Closed Circuit
BENEFITS TO USING A REBREATHER
Warm & moist air: This is due to the chemical reaction of the carbon dioxide being scrubbed out of the gas in the loop by the scrubber material. The by-product of this action is heat and moisture. This helps the diver to stay warmer and hydrated longer. The gas a diver breathes from an open circuit (SCUBA) tank is “refrigerated” and will drop the diver’s core body temperature quickly and dry the airways.
Time: 2 to 3 hours of gas. With open circuit, the diver inhales the breathing gas and exhales what they do not use into the water column. With a CCR, the diver inhales the breathing gas and exhales what they do not metabolize into the breathing loop to be recycled. As every lung full of gas goes much further, small cylinders can be used.
Silence: Dives are quiet and peaceful as there is no noise from regulators and bubbles. This allows the diver to get much closer to the wildlife and have a more relaxing experience.
Size of equipment: Both the Sport & the Classic are smaller than regular open circuit gear, with the Sport also being lighter. The Classic is about the same weight as a fully rigged aluminium 11 L / 80 cu ft tank
Best mix: The diver is always breathing the “best mix” at every depth. When diving open circuit nitrox, the diver is breathing the best mix only at the deepest part of the dive. With a KISS CCR, the diver is breathing the best mix at all times, as he is controlling the amount of oxygen that goes into the breathing loop.
Trimix: Both units are trimix compatible. It is also affordable as only small cylinders need to be filled. This gives the diver an option to dive trimix on every dive, even on recreational dives.
Maintenance: Both units are user maintainable. The maintenance is no more intensive than caring for open circuit gear, just different.
TYPES OF REBREATHER
SCR: With most semi-closed rebreathers (SCR), there is a constant flow of air/gas/bubbles into the water column. This is due to the high constant flow of gas into the breathing loop.
CCR: With a fully closed circuit rebreather (CCR), only the required amount of gas/air is entering the loop so there is no need for constant venting. Therefore, while at a constant depth, there will be no bubbles released into the water. When the diver ascends, there will be bubbles as the air in the loop expands and is released. This is the same principle as with a BCD/drysuit. A manual CCR has a constant flow of oxygen that is periodically topped up by the diver. The electronic version relies on a solenoid to control oxygen and diluent gas flow.
KISS CLASSIC
The Classic KISS is a reliable and adaptable mCCR rebreather which is designed for both recreational and technical diving. Deep, cave, shallow reef, photography, the Classic KISS does it all in one clean, easy to use, well priced package. The Classic has a scrubber duration of 3 hours and can be used with mixed gas down to 75m.
KISS SPORT
The Sport KISS is a reliable mCCR recreational system which will take divers from the shallowest reefs to light decompression diving. Fabulous for photographers, the Sport is fun, easy to use, and takes no more time to prepare and clean than open circuit diving! Great value for your money!! The sport has a scrubber duration of 2.5 hours and can be used to 55m.
KISS ACCESSORIES
O2 Booster Pump
The Baby Booster is a light weight, hard working oxygen booster pump designed for the travelling diver. Available in a full kit with whips, gauge and carry case, or order the bare booster. Every rebreather diver should have one!
Pendent Display Unit
The pendent plugs into the rebreather via a modified sensor block/kidney. This display is a single case with 3 backlit PPO2 readouts which read 3 individual oxygen sensors. It has an extremely durable case with an easy to change AA battery. Also, when calibrating this display the case is not opened. This decreases the risk of flooding. You can also see your sensor milli-volts.
Off-Board Accessory Kit
This allows you to connect your BOV to your off-board gas supply via a quick release. Switch to bail –out and you have the combined gas in your on-board and your off-board cylinder to get you safely back to the surface.
Kidney Plate
This kidney plate allows the use of two display units such as the Pendent and the Vrx. In other forms it can take a triple display or a double display and Vr3
KISS DEALER
New Zealand Sea Adventures is the sole KISS Dealer in New Zealand. NZSA Instructor Trainer Tony Howell is currently the only TDI & IANTD KISS CCR instructor in New Zealand.
At NZSA you can find most of your KISS needs: mixed gas, oxygen, air, sensors and CO2 absorbent. We also have a range of technical diving supplies such as cylinders, clips, harnesses, hoses and computers. We have Wellington’s only high pressure oxygen/helium/argon booster pump run by highly qualified gas blenders.
SHEARWATER COMPUTER FEATURES
We are now dealers for the impressive Shearwater computer. This is an ideal partner for either open circuit using air, nitrox or trimix - or for our KISS Closed circuit rebreathers. The Shearwater has many features described below:
• Depth, time and oxygen sensor display
• Buhlmann ZHL-16C algorithm with gradient factors for conservatism
• Choice of imperial and metric displays
• Two set points, each of which can be set between .4 and 1.5
• A menu system that adapts to diving status
• Automatic turn off after 30 minutes on the surface
• Depth sensor is rated to 450 feet
• Any combination of oxygen, nitrogen, and helium
• Open and closed circuit, switchable during a dive
• 5 CC and 5 OC gases
• Gases can be changed and added during a dive
• Tracks sensor readings to give CNS & deco status
• No lockout
• Automatic setpoint switching (configurable)
• Battery life of over 100 hours of diving or 1 year of standby
Call us on 04 233-8238 or call and you can see one.
SHEARWATER Review
I bought a Shearwater multi-gas computer to interface with the KISS Classic rebreather. However on several occasions I have dived it using SCUBA. When I compare it to previous multi-gas computers I have owned I am amazed. Switching gases above or underwater is the easiest I have experienced. All functions are controlled by two touch buttons. These are reliable and can’t jam. While there are a lot of menu functions, there are very few you need on each dive. The process is easy as the menu is scrolled by one button and is accepted by the other. It has big numbers and is easy to read under water. It is back lit and that brightness can be controlled. I was diving deep, using trimix and doing two gas changes and knew instantly which gas was which. The battery is user replacable.
The switch from OC to CC is really easy. It monitors the CCR oxygen sensors by cable, or it will calculate deco using a set PO2. Any data that appears incorrect to the computer will result in that data being highlighted in bright red. That is very easy to read.
Any decompression obligation is clear showing the stops and time required.
This is a great tool for safe diving. If you are a little older or a wee bit unfit, you can set a conservative factor that will allow for that. This computer is a must for deeper, longer SCUBA or CCR dives. TonyHowell TDI:IT
| Mana 04 233 8238 |
| 9 Marina View |
| nzsa@scubadiving.co.nz |
