We have units to hire for students wishing to take their training before buying their own unit.

The Ouroboros rebreather is a fully closed circuit, rear mounted counterlung unit. Designed as an electronic control unit will full manual over ride. Advances in Co2 canister design have been incorporated into the unit. A radial scrubber is accompanied by counterlungs and all other sensitive parts in a carbon kevlar case. Electronics finish the unit with a primary wrist mounted display, Heads Up Display (HUD) a rear facing display and a completely redundant passive oxygen display showing true real time pO2 independent of the main electronics. During 2004 the Ouroboros undertook CE testing setting new standards for the development of design, safety and redundancy.

The Ouroborus is designed with the above in mind and as a result has the following features;

1. A system that protected all ‘soft parts’ and pressure lines
a. As a result, back mounted counter lungs are employed in the primary design. All internal pipe work is stainless steel, breathing hoses are internally sprung with a rubber and nylon covering to prevent abrasion and crushing.
2. A low WOB

3. A canister that would auto pack with little or no chance of channelling due to mis-packing
a. Axial and tower radial canisters suffer from large amounts of ‘pack down’ due to the long length of absorbent. Short ‘doughnut’ radial canisters have less of a problem. Axial canisters especially, when not packed correctly, can produce a bypass channel when tipped flat. The Ouroboros uses a doughnut radial design
4. Efficient water removal systems
a. The split counter lungs provide an efficient water trap. Water can also be dumped from the exhale counter lung automatically
5. A canister with high efficiency even at depth and with high CO2 rates
a. The unit has been tested at and will be rated for a range of depths
6. A ‘no tools’ unit for general maintenance
a. Daily maintenance requires no tools. Even electronic parts can be ‘field stripped’ with a multi-tool. No specialist tools are required.
7. Electronics with manual overrides
a. In the event of an electronic failure, a separately powered and isolated means of monitoring PO2 is vital. In units where dual electronics provide all the control it is advisable that two different software writers are employed to avoid common ‘bugs’. The Ouroboros has a seperatly powered, triple PO2 meter display, even cable severance will not interfere with the main electronics.
8. On board decompression
a. This reduces the affects of units not accurately tracking PO2 when hard tables or fixed PO2 computers are used
9. No electronic lockouts
a. Given that units will be used for cave and deep diving, there should not be an instance where the diver cannot over ride the electronics and complete the dive. All automation on the Ouroboros is de-selectable to allow manual over rides.
10. Ease of assembly with no chance of misplacing parts or gases
a. All primarily maintenance is ‘tool free’ with no possibility of connecting gases incorrectly. External gas supplies are also coded to avoid swapping.
11. A modular system for different diving styles
a. The primary design is a back-mounted in a carbon fibre case. Different canister durations are available. A ‘travel’ system with a soft pack design and even a chest mounted counter lung format is available
12. Intuitive alarms
a. Alarms available through a head up display (HUD) are backed up by ‘on screen’ detail on the current alarm
b. A rear facing display is available for ‘buddy’ diving and instruction
c. Alarms are visual and also via a vibration system in the HUD
d. Digital HP transducers ensure cylinders that are turned off generate alarms as do any leaks in the LP or HP systems
13. Automatic turn on systems once in-water
a. Wet turn on contacts, a pressure activated turn on and turn on via switches provide redundancy to ensure the chance of an hypoxic incident is reduced
14. Minimum life support
a. Once turned on, irrespective of the ‘set point’ a minimum PO2 of 0.4 is always maintained
15. No non hermetically sealed electronics in the breathing loop
16. Low flow gas paths to reduce PO2 spiking but high enough for good diluent flushes
a. All gas flow lines are flow matched to avoid ‘spiking’. The automatic diluent addition valve can be user adjusted for smooth descents
b. Both the Auto diluent addition and oxygen solenoid are protected by in-line filters
17. Easy interchangeability with open circuit safety equipment
a. The unit will accept a range of back plates and wing/harness system. Designed especially for instructors that often have to switch back to open circuit.
18. Data logging
a. Data logging provides useful feedback in training and incident scenarios. Every parameter is logged including when the user aborts a pre-dive sequence
19. Isolation of automatic circuits which then allows manual over rides
a. Automatic polling of sensors as well as manual isolation in the event of failure can be achieved. Closed circuit decompressions can be disabled in favour of an open circuit decompression.
20. A simple but effective pre-dive sequence with short set-up and breakdown times
a. An electronic pre dive sequence is available. Simple canister packing and ‘no tools’ assembly ensure rapid preparation for diving.

If you are considering a move onto this Rebreathers it might not be a bad idea to train on a hire unit giving you the chance to try some of the available extras and see what you would have on your own unit should you decide to purchase one

EMAIL: mathew@protechdivers.com for more infomation.