> On Saturday, June 28, 2003 9:37 AM, David Hale wrote:

>
> All too often it's forgotten that rebreathers pre-dated open-circuit
> equipment - and were it not for the fact that, for a lengthy period of time,
> their use was denied to the recreational diving community there would
> probably still be limited interest in their use.  :-)
>
> I can recall a then prominent OZ Tekkie, in '91, predicting that within a
> decade rebreathers would be the norm for recreational diving, to the point
> where they'd be common-place for entry level courses.   In that regard, it's
> interesting to note that even Drager - and regardless of how people might
> view their Atlantis/Dolphin/Ray, still one of the leading
> designers/manufacturers of rebreathers - have withdrawn from recreational
> diving and returned to their core markets.  (After investing more millions
> than I care to think about in the exercise!)  :-)

I remember Draeger making the same statement about their Atlantis/Dolphin and
even later with the Ray before they saw the light and changed their minds. Part
of what changed their minds was all the folks making the Mods to the Dolphins
and using them as Closed circuit mixed gas units. Just for giggles, I called up
one of their tech's with a question. I chatted with him for about 5 minutes
before I got to the question. We talked about the weather and about wishing we
were diving instead of working. Then I told him that I was planning 300' dive
and wanted to know what orifice he suggested I use for a 10/70 mix. He hung up
on me and when I called back to tell him I was just bullshittin' and just
wanted to see what his reaction would be he wouldn't take my call.


__
Mike Wallace
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