Inspiration Classic



Closed Circuit eCCR //
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:

Inspiration Classic

Manufacturer:

Ambient Pressure Diving

Website:

http://www.apdiving.com/

Since:

1997

Type:

eCCR

CE:

Yes

Lungs:

Over The Shoulder

Weight:

29 kg (ready to dive)

Scrubber duration:

3 hours, radial canister, 40m, air, 4 degrees C. 1.6l/min CO2 (big radial scrubbers are optional)

Weight Scrubber:

2.5 kg

ADV (Automatic Diluent Valve):

Optional

HUD (Head Up Display):

No

BOV (Bail Out Valve):

No

(Deco-) computer:

No

Tanks:

3l

My deepest dive with the unit:

140 mtr (Bunaken, Indonesia)

Price:

5.500 EUR (ex shipping, incl. taxes

 

General:

4 stars

Some history: the Classic (at that time it was named the Buddy Inspiration…) was my first CCR. I bought it second hand. For my training I went to the UK: to Kevin Gurr. Because of the fatal accidents on the unit and the colour of its housing, it was called the yellow box of death… With my Inspiration I was banned from major dive events and dive trips (on boats). Luckily times have changed! Now it is possible to dive CCR’s all over the world and even hire units from holiday resorts. That was unthinkable only 10 years ago… Nowadays charters prefer CCR’s over OC, because they take less space and need less gas. The Classic hasn’t changed a lot from its first appearance in 1997. However training on the unit has improved enormously and such reducing the percentage of accidents. Nowadays the Inspiration is the best selling unit in the world (estimates are 3000 – 4000 units sold). Ambient Pressure Diving is far-out the market leader for of CCR’s. The company of Martin Parker (Ambient Pressure Diving) was and still is setting the standards for rebreather design: dual monitors, over the shoulder lungs, 2.5 kg canister (with 3 hour duration @ 1.3 PO2 gives 100% CNS…), high/low setpoint, temp stick (on the Vision), separated power supply, etc. But Martin also had to pay a price: numerous lawsuits against him and his company from people who wanted to sui him for liability. He won all of the lawsuits and never gave up in producing, improving and selling his units. The unit is easy to use, has good breathing properties, good buoyancy, good after sales and support. And it’s cheap.

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

4 stars

It is very easy to start up the unit. Calibration is fully automatic. The unit calibrates on oxygen. The displays have limited functionality and therefor easy to operate.

2. Buoyancy/trim

3 stars

Trim is good, when the top weights are in place. The lungs are over the shoulder. The diver has a tendency to be vertical. But shifting and placing weights in the good places, makes it easier to keep a horizontal position.

3. WOB

3 stars

The WOB is good. Mostly due to the placement of the lungs. I guess that the breathing hose could be wider.

4. Travel (modularity)

3 stars

The housing/case makes it somewhat difficult to put in a bag. However the head with the handsets can be easily removed and put in the hand luggage. Tanks are widely available with CCR friendly dive resorts and charters.

5. Safety

3 stars

Safety is ok. An APD Autoair (a second stage integrated with the inflator of the BCD) is standard. Most technical divers remove the Autoair, because the 3 ltr onboard is not enough to make a an ascent (with deco). However it could be used for sanity breaths. It is difficult to give the Autoair to a buddy. The Autoair can never replace bailout (after 18 mtrs). The unit doesn’t turn on automatically. If the diver forgets to turn on the unit he/she will get hypoxic and die. The unit not being turned on by the diver caused several fatalities. An ADV is optional. I think it should be standard.

6. Price

5 stars

The Inspiration Classic is probably the cheapest CE approved eCCR in the market.

7. Service/after sales/availability parts

5 stars

Spare parts are quickly available with the manufacturer and the distributors. Many dive stores sell parts (on line). Also (CCR friendly) dive resorts often have spare parts on stock. APD also has one of the best websites for their units (downloads, video’s, maintenance, etc.).

8. Build quality

3 stars

The housing is good. A lot of plastic. The breathing hose “feels” soft.

9. Cave diving

3 stars

No problem. However nit many cave divers use an Inspiration.

10. Deep and X-treme diving

3 stars

The unit is CE rated until 100 mtrs. At 140 mtrs the buzzer (for the audible alarms) tends to implode. When the buzzer is removed, one can dive the unit deeper.