Kiss Rebreather

[zdiver]

Any one using a Kiss Rebreather for cave diving? Any recomendations?

I just finished taking the Kiss training in Lake Tahoe. The dive were at 6000 feet elevation and 50 degree water. The training was very good. I learned a lot, but still have lots to learn.

Marvin Zaske

[Gary]

I don't dive KISS but I took a lot of ideas from the sidemount "massive bailout" modified KISS method with quick disconnects. There are a number of people diving cave with KISS + sidemount (as bailout and diluent).

I'm kind of planning the reverse (backmount as bailout and diluent + PASCR carried as stage)

[FW]

A modified KISS held the depth record in a cave for a year or so. There are also a lot od KISS "clones" used in cavediving. My sidemount rig is based on a KISS.

[caverkevin]

You can mod the Classic from mild to wild. What are you thinking you want to do?

Only thing that I think is critical is fitting some sponge under the OPRV to act as a filter. As grains of sorb can find a way under that flapper valve and open the loop.

As for changes to my unit. Valves up on the bottles. 1/4 turn Swaglok valve at the MAV. Scubapro 120 elbow and Ocean Reef CEJN fitting on the BOV. 18" loop hoses. Relocated the manifold.

At some point I am going to coat the head and scrubber with bed liner to spot the scratches. I need to make a new ADV diaphragm from tire inner tube.

I got a set of red water bags. I think they look pimp :)

Cheers!!!

Kevin

[jpdiver]

I have had my Kiss Classic for 4 years and have done about 80 Cave dives with it. On many, I take 2 bailout bottles (AL 80's). I now use my Nomad sidemount harness on the Kiss since sidemounting the bailout bottles is much easier. It is a good idea to make a slight modification so you can add offboard diluent as well.

The main problem with the Kiss is that the WOB increases in a heads down position particularly on long swims into a flow. This is a result of the rear mounted counterlungs.

[jimroygarey]

I've been diving my KISS Classic for about 4 years in caves as deep as 300 feet. The only problem I've occasionally had has been when in very silty passages and couldn't read the pO2. Last year I added a Diamond HUD which allows me to monitor pO2 even in very silty conditions. The HUD is very nice and also calculates the pO2 from all three sensors and sends it to my VR3.

I use the shorter breathing hoses and can plug in off-board diluent. The longer hoses got in the way and chafed or snagged on the ceiling in tight passages.

In Florida, where I am, most rebreather cave divers I've seen have Megs.





Any one using a Kiss Rebreather for cave diving? Any recomendations?

I just finished taking the Kiss training in Lake Tahoe. The dive were at 6000 feet elevation and 50 degree water. The training was very good. I learned a lot, but still have lots to learn.

Marvin Zaske

[Scubastud16]

I know of several people who cave dive on KISS units, both Classic and Sport. If you are a member of Rebreather World, I remember seeing a report of someone doing a Full Cave class on a KISS unit (pictures included).

Danny

[FW]

(pictures included).

Danny
Link?

[DeepSea]

In Florida, where I am, most rebreather cave divers I've seen have Megs.

In Florida, where I am, most rebreather cave divers wouldn't be caught in a Meg...Optima (front bags) or KISS (back bags) are all I know of in cave diving.

[tflaris]

oh yeah well........my rebreather is bigger than your rebreather

[FW]

Meg...Optima (front bags) or KISS (back bags) are all I know of in cave diving.
Next time you see me, ask to see my sidemount rebreathers :-)

[billyf]

