rebreather recovers the exhaled oxygen for
re-use. It absorbs the carbon dioxide, which otherwise
would accumulate and become poisonous. It adds oxygen to
replace what was consumed. Thus, the gas in the
rebreather's circuit remains breathable and supports
life processes. Nearly always, the oxygen comes from a
cylinder, and the carbon dioxide is absorbed in a
canister full of some absorbent chemical such as soda
lime.
History of rebreathers
Around 1620 in England, Cornelius Drebbel made an
early oar-powered submarine. Records show that, to
re-oxygenate the air inside it, he likely generated
oxygen by heating saltpeter (sodium or potassium
nitrate) in a metal pan to make it emit oxygen. That
would turn the saltpeter into sodium or potassium oxide
or hydroxide, which would tend to absorb carbon dioxide
from the air around. That may explain how Cornelius
Drebbel's men were not affected by carbon dioxide
build-up as much as would be expected. If so, he
accidentally made a crude rebreather nearly three
centuries before Fluess and Davis: see this link (http://www.dutchsubmarines.com/specials/special_drebbel.htm).
The first certainly known closed circuit breathing
device using stored oxygen and absorption of carbon
dioxide by an absorbent (here caustic soda), was
invented by Henry Fluess
in 1879 to rescue mineworkers who were trapped by water.
The Davis Escape Set was the first rebreather which
was practical for use and produced in quantity. It was
designed about 1900 in Britain for escape from sunken
submarines. Various industrial oxygen rebreathers (e.g.
the Siebe Gorman Salvus and the Siebe Gorman Proto (http://www.therebreathersite.nl/Zuurstofrebreathers/English/photos_proto.htm))
were descended from it. The Proto (distinguish from
"Proton") was much used by firefighters.
The first known systematic use of rebreathers for
diving was by Italian sport spearfishers in the 1930s.
This practice came to the attention of the Italian Navy,
which developed its frogman unit which had a big effect
in World War II.
Advantages of rebreather diving
The main advantage of the rebreather over other
breathing equipment is the rebreather's economical use
of gas. With the "open circuit" Aqua-Lung, which is
another form of scuba, the entire breath is expelled
into the surrounding water when the diver exhales. So,
long or deep dives using open circuit equipment need
much more gas than when using a rebreather. This open
circuit gas must be carried by the diver in heavy and
bulky diving cylinders.
The economy of gas consumption is also useful when
the gas being breathed is expensive, such as the helium
in trimix or heliox gas mixes used in technical diving.
Also, rebreathers produce many fewer bubbles than
Aqua-Lungs, making military divers much less visible.
Marine biology and underwater photography also become
easier with no bubbles to alarm the fish being studied.
Parts of a rebreather

Back of an Inspiration Diving Rebreather, with its
casing opened
There are several design variations of diving
rebreather. All types have a gas-tight loop that
the diver inhales from and exhales into. The loop
consists of components sealed together. The diver
breathes through a mouthpiece or a fullface mask
(or with industrial breathing sets, sometimes a
mouth-and-nose mask) connected to one or more tubes
bringing inhaled gas to or exhaled gas from the diver, a
counterlung or breathing bag to hold gas
when it is not in the diver's lungs, and a scrubber
containing carbon dioxide absorbent to remove the
carbon dioxide from the loop. Attached to the loop there
will be at least one valve letting gases, such as oxygen
and perhaps a diluting gas, be injected into the loop.
There may be valves letting gas be vented manually or
automatically from the loop.
Most modern rebreathers have a twin hose
mouthpiece where the direction of flow of gas through
the loop is controlled by one-way valves. Some have a
single pendulum hose, where the inhaled and
exhaled gas passes through the same tube in opposite
directions. The mouthpiece often has a valve letting the
diver take the mouthpiece from the mouth while
underwater or floating on the surface without water
being allowed to enter the loop. Many rebreathers have
"water traps" in the counter lungs, which prevent large
volumes of water entering the loop if the diver removes
the mouthpiece underwater without closing the valve, or
if the diver's lips get slack letting water leak in.
The active ingredient of the scrubber is often soda
lime. All gas moving through the loop must pass through
the absorbent so its carbon dioxide component is
removed.
At present, there is no effective technology for
detecting the end of the life of the scrubber or a
dangerous increase in the concentration of carbon
dioxide causing carbon dioxide poisoning. The diver must
monitor the exposure of the scrubber and replace it when
necessary. Carbon dioxide gas sensors exist, but they
are not sensitive enough to be used in a rebreather -
the scrubber "break through" occurs quite suddenly and
the diver shows symptoms before the sensor indicates a
dangerous build-up of carbon dioxide. A rebreather
absorbent called "Protosorb" supplied by Siebe Gorman
had a red dye, which was said to go white when the
absorbent was exhausted. Even if a sensitive carbon
dioxide sensor is developed, it may not be useful as the
primary tool for monitoring scrubber life when
underwater, because mixed gas rebreathers allow very
long dives where long decompression stops may be needed:
knowing that the rebreather will begin to deliver a
poisonous breathing gas in five minutes may not be
useful to a diver needing to carry out an hour or more
of decompression stops.
