2.0 Operations
The aforementioned design principles have been discovered through understanding ‘what we dive’ in practice. Through organizing those design principles, we can look more closely at operations requiring use of this platform in a more standardized fashion – the ‘how we dive’.
Rebreather diving operations are often mistakenly viewed as overly complex, much like misperceptions of the technology itself. On the contrary, the technology is simple and intuitive to operate so long as the diver’s train of thought is adjusted to focus on ‘what am I breathing’ rather than ‘how much do I have to breathe’. When all is functioning as it should be, the diver has three simple responsibilities:
- breathe
- monitor his/her atmosphere (breathing gas composition)
- be responsible enough to bailout
Considering these three very basic responsibilities, it is not such a stretch to embrace this technology platform in a working [non-recreational] context. For instance, surface supplied air diving commonly used in the commercial sector has only two similar requirements: 1) breathe and 2) be responsible enough to bailout. The responsibility of gas management and life support integrity largely rests with the topside team. Under certain circumstances, this responsibility (atmospheric management monitoring) in rebreather diving can also be shared topside, leaving the same fundamental diver responsibilities of breathing and knowing when to bailout. Doing this requires some technical configuration adjustments, which will be described in later sections of this content. The point here being that rebreather use in a working context comes with a fear that has been instituted about the unnecessarily complex, where in practice it’s just a matter of shifted mindset; again, focus on ‘what am I breathing’ rather than ‘how much do I have to breathe’.
Operations can also become unnecessarily complex when preparing for deeper or longer dives, as it is easy to get caught up in the minutia of bailout contingencies. I do not say that to undermine the importance of a sound and meticulously planned bailout strategy; I do believe that detail must be paid to these intricacies. A sound bailout strategy is essential, but we should also provide substantial buffer and not be afraid to put more gas in the water than is thought to be required. Why fall short in assuming a 20 or 30% reserve is sufficient? In practice, we know that the huffing and puffing that comes with stress can substantially increase breathing gas consumption, so bailout plans should provide ample gas volume so as to not be cause for additional stress nor paralyzing fear prior to or during the dive.
On the rebreather itself, checklists have become a standardized piece of kit for divers’ use at the water’s edge. Some are rather simple, others are exhaustive. In my opinion, the exhaustive detail should come during the assembly procedure and be directed as manufacturers’ recommendations. Once assembled by the diver, actual water’s edge pre-dive serves as a simple functional run through of the fully assembled system and verifies that you, the diver, are ready. Routines can be established that reflect the standardized protocols presented through checklists, much like we have routines for other diving modalities.
All diving modalities consider pre-dive, during the dive, and post-dive habitats, each must be well considered. Critically important is that these processes are part of diver education, as this manner of thinking complements the critical nature of 'what am I breathing' throughout the course of a dive excursion.