Hollis Tech Days
Matt Zimmerman

The best way to purchase scuba gear – Hollis Tech Days

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What is Hollis Tech Days?Hollis Tech Days

In 2019 Hollis put together a traveling scuba demo program to bring their equipment to various dealers around the country.  The idea is to let divers try the equipment to help them make a more informed decision about purchases.  A great idea and a great opportunity for local divers.  On Oahu, that event is October 15th, 2019 at the Richardson Pool on Schofield Barracks.  Besides six different types of equipment packages that range from traveling gear to sidemount, there is also the opportunity to try a Prism2 Rebreather under the supervision of a Prism2 instructor.

For the Oahu event there is a small fee to participate that covers staff time and the BBQ.  However, the registration fee is applicable to purchases made at the event.

Can I try sidemount diving?

Yes!  Okay, so if you have been a diver for any amount of time you have probably been curious about sidemount diving.  But, chances are you are now pretty comfortable with your equipment and are not sure you want to change or invest in another set of equipment.  How can you know for sure if you really like it before you drop the cash?  It is a good thing that Hollis Tech Days exists and that you can come find out what is like without making a commitment.

One of the things I like most about sidemount diving is the comfortable diving position in the water.  It really does make that head up and feet back proper trim position easier to maintain.  The other bonuses are the extra and redundant air supply you have with you on the dive.  And for divers with bad back, it is really easy to hand off the weight of the cylinder at the swim step for an easier exit from the water.

Tech Gear Packages Page twoDiving Doubles

Another thing you have probably been curious about but haven’t had the opportunity to try.  Here is your chance.  you will be amazed at the increase in stability that you have with the extra mass more distributed across you back when you are in the water.   The up and down on the boat can be a bit harder, so this one if for strong divers.

Try Rebreather

Judging from the early response to the event, this is where a lot of the interest lies.  A rebreather course is $1500, and a rebreather about $7500, so the chance to try one out for $50 is pretty attractive.  Of course, you will be closely supervised during the pool experience as this short experience will only introduce you to what it is like.  The thing most accomplished divers notice right away is that you can no longer control your buoyancy with your breath!

Discounts at the EventTech Gear Packages page one

Click on the pictures here to look at the packages that we will be diving and the 20% off retail that you can get at the event.  Also, because HI is the last stop on the Hollis Tech Days Tour, the DEMO packages that we will be diving are going to be sold for 40% off!

Hope you get a chance to join us.  This really is a great opportunity to try some equipment that you might not otherwise get to dive.  The event will be fun even if you are not in the market for an equipment purchase at this time.  But be careful, falling in love with new scuba gear can cost you!  (but not as much at this event).

 

 

Lauren Smith

Who wants to be an ASTRONAUT? rEvo ‘TRY DIVES’ now available at IDH

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Dive the rEvo III hCCR… the most advanced diving system on the planet!

 

The rEvo hCCR(hybrid closed circuit rebreather) is the most advanced cutting edge, diving system available for underwater exploration. It rivals the astronaut’s primary life support system and shares much of the same technology. The rEvo hCCR recirculates and conditions the onboard gas supply, extending dive times far beyond those of traditional scuba divers. In addition, there are no bubbles and noise associated with open circuit scuba.

Learn how  rebreathers work and how rEvo divers can remain underwater longer. Discover how they enable divers to closely approach marine life to interact, to take photographs and video, stay warmer and make observations that would otherwise be missed by divers on open circuit scuba. Once you’ve gone Silent, you’ll hear what you’ve been missing!

 

CCR Try Dives at IDH

There are a few options available for divers wishing to ‘try before they buy’ and we always encourage you to get all the information possible before making a commitment to buy a CCR.

As a diver you have the following options available but if you feel your needs are not met below then please drop us an email detailing your specific request as we tailor events to suit your needs.

