Rebreather / CCR Courses
Training Options
One of the things that give most new rebreather students a pause is that they don’t know where they should start or where the beginning of the CCR training pathway actually is. We want to make this super clear for potential future CCR divers so you know where to begin, but more importantly, where you can go! BJL Diving currently offers training courses on the following rebreathers:
All rebreathers have positive and negative aspects and there is no sole perfect rebreather. It is a balance of finding out what your diving goals are and what rebreather best fits your needs as a diver. Be very skeptical of anyone that says different, especially a rebreather instructor! The best rebreather for open ocean wreck diving is probably not the best rebreather for smaller caves. If you mostly travel for diving, that heavy backmount rebreather may not make the most sense compared to if you are mainly diving locally. Reach out to BJL Diving to learn about the pros and cons of the rebreathers we teach based on your diving goals! We will be happy to have a candid conversation. Ben is currently certified on multiple units but has decided to only teach the units listed above. We will provide you our honest opinion based on your diving goals and needs.
If you have never dove a rebreather before start here:
TDI Courses – User Level:
As a new rebreather diver you can begin your journey with three different courses based on your diving background and experience. If you are already an accomplished technical diver you can start your rebreather journey with the Air Dil Deco Course or the Helitrox course. Please keep in mind that these courses are challenging and will require you to already be a solid technical diver with proficient trim, buoyancy, and propulsion as well as a thorough understanding of open circuit technical diving. All certifications are earned and not given!
If you have never been “on the loop” and you don’t have any experience in technical diving your pathway would start at the Air Dil No Deco course level. After gaining experience on the rebreather you can upgrade to either Air Dil Deco or the Helitrox course. We also strongly encourage you to take some open circuit technical training such as Intro To Tech or Tech Fundamentals. These programs will give you a solid platform before jumping into a closed circuit rebreather.
TDI Courses – Advanced User Level:
If you are already certified on one of the rebreathers we currently teach (CM O2ptima, rEvo, Sidemount Liberty) we can assist you in getting to the next level and help you reach new depths to meet your diving goals! The courses listed below are advanced level CCR courses that will make more dive sites available to you as you continue to explore the underwater world. You must have experience on the rebreather of your choice at the entry levels as well as meet the dive times and dive counts before you can proceed to one of these courses. The exact details are outlined on the specific course page.
TDI – Courses Crossover Course:
If you are already certified on another rebreather and are looking to crossover onto one of the rebreathers we teach, you would start at the Crossover Course. We can assist you from crossing over onto the Dive Rite O2ptima CM, the rEvo, or the Liberty Sidemount CCR. Your past CCR experience will help determine the pathway to get you back to your current levels that you were diving on your prior CCR.
Other CCR/Rebreather Courses:
If you are looking to expand your rebreather diving we offer a range of courses that will help you explore even further based on your needs and goals, including complex wreck penetration dives, and dives into caverns and caves.
CCR instructor courses for the Dive Rite Chest Mount O2ptima Instructor Courses:
We are one of the few authorized instructor training development centers for the Dive Rite CM CCR Instructor Program. If you have been thinking about becoming a rebreather instructor or you are currently a rebreather instructor with another manufacturer, we can get you all set up to take the next step in your professional career and assist you in becoming a Dive Rite Chest Mount O2ptima Instructor.
