pSCR Rebreather Course

Prerequisites

  • Must be at least a minimum 21 years of age.
  • Must be ISE Exploration Diver Level 2, ISE Wreck Exploration Diver 2 or ISE Cave Explorer Level 2 qualified.
  • Must have a minimum of 500 logged dives, with at least 50 dives on double cylinders, 25 dives of these must involve stage decompression.
  • Must be able to perform the following:
600 meters swimming in less than 15 min. & free dive a distance of 20 meters
or alternatively
Snorkel 800 meters (with fins) in less than 16 min. & free dive a distance of 30 meters
or alternatively
Run 1000 Meters in less than 4 min.
additionally
10 pushups & 6 pull-ups & 30 sit-ups in 40 sec

Purpose

The ISE Rebreather Exploration Diver course is designed to:

  • Educate individuals in basic rebreather technologies and
  • Cultivate diver proficiency in the use of rebreather technology

This course assumes that divers are not experienced in the use of rebreather technology but are very capable open circuit divers.

Duration

This class will be conducted over a duration of 5 days.

Limits

  • Student to instructor ratio will not exceed 3:1 in all in-water and surface sessions.
  • Maximum training depth of 80 meters.
  • No overhead environment. (i.e caves)
  • Certification expires after 3 years. Students have to re-qualify. (An evaluation dive)

Topics

  • Purpose • Risk • Benefit • Advantages • Disadvantages
    Common components of the rebreather and how they function • Mouthpiece & hoses • Counter lung • CO2 canister & chemical removal by the scrubber • Gas-addition system • Gas-management & information system
    Inherent risks of rebreathers • Hypoxia • Hyperoxia • Hypercapnia • Hyperventilation
    Introduction to the rebreather • Rebreather design • Gas circulation during inhalation • Gas circulation during exhalation • Gas changes • Passive gas addition • Diving logistics
    Rebreather alarms and warnings • Intrusion • Failure susceptibility • Information content • Verification • Physiological monitoring
    The physics behind a rebreather • O2 toxicity • Decompression • Theory & review • Rebreather vs. open circuit • Oxygen consumption (RMV) Configuration • DIR foundation • Rebreather configuration • Rebreather configured DIR style
    Rebreather physical design • Components, functions, failures, problem recognition & alarms, problem solving • Mouthpiece, double hoses, check valves & bailout regulators • CO2 canister and scrubber bed Inner bellows & overpressure dump valve • Counter lung actuated gas addition regulators
    Problem recognition & management • Scrubber flooded leading to Hypercapnia • CO2 absorbent failures leading to Hypercapnia • Check-valve failure leading to Hypercapnia • Addition failures leading Hypoxia Mechanical failure leading to Hyperoxia • Gas-supply failures • Diving conditions leading to Hypoxia • Bailout scenarios • Physiological monitoring
    The Importance of instinctive physiological monitoring • Pre-dive planning & preparation • Gas duration • Gas choice • CO2 absorbent management • Pre-dive checks Pre-dive planning • Gas choice • Gas duration • Gas management scenarios • Decompression procedures • CO2 absorbent management & duration • Pre-dive checks/vacuum test • Open circuit bailouts
    Diving the Rebreather • Initial in-water verification • Descents/ascents on OC • Flow-checks • Buoyancy control • Breathing characteristics • Monitoring the unit & alarms • Flooding & failures • Monitoring the gas • Loop purging with mask • Gas switches
    Post-dive procedure • Rinse hoses between dives on same day • Rinse unit after 1 day's use • Disinfect and dry hoses and unit after 5 day's use Need for continuing education and skill reinforcement

Drills

  • Flow checks
  • Manifold failure
  • Gas addition failures
  • Gas sharing
  • Rebreather functions

Equipment

  • Rebrether: Halcyon RB80, GDS - AH, Satori, Hyperion or RON rebreathers


  • Tank/s: Students are required to use double tanks. Double tanks setup requires a dual outlet isolator manifold, which allows for the use of two first-stages. The double cylinders must be accessible by both the rebreather and open circuit regulators. Divers must also have access to two cylinders marked appropriately. One appropriate drysuit cylinder.


  • Regulators:For double tank setup, one first stage must provide a second stage on a 2 meter hose and inflation for buoyancy compensator. The other must provide a second stage on a hose not exceeding 60 cm, attached with a shock cord on the mouth piece. It must also provide a pressure gauge on a hose not exceeding 60 cm, and inflation for dry suit. (where applicable) Two first stages must provide a second stage on a 100 cm hose and also a pressure gauge. One drysuit inflation system.


  • Backplate:A rigid and flat platform, of metal construction held to the diver by one continuous piece of nylon webbing. This webbing should be adjustable through the plate with triglides to hold positions, and a buckle to secure the system at the waist. A crotch strap attached to the lower end of the plate and has a loop to pass the waist band through to secure the system. A knife sheath should be attached at the waist and will be adjusted beside the crotch strap when ready. This webbing should support five D-rings; 1 on the left, and 1 on right shoulder strap, both approximately the collar bone level. 2 on the crotch strap with one at the front and one at the buttocks. The shoulder straps should have small rubber bands to hold the back-up lights. The system should have no unnecessary components.


  • Buoyancy Compensator Device: The buoyancy compensator device should be back-mounted and streamlined with only one inflator. There should be no bungee cords of any sort on the buoyancy cell. The lift should not exceed 25 kg for doubles. Wing size and shape should be appropriate to the cylinders used during training.


  • Lighting Systems: The primary light that should be of a canister with light cord connecting to the light head design. The battery should be inside the canister and a slot to position it on the right hip location on the waist strap. The light head should have a goodman handle with a bolt snap attached, and a loop at the bottom of the light head. The primary light should be at least a 10 watts HID or equivalent.
    At least two back-up lights that are of a twist on and off bezel design. It should be an in-line battery design that do not overdrive the bulb. There should be no on/off switch for the back-up lights. The back-up lights will have bolt snaps attached to the back of it for stowage to the system.


  • At least one depth measuring device.
  • At least one knife as line cutting device.
  • At least one low volume mask.
  • At least one surface marker per diver.
  • One time keeping device.
  • One pair of non split, rigid fins.
  • One underwater notepad.
  • One spool of at least 30 meters of line per diver.
  • One primary reel of at least 90 meters of line per diver.
  • One drysuit that is appropriate for the training environment and water temperature.
  • Decompression tables.>

Classes

Location city Start date Instructor Details

Instructors

Name Country City Details
Alain Dobbelaere Belgium Waarschoot Details
Senne Strobbe België Laarne Details
Achim Schlöffel Germany München Details