New Tankless Dive system. Good or dangerous

[geem]

With respect, this kit is a stand alone breathing apparatus that does not need any DIY or be tethered to the boat. So, if it is works as described (ignoring the hype and 'oxygen' bits), It sound quite useful.

Bit curious about the shape of the float, the hollow in the top? not to mention the lack of a 'diving flag' on a little mast..

Might just be that that people investing see a good idea?

If you think plugging a 12v compressor into your boat is DIY, we have a different understanding of DIY.
I appreciate that the kit in the advert is standalone but how often do, you expect to use that? We are sailing in the Caribbean. I have never seen anybody using a standalone bit of kit like a hookah. If you want to go diving you wear full dive gear without having to trail an air hose to the surface that may tangle on a reef or rocks.
A bit of kit that allows you to clean the bottom of the boat or inspect anodes, props etc is really useful. I would never buy the battery powered kit. It takes up loads of space. Needs charging and can't cope with choppy water like a boat fed air supply. Being tethered to the boat by the air hose is also a useful safety feature. We carry full diving gear as well as our boat hookah. They both have a place onboard but the standalone battery kit just looks like a gimmick to me

 

[DownWest]

If you think plugging a 12v compressor into your boat is DIY, we have a different understanding of DIY.
I appreciate that the kit in the advert is standalone but how often do, you expect to use that? We are sailing in the Caribbean. I have never seen anybody using a standalone bit of kit like a hookah. If you want to go diving you wear full dive gear without having to trail an air hose to the surface that may tangle on a reef or rocks.
A bit of kit that allows you to clean the bottom of the boat or inspect anodes, props etc is really useful. I would never buy the battery powered kit. It takes up loads of space. Needs charging and can't cope with choppy water like a boat fed air supply. Being tethered to the boat by the air hose is also a useful safety feature. We carry full diving gear as well as our boat hookah. They both have a place onboard but the standalone battery kit just looks like a gimmick to me

I have a 'slight' understanding of DIY, since I build my own boats,trailers and aircraft...
This bit of kit is not aimed at you, scraping your bottom. More at people who want to stay lower and longer,than using a snorkel. As long as they are aware of the basic diving practice principles, then it probably has a good market. It is free floating, and avoids the problems of petrol engines as a power source. Might be a good idea?

 

[geem]

I have a 'slight' understanding of DIY, since I build my own boats,trailers and aircraft...
This bit of kit is not aimed at you, scraping your bottom. More at people who want to stay lower and longer,than using a snorkel. As long as they are aware of the basic diving practice principles, then it probably has a good market. It is free floating, and avoids the problems of petrol engines as a power source. Might be a good idea?

You can make the same bit of kit. An aquarium compressor. A rubber dinghy with a battery in it and the compressor. Way safer than a floating washing up bowl with a snorkel. Just my opinion

 

[lustyd]

Just a little concerned about the references to oxygen tanks in both the text and video. Also, saying it provides fresh air in one clip and oxygen in another. Do they really understand shallow diving technology?

It's a filtered pump and a regulator. Technology is a bit of a stretch and the idea that there is complexity there is a bit of a stretch. Pressurise the air and it will go down the tube, regulator stops the humans exploding. Simples.

 

[HenrikH]

You can make the same bit of kit. An aquarium compressor. A rubber dinghy with a battery in it and the compressor. Way safer than a floating washing up bowl with a snorkel. Just my opinion

why aquarium compressor?

 

[lustyd]

why aquarium compressor?

Probably because designing a pump to not kill fish and designing a pump to not kill humans is basically the same task. No oil or other nasties in the air is pretty easy, finding a pump designed in that way that inspired confidence is slightly harder but not hard given research

 

[srm]

It's a filtered pump and a regulator. Technology is a bit of a stretch and the idea that there is complexity there is a bit of a stretch. Pressurise the air and it will go down the tube, regulator stops the humans exploding. Simples.

Sorry, but I was offering the slightest hint of sarcasm.
Oxygen becomes poisonous to humans at a partial pressure of around two bars or about 9 to 10 metres depth if breathing pure oxygen. As to exploding humans this is quite possible as the regulator will not prevent such damage to the lungs if the human is foolish enough to hold their breath after inhaling at depth and then ascending.

 

[Skylark]

It looks a bit premature. There’s no mention of meeting Standards and no Testimonials and/or endorsements from any diving authorities.

Diving is a wonderful experience but should not be undertaken without proper training.

I imagine that there’s an awful lot of drag associated with that set-up and that it could preoccupy many. Breathing rates between individuals vary enormously. During a Risk Assessment, it’s not hard to consider the scenario of drag or snag causing an increase in breathing which the compressor is unable to supply, leading to the diver bolting to the surface.

