- Christa Landowski On a Pathfiner Rebreather
Last week was a busy week at Oceanic Ventures. Leon Scamahorn, CEO of Innerspace Systems Corporation, was on town on a whirlwind tour. He was in town to help us introduce the new Pathfinder Rebreather. This new diving rebreather was designed with a recreational diver in mind. It is small and compact and features a radial scrubber and their new ISCan electronics.
Dave and I got to try the new pathfinder rebreather during Eric’s Megalodon crossover training program with Leon and both Dave and I also did the Pathfinder Instructor Crossover program. Diving this new rebreather is awesome! It is light weight, simple to use and the electronics are state of the art. Additionally, the ISCan electronics is based on the CAN bus technology invented by BOSH for the auto and aerospace industries. This technology allows for dimple additions of optional devises like depth transducers and computers as well as allowing for in-field changing of components.
The technology behind the unit is cool but it retains the breathing characteristics of the Megalodon rebreathers including their water trapping capabilities and set-point tracking. But the Pathfinder, with its smaller packaging is ideal for a traveling, recreational diver or even a more advanced diver doing some light technical diving.
Of course, Dave and I were not the only people to get to try this new unit; twenty-four divers contributed $50.00 to the Oceanic Ventures Foundation to try the Pathfinder as well as the Megalodon rebreathers. They were treated to an introduction and orientation from the man of the hour, Leon Scamahorn who explained his diving and manufacturing philosophy and the thinking that went into these rebreathers. In talking to these divers afterwards, the $5,500 Pathfinder was of real interest and a few are even considering purchasing one of the rebreathers in the next few months. It looks like Dave and I will be busy!
Leon was also the keynote speaker at our Club Aquarius meeting at the Black Labrador. While his presentations at the demonstration were more technical, his evening presentation was centered more on people using their rebreathers. Leon is passionate about diving and he focuses on having fun while diving. Of course you cannot talk about InnerSpace Systems without a little technical history and product development, his presentation was mainly centered on people having fun while diving on his Company’s rebreathers. As he said “look at those smiling faces, they are all having fun!” For him that is the ultimate goal but he wants the fun to be done safely using the best life support equipment available – the Pathfinder and the Megalodon family of rebreathers.
Leon, the staff from Oceanic Ventures and our clients and friends donated their time and resources to help with the Oceanic Ventures Foundation and our goal of raising money for the Bonaventure Home For Boys in Grand Cayman. We are still tabulating the results but it appears we raised over $2,500 for the home. Thank you to everyone who helped with the event, donated items for the Sealed Bid Auction, bid on the items or paid to try the rebreathers in the pool I know the group in Cayman will appreciate the gift!
Over the next few weeks we will be setting up schedules to get the new rebreather divers diving on their new rebreathers. It will be a lot of fun. As always, we have room for more divers…
Here are some of the highlights from the event.
