The Sea Breathe system is designed for Shallow Water Only, maximum depth is 25 feet. This 25 foot depth is deep enough for a fun dive or to work on your boat, but is a safe depth to keep you well clear of the decompression tables and also allows you to surface easily if necessary. If you try to go past the 25 foot depth you will experience a reduction of air volume and this will limit you continuing deeper. Dive time has many variables that can limit your under water time, type of batteries, charge capacity, and depth etc.. Generally you can dive for one hour to one and half hours. Deck units may run for several hours depending on the capacity of the boat battery being used.
Are these 12-volt units reliable?
All Sea Breathe units are designed with reliability and simplicity in
mind; the pumps have minimal moving parts and extensive use of high
quality components have made these units extremely reliable. Breakdowns
are next to never happening. (This is from 15 years of experience)
What type of battery (Float or Deck Unit)?
Sea Breathe requires (float unit) a sealed deep cycle battery. These
batteries fall into two categories, Gelled Electrolyte or Absorbed
Glass Matt (AGM). These batteries are ideal for the application cause
they will not leak when tipped or damaged. Deep cycle is important as
it allows the maximum number of charge cycles from the battery. The
optimum size is between 30-40 amp hour capacity, the limiting factor
will be the physical size (to fit the float unit) and also weight may
be a factor especially air travel is a consideration. If you plan to
air travel make sure your choice is approved or labelled with the
approval. The batteries above are normally used in wheel chairs or
scooters and are quite commonly available. Deck units can run from a 12
volt boat or auxiliary battery, be careful not to
drain your engine start battery. . The maximum size of battery that can fit into the floating unit housing are 5 1/2" by 8" by 8"., or 130 mm by 190 mm by 190 mm (including terminals). Also, the battery is placed into the housing on its side, so the 5 ½" dimension is it's height.
What happens if I get the Sea Breathe compressor wet?
The Sea Breathe compressors are engineered to resist corrosion and can
handle very humid conditions. The floating units are of course suitable for use in fresh or salt water and are sealed against severe splash and spray.
The deck units are not affected by operation in the rain but they are not intended to be swamped by sea water, as this could shorten the life of the compressor. If this does accidentally happen the pump should be flushed with fresh water as explained in the owners manual.
Note that the deck units should always be tied to the boat or deck to make sure they are not pulled in to the water.
If you see your deck unit go down past you while diving you probably did not tie it on properly and it would be wise to surface soon.
What pressure does the system operate at?
Sea Breathe incorporates a unique variable pressure system that allows
the air pressure to increase as the diver descends. Thus if you are at shallow depths, i.e. cleaning your boat hull, the pressure (and hence the current draw from the battery will be minimized., approximately 12-14 psi.
When the diver descends to say 20 feet the pressure will automatically adjust to about 20 psi. This feature ensures that there is the minimal drain on the battery during the dive, which of course increases battery duration.
Is it noisy?
Sea Breathe's 12 volt systems are all very quiet, when used in close proximity to other boaters and divers this will not cause a nuisance.
How long are the hoses?
With the deck units the standard hose length is about 45 feet from the compressor to the diver. There is 15 feet of hose between the compressor and the air reservoir (which floats on the surface) and 30 feet of hose from the air reservoir to the diver.
The floating units have 5 feet of hose from the compressor to the reservoir and 30 feet of hose from the reservoir to the divers.
Note that if you have only one diver on the double diver unit the two hoses can be combined to give a total length of about 55 feet after the air reservoir.
Note that the extra hose length does not increase the depth of the dive but gives greater lateral distance from the compressor. This can be useful for hull maintenance or cleaning etc, particularly on a larger boat.
For special applications the length of the hose can be considerably increased if needed. Contact Sea Breathe to discuss your needs.
How safe is Sea Breathe diving ?
The Sea Breathe system was first developed over 15 years ago and has an
excellent record of safety and reliability. There are several features
of Sea Breathe diving that make the activity safer than scuba or other
types of surface supply.
