Surviving the Loop:a look at the factors that influence diving accidents in Rebreathers

Abstract

This dissertation looks at possible reasons for the number of accidents involving experienced divers using semi-closed and fully closed circuit rebreathers 1995 saw the full-scale launch of the first mass produced semi closed circuit rebreather into the mainstream diving industry. This was followed soon after by the launch of the first massmarket closed circuit rebreather. The effect of this technology on the market place was significant. It now allowed a diver to venture deeper, for far longer than could have been imagined just the year before. The technology was welcomed with open arms as experienced divers saw these systems as a new technology that would allow them to explore depths previously un imagined however, this was not to be without a price. By then of the first year of the launch three extremely experienced divers had perished and by the close of the second year the death toll had dramatically increased and was rising constantly. As a result of the public outcry as a result of these deaths Cornwall’s Trading Standards conducted extensive investigations and it became apparent that it was unlikely to be a technical or design fault with the systems. So why were so many experienced divers dying, in some cases, on what appeared to be iniquitous dives? This thesis begins to explore the issues by first looking at the human factors, then the subtle practical differences between SCUBA diving and rebreather diving and tries to establish a possible explanation for the high number of incidents.