Dear Industry Member
I am pleased to invite you to attend what I believe will be one of the most
important events over the next few years effecting diver safety and
performance-the Rebreather Forum 2.0, a hands-on industry workshop designed to
bring together diving professionals and vendors interested in rebreather
technology.
Like enriched air nitrox, and dive computers before them, affordable rebreather
technology is finally here. And yet there are many open issues regarding this
important technology including; rebreather testing & performance requirements,
how training will be conducted, what will be taught, and by whom, operational
guidelines including cleaning & maintenance, end-user safety, liability and
regulatory issues and the future of the market itself.
That's why we are organizing this workshop.
The purpose of the Forum is to create a common base of understanding of
rebreather technology, so that everyone is on the same playing field, and to
responsibly address these issues as a community.
If we don't, the consequences are likely to be less than desirable and will likely
lead to unnecessary diver fatalities.
It is important to note here, that rebreathers are not just for "tekkies," in
fact, most of the reported sales to date are to high-end recreational divers.
Rebreathers are a technology that will likely impact everyone.
If you are interested in the technology and the future of sport diving, I encourage you to
attend. It's your chance to "get into the loop" and to help shape the future of
sport diving.
PADI Travel Network (PTN) has graciously agreed to handle reservations and
flight & hotel accommodations for the Forum. Enclosed find a registration form
and a brief fact sheet including a preliminary workshop program. A final program
including speakers and participants will be available in August. The cost of the
workshop is $225 per person for registrations prior to 23AUG, and $250 per
person after that. Special savings apply for select airlines and hotel
accommodations.
If you have any questions, please contact me at the numbers below or speak with
conference manager,
Mike Innis, p: 954.481.8268, e: scubahum@icanect.net.
I hope that you will join us for this important event.
Sincerely,
Michael Menduno/organiser
Fact Sheet
Objectives:
The Rebreather Forum 2.0 is a hands-on industry workshop designed to bring
together diving professionals and vendors who are involved or interested in
rebreathers.
Its purpose is to provide a common understanding of rebreather technology, and
to address the many outstanding issues involved in bringing this important
technology to the worldwide sport and professional diving markets including;
testing and performance, training requirements, operational guidelines, end-user
safety, and liability and regulatory concerns.
Who Should Attend:
Rebreather vendors, training agencies, potential retailers/resellers and
instructors, supporting technology vendors, diving services providers,
government, commercial, university and scientific user organizations, engineers,
commercial photographers & film-makers, and the diving press.
When/Where:
Forum: Thurs-SAT 26-28SEP 1996, Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza Hotel, Redondo Beach,
CA. Diving session: Fri 28SEP, Redondo Beach Lagoon
Cost:
Early Bird registration: $225 per person (until 23AUG), $250 per person after 23AUG.
Special hotel rate: $109/night. Airline discounts available through PADI
Travel Network (see Registration Form)
Preliminary Program:
Wednesday 25SEP
7- 9:30 pm Caustic Cocktail Party sponsored by Hruska & Lesser.
Thursday 26SEP
8:00-9:00 am : Defining The Loop
This opening session will provide an historical context for the forum, define
ground rules, identify issues to be addressed, and develop a specific set of
objectives and goals to be accomplished over the three days.
Keynote speaker: To be announced.
9:00-10:30 am: Rebreather Primer
An overview of rebreather technology designed to get everyone on the same
playing field and debunk many myths about rebreathers. Topics include; types &
descriptions of existing & new rebreathers, semi-closed systems, closed circuit
systems.
11:00-12:30 pm Physiological Primer
Presented by some of the leading physiologists in the field, this session will
present and explain the key physiological issues involved with rebreather diving
including; work of breathing, hypoxia/hyperoxia, hypercapnia, caustic cocktails,
decompression and thermal considerations.
12:30-2:00 pm Lunch break
2:00-3:00 Rebreather Maintenance & Cleaning
This session will discuss maintenance and cleaning procedures, including O2
handling from the end-user, dealer and manufacturer perspective and address
medical issues related to not properly cleaning a rebreather between uses.
3:30-5:00 pm Semi-closed Systems: Problems & Solutions
Due to the fact that breathing bag PO2s will vary according to actual diver work
rates, some semi-closed systems may create a hypoxia condition for divers upon
ascent. In addition, there appears to be confusion over gas utilization compared
to open circuit scuba, and decompression methods. This session will identify
problems with semi-closed rebreather technology and operational and
technological solutions will be discussed.
