MidCoast Scuba Center is the area training facility for the exciting Dräger line of Semi-Closed Circuit Rebreathers!

  DrägerRay                         

                                                                     Dolphin

Advantages Over Open Circuit Systems -

    The Dräger Dolphin or DrägerRay offer you a superior diving experience. As you descend using one of these superior diving systems you'll first notice the quiet as no bubbles rush past your ears. Then you'll notice more sea creatures and get to see them more closely as they are not disturbed by the roar of bubbles as in open circuit systems. You'll feel accepted by the inhabitants of the ocean.

    What is special about rebreather systems is that your exhaled gas is not released into the water as in conventional open circuit systems, but is purified and returned to the breathing circuit. As a result your gas consumption drops by up to 90%! This means one small cylinder can last for much longer than the common large and heavy 80 c.f, cylinder. This gives you yet another benefit over open circuit - a smaller and lighter diving system!

    Another benefit of rebreather diving you will enjoy is that the inhaled breathing gas is warmer than your body temperature. Each time you take a breath you inject warm air into your lungs! Not only that but the gas is pleasantly moist! Absolutely no more "cotton mouth". These advantages over traditional open circuit scuba are due to the change of carbon dioxide to heat and moisture. As all divers know both of these are important benefits to prevent DCS. 

    Oxygen Enriched Air or Nitrox is pre-mixed in the Dolphin and DrägerRay cylinders. With Oxygen Enriched Air your breathing gas contains less nitrogen so you can stay underwater longer due to increased no-decompression limits. For example a dive to 60 feet with Enriched Air Nitrox enables you to stay down up to three times longer than conventional air. Physiologically Enriched Air is better for diving than air. Less nitrogen equals less likelihood of DCS!

How They Work -  

    The Dräger Dolphin and DrägerRay remove carbon dioxide from exhaled gas through a sodalime cartridge and then channel it into the inhalation counterlung, where it is enriched with fresh Oxygen Enriched Air from the supply cylinder. This constant supply of fresh and purified breathing gas ensures that you will always be provided with enough oxygen.

    If you should need more breathing gas than is in the counterlung at any given moment - such as in a rapid descent - a bypass valve opens automatically to supply enough additional oxygen enriched breathing gas to meet your needs.                                               

The breathing circuit in the DrägerRay (l) and the Dolphin (r). Blue arrows indicate purified inhaled  breathing gas, red arrows indicate exhaled gas