A hazard with diving with early rebreathers was
"caustic cocktail" caused by water entering the loop and
dissolving absorbent; but many modern diving rebreather
absorbents are designed not to produce "cocktail" if
they get wet.
A basic need with a rebreather is to keep the amount
of oxygen in the mix, or more technically known as the
partial pressure of oxygen or ppO2, from
getting too low (causing anoxia or hypoxia) or too high
(causing oxygen toxicity).
In some early rebreathers the diver had to manually
open and close the valve to the oxygen cylinder to
refill the counter-lung each time. In others the oxygen
flow is kept constant by a pressure-reducing flow valve
like the valves on blowtorch cylinders; the set also has
a manual on/off valve called a bypass. In some
modern rebreathers, the pressure in the breathing bag
controls the oxygen flow like the demand valve in
open-circuit scuba. Most modern closed-circuit
rebreathers have electro-galvanic fuel cell sensors and
onboard electronics, which monitor the ppO2,
injecting more oxygen if necessary or issuing an audible
warning to the diver if the ppO2 reaches
dangerously high or low levels.
With humans, the urge to breathe is caused by a
build-up of carbon dioxide rather than lack of oxygen.
When using a rebreather, carbon dioxide is removed from
the breathing gas by the scrubber, suppressing the
body's natural warning. The result of serious hypoxia is
sudden blackout with little or no warning. This makes
hypoxia a deadly problem for rebreather divers.
In many rebreathers the diver can control the gas mix
and volume in the loop manually by injecting each of the
different available gases to the loop and by venting the
loop. The loop often has a pressure relief valve
preventing the "hamster cheek" effect on the diver
caused by over-pressure of the loop.
The position of the breathing bag, on the chest, over
the shoulders, or on the back, has an effect on the ease
of breathing. The design of the rebreather also affects
the swimming diver's streamlining and thus ease of
swimming.
Some rebreather sets include a bailout, a
second (usually open-circuit) supply of air or other
breathing gas to help the diver to reach safety if his
main breathing set fails.
Main rebreather design variants
Oxygen rebreather
This is the oldest type of rebreather and was
commonly used by navies from the early twentieth
century. The only gas that it supplies is oxygen. As
pure oxygen is toxic when inhaled at pressure, oxygen
rebreathers are limited to a depth of 6 meters (20
feet); some say 9 meters (30 feet). Oxygen rebreathers
are also sometimes used when decompressing from a deep
open-circuit dive, as breathing pure oxygen makes the
nitrogen diffuse out of the blood quicker.
Semi-closed circuit rebreather
Military and recreational divers use these because
they provide good underwater duration with fairly simple
and cheap equipment. Semi-closed circuit equipment
generally supplies one breathing gas such as air, nitrox
or trimix. The gas is injected at a constant rate.
Excess gas is constantly vented from the loop in small
volumes.
The diver must fill the cylinders with gas mix that
has a maximum operating depth that is safe for the depth
of the dive being planned. As the amount of oxygen
required by the diver increases with work rate, the
oxygen injection rate must be carefully chosen and
controlled to prevent either oxygen toxicity or
unconsciousness in the diver due to hypoxia.
Fully closed circuit rebreather
Military and photographic and recreational divers use
these because they allow long dives and produce no
bubbles. Closed circuit rebreathers generally supply two
breathing gases to the loop: one is pure oxygen and the
other is a diluent or diluting gas such as air, nitrox
or trimix.
The major task of the fully closed circuit rebreather
is to control the oxygen concentration, known as the
oxygen partial pressure, in the loop and to warn the
diver if it is becoming dangerously low or high. The
concentration of oxygen in the loop depends on two
factors: depth and the proportion of oxygen in the mix.
Too low a concentration of oxygen results in hypoxia
leading to sudden unconsciousness and ultimately death
when the oxygen is exhausted. Too high a concentration
of oxygen results in oxygen toxicity, a condition
causing convulsions, which when they occur underwater
can lead to drowning.
In fully automatic closed-circuit systems, a
mechanism injects oxygen into the loop when it detects
that the partial pressure of oxygen in the loop has
fallen below the required level. Often this mechanism is
electrical and relies on oxygen sensitive
electro-galvanic fuel cells called ppO2
meters to measure the concentration of oxygen in the
loop.
The diver may be able to manually control the mixture
by adding diluent gas or oxygen. Adding diluent can
prevent the loop's gas mixture becoming too oxygen rich.
Manually adding oxygen is risky as additional small
volumes of oxygen in the loop can easily raise the
partial pressure of oxygen to dangerous levels.
Rebreathers whose absorbent releases oxygen
There have been a few rebreather designs (e.g. the
Oxylite) which had an absorbent canister filled with
potassium superoxide, which gives off oxygen as it
absorbs carbon dioxide: 4KO2 + 2CO2
= 2K2CO3 + 3O2; it had
a very small oxygen cylinder to fill the loop at the
start of the dive. This system is dangerous because of
the explosively hot reaction that happens if water gets
on the potassium superoxide. The Russian IDA71 military
and naval rebreather was designed to be run in this mode
or as an ordinary rebreather.
