FAQ's

Questions:

1. Where can I buy dive gear in the region?

2.  Why do rebreather divers make bubbles?

Answers:

1. Where can I buy dive gear in the region?

Check out the list of shops here: http://www.panagadivers.com/Club/dive_shops.htm. Have a favourite shop or have some updated info on any of the shops listed? Please let me know Ryan Brothers and I will add them to the list.

2.  Why do rebreather divers make bubbles?

First, when any diver descends, the airspace in their mask is compressed and they must exhale through the nose to equalize the "mask squeeze". Ergo, bubbles on descent, whether diving open circuit or CCR. Some have this down to a fine art that loses little excess gas during descent.

Second, during the dive, sometimes a little seawater gets into the mask (as does mucus from the nasal passages). How much mask clearing depends on the fungus growth on the latex skirt of the diver's mask, whether or not they ae clean shaven (unlikely on a weekend) and how clear the sinuses are during the dive. Also how many times the CCR diver's open circuit buddy totally flubs it and the CCR diver is LMAO in reaction. Water (or snot) in the mask requires the standard mask clearing maneuver: lift the head up and exhale through the nose. Ergo, bubbles during the dive, as above.

Third, on ascent, the gas in the CCR diver's "breathing loop" expands naturally due to the decreasing ambient pressure. To remove the expanded (excess) gas in the loop and maintain neutral buoyancy, the CCR diver either exhales through their nose or dumps excess gas from the breathing loop using a pull dump exactly like what you find on any BCD. Ergo, bubbles on ascent.

Fourth: CCR divers fart like every other aquasapien. Celine Dion farts as does Uma Thurman and Angelina Jolie. Usually, during a dive these biological gas incidents result in a few bubbles escaping around the neck of the wetsuit so it appears that the CCR is leaking but don't worry, just keep your regulator in your mouth and watch the disgusted expressions on the faces of your fishy friends. Ergo, bubbles at any point throughout the dive.

(Digression: two established methods of avoiding a shark or triggerfish attack are to establish an low current electromagnetic field around your body by carrying a battery and discharging anode, or simply fart a lot.)

Fifth, physiology: Inert breathing gas (nitrogen and/or helium) is absorbed into the blood and tissues during the descent and bottom phases of a dive, just on open circuit. As the CCR or open circuit diver ascends, the absorbed gas naturally comes out of solution and if all goes well, is discharged safely and without drama via your lungs (alveolae) in the exhaled breath. On a CCR, the exhaled gas goes back into the breathing loop and would be subsequently inhaled again unless the clever CCR diver removes the undesirable elements in the breathing loop by exhaling through the nose and replacing the discharged gas volume "in the loop" with a more desirable flavour, such as oxygen or a fresh gas diluent. Ergo, bubbles on ascent.