Option 1 is an informal 1-2 hour conversation. There is no charge for this but it must be pre-booked and arranged so please don’t show up expecting someone to be available. Drop us an email with the timescale that suits you best and we will advise you when it is best to arrive.

Option 2 is a more detailed version of the above costing $150.00+tax for half a day. With Option 2 we spend more time going into details of the available units plus fire them up and you get to ‘try dive’ them in our pool.

Option 3 is the same as option 2 but with an afternoon out on one of our boats. Please note that with option 3 we do charge an additional boat fee of $60.00 for a total cost of $210.00 per person+tax.

We would like to point out that our rEvo Try Dive days are very different than what is currently available on island. If you’re looking for a quick 20 minute dive on a CCR then there are other instructors offering this option. We consider ourselves a little more organised and professional which is why we meet and greet you in our shop before moving on to the in-water portions of the experience. All fees are included in the prices quoted above and there are no hidden extras involved. We make the theory part of the day informative and enjoyable with plenty of time to play with the units and ask questions.

What are you waiting for? Come on down to IDH and play with our units.

Patrick Lavin Pre BreathPatrick Lavin rEvo 'TRY DIVE'rEvo on the reef

Returning from the deep

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Returning from the deep

Returning from the deep

Perfect Conditions for a nice long rEvo CCR dive.

Perfect Conditions for a nice long rEvo CCR dive.

Good to go on his rEvo

Good to go on his rEvo

rEvo REBREATHERS
The rEvo rebreather is the brainchild of Paul Raymaekers, and is available in a number of configurations, which include different models, different electronics packages, and different case materials. Here we will try to make the explanation of the units as clear as possible.

rEvo I, rEvo II and rEvo III

The rEvo I was the original prototype units that were made to ‘work the kinks out’ when the rEvo was still in development. The rEvo II was the first production unit, and has also since been discontinued. While the II is no longer available, hundreds of them are out in the market being active dove, and many appear for sale in the secondhand market.

The rEvo III was designed and released to meet CE specifications, and today the only units for sale new, are rEvo III. The rEvo III is available in several different versions, in which the main differences are size and weight.

CO2 Scrubbing

All rEvo rebreathers come standard with back mounted counter-lungs, and dual 3 pound scrubber cassettes. These scrubbers are used in series, and increase the safety margin, reducing the risk of channeling and bypass.

As an option the RMS system allows for monitoring of your scrubber capacity, and provides a real-time estimate of how much time you have remaining.

For ultra-long dives, an optional radial scrubber system brings the absorbent capacity up to 8.8 lbs of absorbent.

PO2 Monitoring

The rEvodream is the standard PO2 monitoring device and head’s up display which comes on every rEvo unit. It can monitor your choice of one or 2 oxygen cells.

PO2 is displayed on a digital display which mounts to the submersible pressure gauge. The revodream will also display a range of PO2’s using a simple 3-LED display which clips to the DSV of the rEvo, always in view of the diver’s peripheral vision.

The rEvodream has no switches, and is operated by using a series of taps which actuates an internal accelerometer. Powered by standard CR2450 coin batteries, this simple design makes the rEvodream a very robust and reliable solution.

Each rEvo is sold with 2 PO2 monitoring devices, which includes 1 rEvodream PO2 monitor and HUD, and your choice of the following:
rEvodream PO2 monitor and HUD
Shearwater Predator trimix computer and PO2 monitor (hardwired)
Shearwater Predator trimix computer and PO2 monitor (Fischer cable version)
Shearwater Predator trimix computer and setpoint controller (hardwired)
Shearwater Predator trimix computer with RMS setpoint controller (hardwired Digital CAN bus)

Manual Gas Addition

Manual gas addition can be done in one of 2 ways, either through manual addition buttons found on the bottom of the rEvo case, or through a 3-gas addition block.

The 3-gas addition block hangs over the diver’s chest, and allows for ambidextrous addition of either diluent, oxygen or an offboard gas to be plumbed in through the lower quick-disconnect. The 3-gas block comes standard with the rEvo III Micro FT, and is an option on the rEvo III Mini and Standard models.

