Harry started diving in the late ‘70s in South Australia and has traveled the world enjoying his passion for diving and photography. Monday to Friday, he works mainly as an anaesthetist using “rebreathers” all day long in the form of anaesthetic machines which share most of the components of the diving equivalent! So when he first saw a friend with a converted CCR Dolphin utilizing a KISS-Style valve he became intrigued with the simplicity of the concept. He went on to design and build his own unit from scratch, but quickly realized he was a better doctor than an engineer! Much safer to buy a unit from Jetsam than use the monstrous contraption he had fathered!
Initially many people considered the Classic KISS to be useful tool for shallow “recreational” style diving, or perhaps a stepping stone to a more “serious” unit. It quickly gained a strong following by divers attracted to its rugged construction and reliability, and who were suspicious of the combination of electronics and saltwater! But as Harry’s experience with the unit grew, he realized that the unit was a serious tool for exploration and deeper technical diving.
With the addition of several modifications (which neither Harry nor the manufacturers would advocate!); Harry began to use the rebreather well past the manufacturers recommendations and is now regularly exploring deep wrecks and caves with the Classic KISS. Whilst he can’t recommend anyone do the same, it speaks volumes for the unit that a number of divers worldwide are diving the CK in this fashion.
The clear chest area and contained counter lungs are an absolute plus for squeezing through restrictions, clipping off stages and improving streamlining for scootering. If the unit and diver can squeeze through a hole, it is very unlikely that anything will be torn or damaged.
There is no such thing as the perfect rebreather, but for Harry’s diving, the CK comes pretty close.
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