the fine print

by Michael Lombardi 六月 02, 2025

Closed Circuit | Open Sourced

second edition

the unofficially official companion book to

the Rebreather Day 1 ® System, Components, and Method

Second Edition available here in digital format. Editing contributions from Katheryn Labosky.

First Edition previously available from CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform - ISBN 978-1985160-23-1 (out of print). Editing contributions from Cheryl Meany.

Dedication

This work is dedicated to those who keep the bigger picture in focus yet never lose sight of the details.

Our world turns because of you.

Acknowledgements

This content, and the innovations described within have benefitted from the engineering and development contributions of many individuals including Jordan Stanway (MIT), Matthew McBurnie (URI), Travis Barao (URI), Andrew Valainis (URI), and Adam Piispanen (URI). Matt Jewell (Juice Robotics LLC), Mark Munro (PPO2.com), Martin Tolksdorf (Tecme.de), Rick Simon (Manta Industries), and Allen Tetrault (Fathom Machine Works) provided essential support in sourcing and/or fabricating components for actual design/build projects. LC Ng (The Scuba Network) is an invaluable production partner who has made measurable engineering contributions to components and systems. Colleagues who have substantially advocated for the enclosed work include Winslow Burleson PhD. (NYU & UA), Jeff Godfrey (UCONN), Leo Chan PhD. (CityU Hong Kong), Barry Hurst (USCG Academy), and Jona Silverstein (Explorer Technology LLC). Field collaborators encouraging the critical thinking and problem-solving skills required through this innovation process include Michael Lesser PhD. (UNH), Marc Slattery PhD. (UMISS), Lyle Smith (CDS), and John Babbitt (CDS). Jim Clark (JF White) and Richard Fryburg (Subsalve USA) provided support and guidance through portions of our design/build examples. Lastly, rebreather and technical dive instructors contributing know-how that was instrumental along this journey include Cliff Simoneau, Dan Wible, Dave Sutton, and Brian Kakuk.

Additionally, incremental advancements in the technology described were made possible on the heels of other priority programs supported by NOAA’s Undersea Research Program, the Perry Institute for Marine Science, the National Science Foundation, Rhode Island’s Science and Technology Advisory Council, the Slater Center for Marine & Environmental Technologies, the InnovateRI Program, the National Geographic Society, the Bahamas Marine EcoCentre, Ocean Opportunity Inc., the J.F. White Contracting Company, and numerous private supporters. I extend my sincerest thanks to each of these institutions and organizations for supporting tangentially aligned interests, all of which left enough table scraps to justify and inspire me to make the investment and see rebreather development through for myself.

The technology development work described was carried out in basements, attics, and garages from 2003-2012 and thereafter at the Lombardi Undersea Resource Center in Middletown, Rhode Island, USA from 2012-2024.

This text was written from several coffee shops throughout the Providence, Rhode Island area and is proudly a product of the Ocean State.

Disclaimer

While the author believes that the information and guidance given in this work are correct, all parties must rely on their own skill and judgment when making use of it. The author, reviewers, contributors, and publishing platform assume no liability to anyone for any loss, damage, or injury caused by any error or omission in the work, whether such error or omission is the result of negligence or any other cause. Any and all liability is disclaimed.

This content describes logic for the design, assembly, and operation of life support apparatus for underwater use. The design theory and logic discussed are solely opinions of the author and built upon practical, demonstrated, and incremental progress in real world applications. The author does not advocate modifying diving apparatus without prior approval of the original manufacturer and doing so implies sole assumption of all associated risks.