The case mounted manual addition buttons are found on the bottom of the rEvo III Mini and Standard models. These can be removed as an option. The rEvo III Micro FT does not have these buttons on it, and they cannot be installed as an option.

Automatic Oxygen Addition

Gas can be automatically added to the loop by either a constant flow orifice, and absolute pressure oxygen 1st stage. As the diver increases in depth, the absolute pressure regulator reduces the flow.

In addition, an optional solenoid via a Shearwater Predator controller may be added, providing automatic setpoint control in addition to the constant flow. Utilizing both a solenoid and constant flow creates a ‘hybrid’

On hybrid models, the constant flow orifice can be plugged, and the absolute pressure regulator may be replaced with a standard compensating regulator to allow for true eCCR operation.

Please contact us to setup  your pool demonstration today.

Lauren Smith

Hawaii SCUBA University Technical Diving Program – Closed Circuit Rebreather Training in Oahu Hawaii

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Hawaii SCUBA University Technical Diving Program

(Closed Circuit Rebreather Training)

rEvo CCR's out in FORCEAloha and welcome to the Hawaii SCUBA University(HSU) Technical Diving Program. This post is designed to give you a basic understanding of what and how a Closed Circuit Rebreather (CCR) works.

All CCR units have two main jobs. They recycle the breathing gas by effectively removing Co2 (Carbon Dioxide) out of the Breathing Loop, and replace the metabolized oxygen needed to sustain life.

The Co2 absorbent is one of the key ingredients that allow Rebreathers to work. Without Co2 absorbent (Sofnolime, Sodasorb, Extend Air) the Co2 that is produced as a waste product would be recirculated and re-consumed, creating toxic levels of CO2. The proper rotation of absorbent as well as staying inside manufacturer limits for absorbent duration is paramount to survival.

There are 3 different types of Closed Circuit Rebreathers on the market in regards to how the oxygen is injected and controlled in the Rebreather.

Electronically controlled CCR’s have electronics built into the unit that measure the oxygen content in the breathing loop via oxygen sensors and will inject oxygen via a solenoid valve into the loop based on setpoint values programed into the controller.

Manually controlled CCR’s have some electronics located in the Po2 readout located either in the handset or within the HUD(Heads Up Display). The replenishment of O2 however is done with the aid of a constant mass flow injector controlled mechanically by the operator with a manual injection block in order to maintain the Po2 at the operator programed setpoint.

DCIM100GOPROThe third type of rebreather is a hybrid. This hybrid type of rebreather can be used in either manual or electronic mode. The rEvo CCR that is used as the primary training rebreather at HSU’s Technical Diving Program is a Hybrid CCR. With the rEvo the operator has options. You as the operator are able to choose between Manual Operation or Electronic Operation

Our recommendation to divers seeking rebreather training is to select an instructor having several hundred hours of rebreather dives. Other important aspects of choosing an instructor are what type of training the instructor has received and what type of support the instructor can offer after certification.

I have over 20 years of professional diving experience. I currently work with both commercial and recreational applications of diving. The equipment I choose is based on the mission of the dive. I have been trained by some of the best instructors in the industry. Paul Raymaekers (owner and designer of rEvo) and Jason Fisch (Ocean Edge Outfitters) have been my primary mentors during my rebreather training. I am fully endorsed by the manufacturer of rEvo CCR’s and the North American Distributor for rEvo CCR’s. I am personally certified on multiple units but fly and instruct exclusively on the rEVo CCR.

More importantly you are not alone after certification. We have a strong and growing community of CCR divers who are always willing to log some bottom time. If you are interested in finding out more about this amazing diving technology please contact:

Kevin Marks

goin down rEvoDirector of Training

Hawaii SCUBA University/Island Divers Hawaii

808-620-8402 kevin@islanddivershawaii.com