· The dive depth is limited to 25 feet which keeps you out of the decompression tables, as you can stay at this depth for several hours before decompression (bends) would be an issue.
· The unit floating on the surface gives a clear indication to others of your location.
· The extra large air reservoir allows several breaths of air if the unit should be switched off.
· Also, the reservoir provides a comfortable float for the diver when at the surface.
· The secure attachment of the diver to the surface (by the hose) prevents "uncontrolled descent" which is one of the main causes of mishap with novice divers.
· There are no fumes from the compressor to get sucked in to the compressor air intake.
Why do divers use weights?
Most people are positively buoyant and would therefore have to expend energy to stay submerged. By adding the correct amount of weight you can adjust your buoyancy to be only slightly positive so that your not wasting energy to stay submerged. This allows you to relax and enjoy your dive. Note that it is worth spending the extra minutes before the dive to check that you are wearing the correct amount of weight. Pocket type weight belts are very convenient and allow you to change weights easily. You must make sure that the weights you choose are easily removable and are not attached to the primary Sea Breathe regulator waist belt.
Why an Air Reservoir?
Sea Breathe incorporates a unique inflating air reservoir, which provides several benefits for the diver:
· The reservoir dampens all pulsations from the compressor
· It provides a large air reserve if the compressor is switched off or fails.
· It is a comfortable float for the diver when at the surface.
· Minimizes the pressure drop if two divers take large breaths of air simultaneously
Note that Sea Breathes' large inflating reservoir folds completely flat for storage. Competitor's rigid reservoirs have a smaller air volume but take up 20 times more space than the Sea Breathe reservoir when not in use.
Can I use the two-man unit for just one person?
The two-man unit can be used for one man easily, this will not increase the allowed depth though, it is still 25 feet. Experienced divers can use a combination of the hoses to allow a deeper dive. (check with Sea Breathe)
What type of air pump does Sea Breathe use?
Sea Breathe uses a 12-Volt heavy-duty oil-less diaphragm type compressor that provides clean breathing air for the diver and is extensively upgraded to operate in damp conditions. Internal parts are anodized, stainless steel or Teflon coated. The pumps are rated for hundreds of hours running time between servicing.
If the flotation tube on the float unit deflates will the unit still float?
If the flotation chamber deflates on the Float model the unit will
still float, this is not enough for steady dive flotation but will
allow you to return to the boat or beach.
How do I know if the battery is getting low while I am diving?
The battery runs down slowly so there is no sudden loss of air at the
end of the dive. When the battery is approaching full discharge you will notice a slight reduction in the available air volume, but there will still be several minutes of dive time left.
Note that once the air supply has become noticeably low you should not try to extend the dive time by "sucking" hard on the regulator. This will only tire your lungs.
What happens if someone turns off the dive unit while I am diving?
If the unit is mistakenly turned off while diving, the air reservoir
will provide ample air for several additional breathes while rising to
the surface.
What happens if the battery is connected with the wrong polarity?
On both the floating units and the deck units the cable connections to the battery are identified by color (Red - Positive, Black - Negative),. The deck units will not suffer if the battery cables are connected backwards.
The cables of the floating units should be connected with the correct polarity as these models incorporate a blower for air-cooling. The blower will run in reverse if the polarity is wrong, which will adversely effect cooling and could cause the temperature switch to shut the unit down.
How long does it take to recharge the battery.
The battery recharge time will depend on the type of battery, the
characteristics and capacity of the charger, the amount of charge
remaining in the battery and the capacity of the battery.
A good charger with a capacity of around 10 amps should be able to get a 34 amp.hour battery to around 90% charge in 3 hours.
Note that most battery manufacturers recommend a slow charge (over night) if possible, in preference to a fast charge. This will ensure the maximum number of charge cycles from the battery.
Sealed batteries should always be recharged using a regulated charger to avoid damage through overcharging. The regulated chargers have become very common with the increasing popularity of Gelled or AGM type batteries and are readily available in most parts of the world. Sea Breathe can supply suitable chargers if needed.