Other designs
In the Siebe Gorman Proto (see above) the absorbent
was loose in the bottom of the breathing bag and not in
a canister.
Risks and precautions with rebreather diving
Many diver training organizations teach the "diluent
flush" technique as a safe way to restore the mix in the
loop to a level of oxygen that is neither too high nor
too low. It only works when partial pressure of oxygen
in the diluent alone would not cause hypoxia or
hyperoxia, such as when
using a normoxic diluent and observing the diluent's
maximum operating depth. The technique involves
simultaneously venting the loop and injecting diluent.
This flushes out the old mix and replaces it with a
known proportion of oxygen from the diluent.
Rebreather divers are advised to flush the system
when they start the dive, to get surplus nitrogen out of
the system.
In addition to the other diving disorders suffered by
divers, rebreather divers are also more susceptible to:
- Sudden blackout due to hypoxia caused by too low a
partial pressure of oxygen in the loop.
- Seizures due to oxygen toxicity caused by too high
a partial pressure of oxygen in the loop.
- Disorientation, panic, headache, and
hyperventilation due to hypercapnia (= excess of
carbon dioxide) caused by failure of the scrubber:
this is sometimes called shallow-water blackout.
This can also happen if the diver is producing carbon
dioxide faster than the absorbent can handle(e.g.
during hard work or fast swimming). The solution is to
slow down and let the absorbent catch up.
- The rebreather diver must keep breathing in and
out all the time, to keep the gas flowing over the
absorbent, so the absorbent can work all the time.
Divers need to lose any "air-saving" habits that may
have been developed while diving with open-circuit
scuba.
- "Caustic cocktail" in the loop if water comes into
contact with the soda lime used in the carbon dioxide
scrubber. The diver is normally alerted to this by a
chalky taste in the mouth. A safe response is to bail
out to "open circuit" and rinse the mouth out.
When compared with Aqua-Lungs, rebreathers have some
disadvantages including expense, difficulty of
operation, unreliability, and complexity of maintenance.
External links
Diving rebreather manufacturers
Other information sources
-
The Rebreather Site (http://www.therebreathersite.nl)
Long list of types of rebreathers (including nitrox)
at "database on oxygen rebreathers".
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Air is the most common and only natural breathing gas.
Other artificial gases, either pure gases or mixtures of
gases, are used in enclosed breathing environments such
as SCUBA equipment, recompression chambers, submarines
and space suits. A safe breathing gas has three
essential features:
- it must contain sufficient oxygen to support the
life, consciousness and work rate of the breather.
- it must not contain harmful gases. Carbon monoxide
and carbon dioxide are common poisons in breathing
gases. There are many others.
- it must not become toxic when being breathed at
high pressure such as when underwater. Oxygen and
nitrogen are examples of gases that become toxic under
pressure.
Most breathing gases are a mixture of oxygen and one
or more inert gases. The techniques used to fill diving
cylinders with gases other than air are called gas
blending.
Common diving breathing gases
Common diving breathing gases are:
- Air is a mixture of 21% oxygen and 79% nitrogen.
It is the most common diving gas, being cheap and
simple to use. As its nitrogen component causes
nitrogen narcosis it has a safe depth limit of 40
metres (130 feet) for most divers.
- Pure oxygen is mainly used during the shallow
decompression stops at the end of a technical dive for
accelerated decompression stops. It used to be much
used in frogmen's rebreathers.
- Nitrox is a mixture of oxygen and air. It is
mainly used instead of air to accelerate decompression
or to decrease the risk of Decompression sickness.
- Trimix is a mixture of oxygen, nitrogen and helium
and is often used during the deep phase of a technical
dive.
- Heliox is a mixture of oxygen and helium and is
often used in the deep phase of a commercial deep
dive.
- Heliair is a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen and
helium. It is suitable for in the deep phase of a
technical dive. It is easily blended from helium and
air and so always has a 21:79 ratio of oxygen and
nitrogen and the rest is helium.
- Neox is a mixture
of oxygen and neon that is rarely used due to its
cost.
Individual component gases
Oxygen
Oxygen (O2) must be present in every
breathing gas. This is because it is essential to the
human body's metabolic process, which sustains life. The
human body cannot store oxygen for later use as it does
with food. If the body is deprived of oxygen for more
than a few minutes, unconsciousness results. The tissues
and organs within the body (notably the heart and brain)
are damaged if deprived of oxygen for much longer than
four minutes.
The proportion of oxygen in a breathing gas
determines the depth at which the mixture gas can safely
be used:
- hypoxic mixes have lower proportion of
oxygen than air, 21%, or more strictly less than 16%
oxygen and are designed only to be breathed at depth
as a "bottom gas". Trimix, Heliox and Heliair are used
to create typical hypoxic mixes and are used in
technical diving as deep breathing gases.
- normoxic mixes have the same proportion of
oxygen as air, 21%
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