Configuration
There is a variety of configuations possible with the Megalodon CCR Rebreather depending on personal preferences. The unit is standard back mounted with front mounted cordura counterlungs. The Megalodon CCR rebreather does not have a standard way of configuration, but can be configured to the divers needs and preferences and to suit the diving environment such as recreational diving, cave diving, technical diving or wreck diving.
-Backplate and harness
A full range of carry systems have been used succesfully from slimeline ISC SS backplate to full size SS or ALM backplate, Dive Rite Transpack and Amardillo harness systems. Carry system and harness style depends largely on diver preferences and environmnet diving in.
-Tanks
Tanks that can be used are: Steel 2, 3 and 4 ltr tanks. Aluminum 13, 19, 30, 40 and 80 cft tanks. Tanks may be mounted either valve up or valve down.
-Wings
Almost any wing size and style can be used on the Megalodon. 30, 45, 55, 65, 80 or 100 lbs lift capacity. Either traditional U-shaped wings or more modern O-shaped wings may be used.
-Lights
For wreck diving or cave diving a variety of primary lights may be used. Primary lights can be worn on the belt on either the right side or left side, as well as clipped onto the backplate or harness. Backup lights can be stowed in pouches ot clipped onto the shoulder D-rings and attached with bungee or inner tube to the harness webbing.
-Bailout
Bailout is the alternate path to the surface in case our rebreather is not working propperly. Issues such electronic failure, hyper- or hypoxia as well as a flooded unit or Hypercapnia might cause us to go off the loop. Signs and symptoms of hypercapnia may include warm fuzzy cotton mouth feeling, slight feeling of something is not right, with slightly elevated breathing as well as confucion or dizziness.
Open circuit, a SCR or CCR can be used as bailout to bring us back to the surface in case of unit malfunction.
-Bailout Valve or BOV
It has happened that a diver managed to get in the water without Co2 absorbent in his unit, despite checklist and all that. As they went down at about 20 feet / 6 meters the diver was breathing uncontrolled due to exertion and higher PCo2. The dive partner realized what is going on and urged the student to switch to o/c. The unit was not equipped with a BOV. The diver was not able to make the switch as he was not able to hold his breath for even a split second to do the switch over. They went to the surface and they lived to tell the story.
With a BOV the diver would have been able to switch from his CCR to his o/c bail out without a problem. Additionally the other diver could have intervened and help the affected diver.
I believe that if I decide to go off my CCR then I am off and want to go to something that is not connected at all to my CCR. Most BOV are connected to the inboard dilluent tank. With the limited volume offered by the onboard diluent tank the BOV is just a step in-between, to get off the loop and then onto the seperate bailout tank. Take a breath or three then go on to your o/c bailout stage, which is a completely separate life support system with precalculated po2 and gas volume, and you know it’s going to work.
I have seen some divers who had there BOV plumed via disconnect into their o/c bailout stage tank and this way going onto your BOV you will not need to take the BOV out of your mouth to go onto your off board bailout tank, keeping your mouthpiece in your mouth to do a easy switch over and yet go off your CCR onto a separate tank at once.
When doing that last switch over to your complete detached and separate gas supply, you as well have decided you are not going back onto the CCR as you have decided you do not trust it anymore, other then providing buoyancy. And you stick with it. And while you at it change your set point to a low one and open the over pressurization valve from your counter lungs as you will go up. The BOV could be a life saver if used properly.
Something else I have witnessed with BOV equipped divers is that they tend not think about what gas they have in their BOV supply tank and use the BOV freely on the surface, and why not. It is that I just always imagine as they go on with their diving career and coming to trimix diving that this habit will have them killed on the surface, due to hypoxia breathing a low o2 content mix on the surface and exerting. As one habit might be good in one diving situation it may kill you in another.
Deep diving with higher pata and with it higher pco2's and a faster need to switch over might warrant the use of a BOV with the added ability of your team mates to help and intervene if you are possibly incapacitated already hy hyper- or hypoxia or hypercapnia..
What I have witnessed over and over again is that divers do hesitate to long, way toooo loooong before they decide to go to bailout ( either o/c SCR or CCR ) when they think something is not right. They start thinking about it, are not sure, they feel something is or was not right, don't want to be embarrassed or think the process of bailing out without a BOV is just to cumbersome and time consuming. The installation and use of a BOV can be a live saver.
If you just think about going off loop and to bailout but can not even put your finger on what or why, that very thought of just thinking about bailout is the very reason to bail out, now. Do not hesitate a split second and go to o/c bailout, because that might have been your last chance to do so.
The CCR Megalodon does not come with a bailout sytem. Either a 30, 40, 80 cft or larger tank has to be carried in order to have an alternative path to the surface in case of rebreather malfunction or operator error induced emergencies. Currently I have installed a after market ( Golem Gear ) BOV to my CCR Megalodon rebreather to facilitate the bail out to open circuit in case of hypercapnia, hyperoxia, hypoxia or flooded loop emergencies.
- Pressure gauges
The hp hoses can be routed on the inside of the counter lungs or on the outside. Some people do not use spg´s with hp hoses but tiny spg's that are screwed into the first stages.
- Scrubber
The CCR Megalodon is delivered standard by the factory with a plexiglas axial scrubber canister that can be filled with either small or large grain granular absorbent. Available as an option are radial scrubber canisters or adapters that allow the use of Micropore Extend Air Cartridge. Currently I have installed a radial absorbent canister (Golem Gear) to my CCR Megalodon rebreather.
- Handset´s
Handset´s can be worn on the wrists or clipped onto the bottom counterlung D-ring, harness shoulder D-ring or belt D-ring. Either one handset can be worn and the other clipped off, both clipped off or both worn on the wrist´s. The APECS e-CCR does have two handsets, the m-CCR COPIS does have one handset.
- Special parts
The manufacturer ISC as well as the aftermarket is providing us with Neopren counterlungs for cold water diving, Neopren corrugated hose covers, a Bail Out Valve (BOV) and radial scrubber canister. Stands and can lids that are usefull and available as well.
Please e-mail me if you have any questions