How many batteries should I have?
This will depend on how you intend to use the Sea Breathe. The standard 34 amp hour battery for the floating units will allow about 1 hour run time. The deck units will run for much longer from the boat "house battery"
If you need an extended run time remember, it is often easier to handle two small batteries rather than one large one. Many battery manufacturers now incorporate handles in to the battery design. This can be a convenient feature.
Rental operations will normally have ample batteries and recharge them over night with a slow charge.
What comes with the Sea Breathe unit?
Sea Breathe units come complete with, manuals, hoses, air reservoir,
belts and regulators. You need to supply the battery, water, and diving
gear.
Why Choose the Sea Breathe unit ?
We take pride in providing the best dive units possible, we feel we are second to non and want you to compare and make the wisest choice. Our company philosophy has always been to provide quality, value and safety. Prices will be competitive and still the quality will be unmatched by any of our competitors!!
Can I dive with a Buddy?
Diving with a buddy is always your smartest and safest choice, if looking at a Single deck unit maybe consider choosing the Double instead of the single. The fun chart goes up fast when diving with a buddy. For safety reasons all the major dive-training organizations recommend Buddy Diving.
How does the Deck unit connect to the Boat or Auxiliary Battery?
Connecting the Deck unit to your boat battery is easy when using the supplied solid copper battery clips. If you require specialized clips contact Sea Breathe to discuss your needs.
How is the air filtered?
Sea Breathe units particle filter the air twice on the Deck units and three times on the Floating units. Always place unit in a clean air location well clear of any engine exhaust fumes and not down wind of fumes.
Is it hard to pull the floating unit with you in the water?
The Floating unit will follow a diver with next to no effort, the unit
is designed to have the lowest profile (this is important) and the
under water contour of the unit makes it effortless to pull where ever you go. Compare this with any competitor. Ocean breezes are a normal occurrence and Sea Breathe's low profile can handle it.
Can the floating unit flip over?
The battery is installed in the housing at the lowest point in the unit so that the weight of the battery acts like the keel of a sailboat to stop it from tipping over.
If the unit is tumbled in the surf a tilt switch shuts down the compressor once it senses that the unit is at an abnormal angle. The switch keeps it shut down until it stabilizes upright again.
Note that if you have to enter the water through heavy surf (a situation to be avoided if possible) you should hold on to the unit to prevent it from being tumbled.
It is hard to find any free space on a boat, how does the Sea Breathe fit?
Many of the Sea Breathe's staff are boaters and are well aware of space limitations on boats. Sea Breathe units are designed to take up the minimal amount of storage space. The hoses and the unique inflating air reservoir all fold up into a compact package. See the product descriptions for the actual units weight and sizes. If you have a special size limitation, please contact Sea Breathe.
It is hard to find any free space on a boat, how does the Sea Breathe fit?
Many of the Sea Breathe's staff are boaters and are well aware of space limitations on boats. Sea Breathe units are designed to take up the minimal amount of storage space. The hoses and the unique inflating air reservoir all fold up into a compact package. See the product descriptions for the actual units weight and sizes. If you have a special size limitation, please contact Sea Breathe.
Can Sea Breathe be taken on the airline?
Generally Air traveling with any Sea Breathe unit can be done, normally weight and size limits will not reached. Ask Sea Breathe about their special carrying bags for any unit. Note; that if you plan to bring the battery with your unit, make sure it is approved for air transportation and both battery terminals are taped completely over. Your battery supplier can provide all documents required. Check with your carrier for exact size, battery policy and weight limitations.
How do I buy a Sea Breathe unit?
It is easy to buy a Sea Breathe unit, you can purchase a unit online (through this website), or if you prefer, just phone, e-mail or fax us and we will process your order, we will confirm with you the payment and shipping information. A large inventory on all items is always maintained, your order should be fulfilled fast. Custom and rental orders will vary in time.
