Draeger Dolphin



Semi-Closed Circuit Active //
1 August

READ THIS FIRST!

Read this first!

Rebreather tests

People ask me many times which rebreather is the best one in the market. I usually reply that it depends on the application of the rebreather and the diving experience by the user. Does he/she travel a lot? Does he/she wants to make only recreational dives? Is he/she a cave diver? Or deep diver?

Rebreathers differ a lot. Very important are the “roots” of the manufacturer/inventor. Is he (yes: we have only male manufacturers…) a metalworker, a programmer, a marine, an engineer, …? It can have a big impact on the design of the rebreather.

There is also a difference in build quality, safety features and additional features. And of course: the price.

I have quite a lot of experience (in the field) with rebreathers. Some rebreathers are better than others (depending on the type of dive I make with them). So I tried, based on my personal experience, to rate the rebreathers. Five stars is the highest rate. One star is the lowest. The overall rating is the average of the ratings of the subcategories, which are:

1.  Ease of use (set-up, maintenance)
2.   Buoyancy/trim
3.  Work of breathing (WOB)/automatic Diluent Valve (ADV)/lungs 
4.  Travel (modularity) 
5.  Safety 
6.  Price 
7.  Service/after sales/availability of parts 
8.  Build quality 
9.  Cave diving 
10.   Deep and X-treme diving (deeper than 100 mtr)

All subcategories have the same weight for the total “verdict”.

Regarding safety: this is a difficult category. Does adding safety-items to a rebreather (such as CO2 monitors, auto-breathe-detection, etc.) really increase the safety? Those items can brake and might make rebreather-divers technology-dependent… It’s like cars: safety equipment (like ABS, airbags, brake assist, etc.) makes cars also accessible for bad drivers… Is a rebreather without electronics safer than a rebreather fully loaded with electronics? Check out the tests… I didn’t perform tests on the rebreathers in a lab. E.g. when I talk about the WOB, it is my personal experience and NOT the result of a lab test. I understand that some manufacturers will not be happy with my conclusions and that they want react on the rating. They can do so by sending an e-mail or replying on the forum on my website. Again: the verdict is based on my personal experience and I have personal preferences as well. Those preferences will have an effect on the way I view rebreathers. Another individual might have a completely different view on the rating. Furthermore I want to make absolutely clear that any rebreather manufacturer does not influence me in any way. I’m only interested in their product: rebreathers!

CCR Computer tests 

I have quite a lot of experience (in the field) with rebreathers and CCR computers. Some rebreathers and computers are better than others (depending on the type of dive I make with them). So I tried, based on my personal experience, to rate the CCR computers. Five stars is the highest rate. One star is the lowest. The overall rating is the average of the ratings of the subcategories, which are:

  1. Ease of use (set-up, maintenance)
  2. Functionality
  3. Operating depth
  4. Reliability and build quality
  5. Price
  6. Service/after sales/availability of parts

All subcategories have the same weight for the total “verdict”. 

I didn’t perform tests on the computers in a lab. E.g. when I talk about the batteries, it is my personal experience and NOT the result of a lab test. I understand that some manufacturers will not be happy with my conclusions and that they want react on the rating. They can do so by sending an e-mail or replying on the forum on my website. Again: the verdict is based on my personal experience and I have personal preferences as well. Those preferences will have an effect on the way I view computers. Another individual might have a completely different view on the rating. Furthermore I want to make absolutely clear that any computer manufacturer does not influence me in any way. I’m only interested in their product: ccr computers!

Pim van der Horst

Director Pim’s Tekdiving PTD


 

Name:

Dolphin (Atlantis)

Manufacturer:

Draeger

Website:

http://www.draeger.com/

Since:

1997

Type:

SCR, active (constant mass flow), three nozzles

CE:

Yes

Lungs:

Backmounted

Weight:

19 kg

Scrubber duration:

3 hours (Draeger Divesorb)

Weight Scrubber:

2.5 kg

ADV (Automatic Diluent Valve):

Standard (by-pass)

HUD (Head Up Display):

No

BOV (Bail Out Valve):

No

(Deco-) computer:

No (PO2 monitor is optional)

Tanks:

4 ltr (one with M24x2 thread)

My deepest dive with the unit:

55 mtr

Price:

N/A (only second hand available)

 

General: 3 stars

The Draeger Dolphin was firstly introduced as Atlantis. The unit is based on a military unit. It makes use of constant mass flow technology. It means that a nitrox mixture is “injected: into the loop with a constant flow. The Dolphin has standard three “nozzles”. For 32%, 50% and 60%. The flow speed is in such away that there will be 2 ltr oxygen per minute injected into the loop. That should be enough for an average O2 consumption. If not: the by-pass will be activated. This type of rebreather is called “active” because the diver doesn’t need to inhale to get a flow of gas. I like the dolphin. Unfortunately the Dolphin hasn’t become a big success. PADI tried to make it the first recreational rebreather. Now the Dolphin can only be bought second hand (very cheap). At the introduction the Dolphin was about 400 EUR. A lot of Dolphins have been transferred to mCCR.

1. Ease of use (set-up, maintenance): 3 stars

Easy to set up. Although it requires some exercise to mount the lungs and the canister. Difficult to make mistakes.

2. Buoyancy/trim: 3 stars

Trim is reasonable. There are several weight pockets in the BCD of the unit.

3. WOB: 4 stars

WOB is very good. Lungs are close to the body. Breathing hoses are wide. Lungs are on the back. That leaves an open chest.

4. Travel (modularity): 3 stars

Easy to travel with. Although the M24x2 thread of the first stage makes putting other tanks difficult. The max size of a tank is 5 ltr. Otherwise the buoyancy becomes difficult.

5. Safety: 2 stars

There are no safety options. Only a small of borad bailout tank (optional). A PO2 monitor. Draeger provides the Oxygauge (with one cell): a bad monitor. Difficult to calibrate and operate. Better is the (wireless) Uwatec. But it is quite expensive. But on the other hand: does one need a monitor on (active) SCR? I think one needs one when gas switches are done. But this is not possible on a (non-modified) Dolphin.

6. Price: N/A

 

Only available second hand.

7. Service: 1 star

Spare parts are still available. The Draeger organization was not prepared for a retail market. That’s why to sold it to Aqualung. But Aqualung didn’t market the Dolphin anymore.

8. Build quality: 4 stars

Draeger Quality.

9. Cave diving: 1 star

Only suitable for recreational diving.

10. Deep and X-treme diving: 1 star

Only suitable for recreational diving.