I would like to congratulate, Maria, Vincent, Romain & Olly for successfully completing their Poseidon Mark 6 Rebreather Course in Playa Del Carmen. I was impressed with the students and impressed with the units….here is a little snippet from Poseidon´s website about the Mark 6:
The Poseidon Discovery is the world’s first rebreather for recreational divers. It’s a fully-closed, fully-automated unit that will make you see diving in a different light.
The system comprises a breathing loop (mouthpiece, hoses, counter lungs and backpack) with associated electronics module, and two independent gas cylinders. One contains 100% compressed oxygen which is added to the breathing loop as the diver consumes it. The second cylinder typically contains compressed air “diluent” to compensate for compression in the breathing loop as the diver goes deeper. It’s also a back-up system, containing enough oxygen for the diver to breathe directly in an emergency.
The dive is fully managed by onboard computers, with two continuously recalibrating sensors constantly monitoring oxygen levels, and dive information recorded in the removable battery module. The hand-held control unit displays depth, cylinder pressure, and oxygen concentration. The system is also equipped with a number of active warning systems.
To begin the dive, the diver must ensure that the battery is charged, the bottles are filled with gas and the pre-packaged scrubber is attached. The computer then performs a thorough pre-dive test to ensure that all parts of the system are functioning properly before the dive is allowed to proceed.
Light, safe and simple to use, the Discovery is designed not only for seasoned divers, but for those who are new to the experience. With so much less to do, you’re free to concentrate on the dive itself. And with no bubbles to frighten the sea life, it’s a dive you’ll enjoy more than ever. It’s also a dive you can enjoy for longer, with the potential to stay under water for up to three hours at a maximum depth of 40 m.
At just 18 kilos (39.6 lbs) fully gassed up and ready to dive, the Discovery MkVI weighs less than many dive tanks weigh on their own. And minus tanks and canister, it weighs just 8 kilos (17.6 lbs), making it easy to travel with.
I have been diving rebreather since 1997. My first rebreather was a semi-closed Dolphin unit and back then I could not have recommended the experience enough as an introduction to rebreathers. The unit was simple and fun to use, the only thing I disliked was the tedious filling of scrubber cartridges.
Since then I have progress to teaching and diving a range of Closed Circuit units and owner and user of a Steam Machines Prism. I have completed over several hundred hours diving the Prism and the unit is simple, easy to breathe and consistently performed excellent in varied conditions. The best feature of the prism is the reliable analogue PO2 gauge allowing you to dive the unit manually, even without batteries. I successfully used the unit to tag hammerhead sharks in the Sea or Cortez and the Pacific Ocean. The unit also performed excellently during various broadcast productions and proved to be humpbolt Squid proof.
However, regardless of the unit, I never found anything exciting or fun about filling and emptying absorbent cartridges. Now, don´t for one moment think that I ever underestimated the importance and safety requirements of preparing a rebreather scrubber. It has to be taken as seriously as packing a parachute…..but that does not stop it being boring and time consuming.
I was so impressed with the new Poseidon Mark 6 Discovery CCR unit, mainly for the disposable scrubber cartridges that is uses. To find out more about learning to use one drop me an email
