Equipment used on the project

Buddy Inspiration Rebreather

Manufacturer: Ambient Pressure Diving (UK)
Purpose: The Buddy Inspiration is a British made closed circuit rebreather which allows depths and bottom times far in excess of normal scuba gear. It is used in all diving aspects of the project. Dave A, Tim C, and Costa have been diving their Inspirations for more than three years now and they have proven very reliable. Dave A has modified his unit extensively, and it now boasts two completely independant breathing loops, and two gas supplies, the second of which is larger than standard. Dave's twin unit is capable of being used as the sole life support system to extreme depths as it is both the main and bailout breathing systems. Click here for info about the Twin Inspiration.
Released: 1998
Dive duration : 6 Hours
Diving depth: 160+ metres
Team count: 2 single, 1 twin

Biomarine Mk15 Rebreather

Manufacturer: Biomarine (USA)
Purpose: The Biomarine Mk15 is a fully-closed circuit rebreather. It is an extremely rugged unit, built for the US Navy and Army Special Forces. Working divers have used this model to a depth of 550 metres. Variants of this machine are still being produced for the US, British, and Australian Navies. Ooh, and it's real shiny too! Click here for more info about this unit.
Released: 1969, rebuilt 2001
Dive duration : 7 Hours
Diving depth: Capable of 500+ metres
Team count: 1

Draeger FGG-III Rebreather

Manufacturer: Draeger (Germany)
Purpose: The Draeger FGG-III is a semi-closed circuit rebreather, but this one has been rebuilt and modified to operate in closed circuit mode. It is an experimental unit only, and has been used to 75m on this project. For more information go to the closed circuit FGG pages
Released: 1969, rebuilt 2000
Dive duration : 6 Hours
Diving depth: 200 metres
Team count: 1

Draeger Atlantis Rebreather

Manufacturer: Draeger (Germany)
Purpose: The Atlantis is a semi-closed circuit rebreather which allows extended times compared to normal scuba gear. This particular one has been modified with several larger cylinders to utilise different gas mixes including Trimix. It is used in all diving aspects of the project.
Released: 1998
Dive duration : 2 Hours
Diving depth: 75 metres
Team count: 1

Oxygen Rebreather

Manufacturer: Homebuilt
Purpose: The oxygen rebreather is used for extended decompression in the habitat, giving huge gas savings. This one was made by Dave A using a Draeger Atlantis scrubber, a Fenzy BCD for a counterlung, and an irrigation valve as a mouthpiece. This unit can also be dived as a manually controlled semi-closed nitrox rebreather using the dump and add every nth breath method, and has been used as such on 50 metre wreck dives off Sydney.
Dive duration : 4 Hours
Diving depth: 6 metres
Team count: 1

Twinsets

Manufacturer: Various (Aus, Ita, USA)
Purpose: Twinsets are the mainstay of normal deep cave and wreck diving. They are used for open circuit air and mixed gas diving and have proven utterly reliable. We are using open circuit equipment like this less often now, as our rebreathers are evolving to the point where they are more suitable for almost all diving on the project.
Capacity: From 4000 to 7200 L
Dive duration : 2 Hours (depth dependent)
Diving depth: 100+ metres
Team count: 10+

Stage cylinders

Manufacturer: Various (Aus, Ita, USA, Ger)
Purpose: Used in conjunction with either twinsets or a rebreather, stage cylinders are used in deep cave and wreck diving to carry decompression gasses. When using a rebreather, a stage cylinder can be filled with bottom gas, and be plugged into the unit to supply it with off-board gas to greatly extend dive capability.
Capacity: From 700 to 1700 L
Dive duration : 1 Hour (Rebreather 8+)
Diving depth: Typically 60m (Rebreather unlimited)
Team count: 30+

Torches

Manufacturer: Various (Aus, USA)
Purpose: Torches are a fairly important item for cave divers! The team has a myriad of light sources to choose from, including both commercially available, and home made. This photo shows a 250 watt Timbo torch.
Team count: Lots!