A key piece of diving safety equipment is a buoyancy compensator. This has many functions and one is to provide buoyancy at the surface. The diver in the new product video isn’t wearing one and it looks as though provision has yet to be considered.

Assuming that we are all adults, we should all be capable of making up our own minds. Best to do this based upon facts, not sentiment.

I’ve been involved with recreational diving for many years. I was once involved with an unsuccessful rescue of a trainee diver as I lifted him from the 6m bottom. Not a nice experience. Diving is generally safe and easy, but only for those who know what they’re doing.

 

[lustyd]

People don’t wear BCs while snorkelling either. At these depths it’s not a huge issue and for the most part people won’t even be wearing a wetsuit to compensate for. I imagine the real issue will be staying down, just like when trying to scrub the bottom freediving!

What standard would you like them to meet specifically?

 

[geem]

People don’t wear BCs while snorkelling either. At these depths it’s not a huge issue and for the most part people won’t even be wearing a wetsuit to compensate for. I imagine the real issue will be staying down, just like when trying to scrub the bottom freediving!

What standard would you like them to meet specifically?

The only way to stay down in reality is a weight belt but without a BCD it's not easy to get your weight right for the depth. It's one of the reasons why I think the thing is a gimmick. Your depth is going to be hard to control compared to full dive gear so what is it actually for?

 

[Beneteau381]

With respect, this kit is a stand alone breathing apparatus that does not need any DIY or be tethered to the boat. So, if it is works as described (ignoring the hype and 'oxygen' bits), It sound quite useful.

Bit curious about the shape of the float, the hollow in the top? not to mention the lack of a 'diving flag' on a little mast..

Might just be that that people investing see a good idea?

My mate in the marina at Albufeira has two, one Hooka and one Chinese crap, both have the compressors floating in a ring that looks like the nastiest kids swim aid. They follow him around on the surface as he cleans the boat. Would I use one? Not on your nelly.
Geems? Yes I would. Use an old dive reg and proper hose and away you go

 

[boomerangben]

The only way to stay down in reality is a weight belt but without a BCD it's not easy to get your weight right for the depth. It's one of the reasons why I think the thing is a gimmick. Your depth is going to be hard to control compared to full dive gear so what is it actually for?

To me it’s just a limitless (time) snorkel. In other words it is for accessing areas that a recreational snorkeler would normally access. I’m sure experienced snorkelers could go much deeper than 12m. Of course buoyancy is more difficult than snorkelling since you are able to expand your chest as you breathe in so managing buoyancy is harder with this contraption. I didn’t see how long the umbilical is. In commercial diving , managing your umbilical is absolutely fundamental to dive safety, even with bailout bottles. I’m guessing you have to be competent enough to be able to deal with a snagged or severed umbilical, neither of which is part of a recreational diving course afaik. It all comes down to having a good think about what you are doing, what could go wrong and how you would deal with it.

 

[geem]

To me it’s just a limitless (time) snorkel. In other words it is for accessing areas that a recreational snorkeler would normally access. I’m sure experienced snorkelers could go much deeper than 12m. Of course buoyancy is more difficult than snorkelling since you are able to expand your chest as you breathe in so managing buoyancy is harder with this contraption. I didn’t see how long the umbilical is. In commercial diving , managing your umbilical is absolutely fundamental to dive safety, even with bailout bottles. I’m guessing you have to be competent enough to be able to deal with a snagged or severed umbilical, neither of which is part of a recreational diving course afaik. It all comes down to having a good think about what you are doing, what could go wrong and how you would deal with it.

When I use my boat based hookah, the hose is something I manage. We have 60ft of hose. I am only diving under the boat but it still can get snagged on the rudder or the prop. The hose sinks. It is proffessional hookah hose made for the job and super high quality. The risks to a recreational snorkeler from a tangle hose are high. I can imagine some guy buying this for a laugh and letting his kids use it and it all going horribly wrong.

 

[arcot]

It's a filtered pump and a regulator. Technology is a bit of a stretch and the idea that there is complexity there is a bit of a stretch. Pressurise the air and it will go down the tube, regulator stops the humans exploding. Simples.

Spare regulator needed as part of underwater gear or spare air.
.
ALL
.
Users end to surface very slowly and brathe regularly or exhale as ascending to prevent embolism and possible death.

 

[bignick]

I’m confused. Normally for a Kickstarter campaign to be successful you need a novel product.
I don’t see how this is any different from the established offerings from Sea-Breathe or BLU3 Nomad.

i’m very interested in the system that Geem showed though, and at some point will try to build something similar.
I‘ll probably add a hookah in-line filter though.