here are my mods to my CK

1. Golem Vario BOV
2. QD on BOV
3. Cooper Hoses with Oxycheq hose protectors
4. No Onboard Dil,– Side Mount
. 1. LS connects to BOV
. 2. RS connects to ADV
5. Dual Onboard O2 – RS uncompensated Reg, LS standard DS4 Reg.
6. MAV altered
. 1. Port 1 - Removed orifice and plugged to make button manual add only
. 2. Port 2 - Tapped to ¼” NPT & Installed metering valve
. 3. Port 3 - Installed swivel on the end to make an additional port for return.
. 4. Installed QD on Port 1 & 2
. 5. Standard length scuba hoses (Pretty Yellow Miflex Hoses) (are now the CK standard) just added a 3rd one for the dual O2.
. 6. QD w/check on O2 return elbow on the head
7. Line-X the Can
8. Removed plastic hose protector from display wires and installed 1” tube webbing
9. Drilled a hole in the head and installed a tube to direct water into the counterlung
10. Installed snap links on bottom and 1” webbing on top of CL Case to make a harness
11. Cut the CL Case for easier access to counterlungs
12. Installed G-Snaps upside down, cut the CL Case so the tanks can be removed with reg on
13. Installed QD on Side Mount Regs and All Stage Regs
14. Installed Cellulose in the water trap and exhale counterlung
15. Replaced ADV with the TSS ADV

[w ripley]

In Florida, where I am, most rebreather cave divers wouldn't be caught in a Meg...Optima (front bags) or KISS (back bags) are all I know of in cave diving.

Well, the trick is always not to get caught (no matter what you do)...

I dove OC in caves for years and then went to a Meg. I thought it did well in the caves and would suggest it to anyone. Now I'm diving a Hammerhead RB, which is basically a larger version of the Meg and find it works well, too. Got some issues with restrictions in COW, but other than that have no complaints. Goes thru Rocky Horror at Madison OK.

Have dove with a KISS buddy in Peacock and must admit they're nice and easy to use.

Bill

[Randy Thornton]

I'm diving a Hammerhead in the caves as well and have no complaints. Love this unit!

[Rubis]

I have been diving my Classic Kiss for a year now in caves. My configuration is the same as Caverkevin's.
We got Shearwater hud and computer/O2 displays since november and I must say it is a nice upgrade.

I have been quite happy with the unit, I just wish it came now with a radial scrubber with 11 hours of duration. :D

[Gallup]

Some people told me to use Sport Kiss in cave dive is not recommended by the manufacturer. Is it true? Any reason behind??:smt102

[caverkevin]

Some people told me to use Sport Kiss in cave dive is not recommended by the manufacturer. Is it true? Any reason behind??:smt102

Not sure if that is a official company policy. Kim once told me she was switching back to a Classic for cave diving, instead of the Sport.

Personally I would not choose the Sport for any serious cave diving. The lock rings that hold the towers to the scrubber are only held in place with a few wood screws and silicone caulk. Hit the towers a few times in the over head and you'll start to work those lock rings loose. They will leak. The rental SK I used in training, my instuctors SK and my buddy's used SK all leaked around those rings. Also the scrubber is a bit on the small side. There is PDF files on http://www.kissrebreathers.com from the testing to CE standards. The SK went only 66 minutes til break through where as the CK was 2h37m. Cave diving, with the chances of elevated breathing and heavy work load and long dives, I would want the larger lyme bed.

The Classic KISS is tough as nails. Mine has been crammed into a bunch of cave, dropped a few times from picnic tables and slammed into my car's dash board at ~20mph, it keeps on ticking. (going to hug my rebreather and tell it how much I love it :) )

I see your location is in HK. Are you diving those caves in southern China? I was looking at some pictures on GUE.com from a trip there. Looks interesting and it would be really cool if you could share any details about diving over there.

Cheers!!

Kevin

[Gallup]

Thanks for your comment, Caverkevin.

Only very few people in China doing cave diving and it's only at the beginning. There are many cave waiting for us to explore.

Please check the link below for cave diving in China. Enjoy:-D

http://www.psai.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=230:cave-diving-exploration-in-kuming-china-part-i&catid=27:headquarter-news&Itemid=6

[crawford]

Thanks for your comment, Caverkevin.

Only very few people in China doing cave diving and it's only at the beginning. There are many cave waiting for us to explore.

Please check the link below for cave diving in China. Enjoy:-D

http://www.psai.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=230:cave-diving-exploration-in-kuming-china-part-i&catid=27:headquarter-news&Itemid=6

Very cool, thanks for posting that. I've got a good buddy moving to China to teach, so yet more motivation to make a trip.

[Gallup]

Very cool, thanks for posting that. I've got a good buddy moving to China to teach, so yet more motivation to make a trip.

Teaching Cave Diving in China??

May I have the contact please?