Rebreather Forum 2.0

A Diving Industry Workshop
26-28SEP
Redondo Beach, CA


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.

Keynote: Dr. David Elliot (UK), "Safe Oxygen: How Low Can You Go?"


5:30-7:00 pm Field Experience
This session will highlight of a range of military and end-user experience with rebreather technology focusing on diver safety and identifying operational issues & concerns, including; incident analysis, ops planning, checklists, bail-out, redundancy, field maintenance etc.
Friday 27SEP
8:30-3:00 Hands-on pool session (Redondo Beach Lagoon).
Meet the makers and have a chance to get wet on some latest rebreather equipment around. Diving will be limited by availability (bring your mask, fins & wetsuit).
11:30-1:30 Barbecue lunch sponsored by Orcatron Communications (Redondo Beach Lagoon)

4:30-6:00 pm The Rebreather Market (manufacturers panel)
This session will provide a forum for existing & new manufacturers to answer questions from the floor, and in turn receive input from potential dealers, resellers, and instructors. Some of the issues to be addressed include pricing, product support, parts, testing, mfr. responsibility etc.
Saturday 28SEP
8:00-9:30 am Testing & Equipment Performance
Equipment testing and performance is a key issue in bringing rebreather technology to market. This session will address testing capabilities and requirements, breathing performance specs, canister duration, equipment standardization and the role of supporting technologies, ex: full face masks, and comm. Should the industry mandate minimum equipment specifications?

Keynote: Dr. Hans Ornhagen, "Lab Testing Today's Rebreathers."
9:30-10:00 am Break
10:00-11:30 am Training & Operations Part One
Divided into two parts, this first session will begin with a review of the military's expereince with rebreather training and go on to identify outstanding rebreather training issues including; candidate screening, end-user training reqmts including course length and structure, rebreather experiences, instructor/inst. trainer qualifications, manufacturer vs. agency responsibility.
11:30-1:00 pm Lunch Break
1:00-2:30 pm Training & Operations Part Two (training agency panel)
Part two will tackle the outstanding training issues identified in the first session. Training agencies will have an opportunity to address the issues and how they plan to deal with them, as well as developing a broad set of end-user operational guidelines.
2:30-3:00 pm Break
3:00-5:00 pm Liability & Regulation
Liability and regulatory issues must be addressed if rebreather technology is going to made available to the public. Outstanding issues include insurability, OSHA exemptions, and developing codes of practice for rebreather diving.
5:00-5:30 Break
5:30-6:30 pm Wrap Up
Review of workshop objectives & goals vs. actuals. Where do we go from here?

For Reservations, Travel & Accommodations Call/Write/Fax:
PADI Travel Network (PTN): 800.729-7234 ext. 2,
p: 714.540.7234 ext. 2,
f:714.540.2983, e: ptnfun@aol.com.
For Program or Other information:
Program: Michael Menduno p: 305.296.7754, f: 954.943.8989 e:
73204.542@compuserve.com.
General info; vendors, facilities: Michael Innis p: 954.481.8268,
e:scubahum@icanect.net.

Sponsored by DSAT, Hruska & Lesser, OC Lugo, Orcatron, tec.asia.



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