divbum
December 15th, 2008, 10:50 AM
I was in FL recently and completed my KISS crossover training.
The weather did not allow any ocean diving so we went to the springs. While there are some vast differences in the unit compared to my Boris or Sentinel it is a very capable unit that is really built around the KISS principle.
If your not familiar with the KISS units classic or Sport, they are a Mccr which has a constant flow of 02 into the system set slightly below your metabolic rate, which you then periodically replace the additional 02 needed to maintain a oxygen value for your dive via the manual add valve (MAV). It honestly required a lot less maintenance then I was expecting. Doug ran me through all the required skills over the trip and allow a bunch of time for me to just hang out and dive the unit. He also had a new ccr student that had a little slower learning curve, but did very well.
The units give you a rated 2.5 - 3.5 hour dive time (slightly independent of depth) per prep which rated depth ranges of 165 - 250 (sport - classic) for about 30-35 dollars retail in fills and C02 absorbent. While only having 40-65 lbs strapped to your back! It is very quite underwater. You can hear the constant flow orifice, but it is a lot softer the the drager dolphin or ray. I was able to just hang out with the Manatee in Hospital Hole, while they kept moving away from the OC divers. I look forward to adding these CCR's to my instruction base and allow many more divers the opportunity to dive into a silent world. Given the US to Canadian exchange rate these are 25% less new then last summer!!! Based on todays exchange -
Sport KISS $3700
Classic $4600
Plus shipping
2 x 13 cuft tanks
backplate and wing
sensors
Bailout bottle and regulator
and of course training.
There are a few options but this is the base get going cost.
Used ones pop up periodically but as myself and others learned may need to bit of maintaining to get up and running.
Disadvantages include:
A little more post and pre dive work
You should be a detailed person as there is not much room for supper sloppiness.
Relearning some dive basics - which some pick up on a lot faster then others =)
The weather did not allow any ocean diving so we went to the springs. While there are some vast differences in the unit compared to my Boris or Sentinel it is a very capable unit that is really built around the KISS principle.
If your not familiar with the KISS units classic or Sport, they are a Mccr which has a constant flow of 02 into the system set slightly below your metabolic rate, which you then periodically replace the additional 02 needed to maintain a oxygen value for your dive via the manual add valve (MAV). It honestly required a lot less maintenance then I was expecting. Doug ran me through all the required skills over the trip and allow a bunch of time for me to just hang out and dive the unit. He also had a new ccr student that had a little slower learning curve, but did very well.
The units give you a rated 2.5 - 3.5 hour dive time (slightly independent of depth) per prep which rated depth ranges of 165 - 250 (sport - classic) for about 30-35 dollars retail in fills and C02 absorbent. While only having 40-65 lbs strapped to your back! It is very quite underwater. You can hear the constant flow orifice, but it is a lot softer the the drager dolphin or ray. I was able to just hang out with the Manatee in Hospital Hole, while they kept moving away from the OC divers. I look forward to adding these CCR's to my instruction base and allow many more divers the opportunity to dive into a silent world. Given the US to Canadian exchange rate these are 25% less new then last summer!!! Based on todays exchange -
Sport KISS $3700
Classic $4600
Plus shipping
2 x 13 cuft tanks
backplate and wing
sensors
Bailout bottle and regulator
and of course training.
There are a few options but this is the base get going cost.
Used ones pop up periodically but as myself and others learned may need to bit of maintaining to get up and running.
Disadvantages include:
A little more post and pre dive work
You should be a detailed person as there is not much room for supper sloppiness.
Relearning some dive basics - which some pick up on a lot faster then others =)