Rebreathers for Recreational Divers:
Are They Worth It Yet?
Rebreathers are no longer exclusive to military operations and deep technical diving. Thanks to advances in compact electronics, redundancy systems, and travel-friendly models, recreational divers are increasingly curious about whether rebreathers are finally worth considering.
Let’s break down what they offer, what they risk, and why they remain a niche tool for most.
What Is a Rebreather?
A rebreather is a closed (or semi-closed) breathing system that recycles exhaled gas by removing carbon dioxide and replenishing oxygen. Instead of venting bubbles into the water like open-circuit scuba systems, rebreathers maintain a loop of breathable gas.
Key Components:
- Counterlungs to collect exhaled breath
- Scrubber canister to remove CO2
- Oxygen sensors and controllers to maintain gas mixture
- Manual and automatic add valves for oxygen and diluent gases
- Displays or handsets to show PO2 and warnings
What Are the Benefits?
Rebreather proponents promote several points:
- No bubbles: ideal for underwater photographers and wildlife encounters
- Longer dives: gas-efficient since oxygen is reused
- Warmer, moist gas: breathing loop air is humid and retains warmth
- Optimized decompression: constant PO2 can reduce inert gas uptake compared to open circuit
Why Recreational Divers Are Interested
Recreational rebreathers promise:
- Travel compatibility
- Simplified operation compared to expedition rigs
But interest is not the same as suitability.
What Are the Real Risks?
Rebreathers may feel like an upgrade, but they also introduce failure modes that do not exist on open-circuit scuba. These include:
- Hypoxia: not enough oxygen in the loop
- Hyperoxia: too much oxygen, risking CNS toxicity
- Hypercapnia: CO2 buildup from scrubber failure or breathing resistance
- Loop integrity failure: water intrusion or gas leaks
- Electronic failure: sensors or solenoids malfunctioning
These can all be rapidly fatal, especially if not immediately recognized and corrected.
Who Should Be Using Rebreathers?
Rebreathers are life-support systems that demand:
- Redundant thinking
- Obsessive pre-dive checks
- Comfort with failure drills
- Strict adherence to maintenance schedules
- Real-time awareness of gas dynamics, PO2 levels, and bailout plans
I do not recommend rebreathers for any diver who is not already diving open circuit scuba in the aformentioned way.
That means not just certified, but experienced in high-discipline environments.
Are They Worth It Yet?
For most recreational divers: No.
Rebreathers still cost a significant amount, require more training, involve more failure points, and provide benefits that are often unnecessary for no-deco dives within 100 feet or in group dives with open circuit divers like found at nearly all tropical travel destinations.
For disciplined, goal-driven divers: Maybe.
If you're doing long-duration dives, advanced photography where bubbles are a liability, diving with a buddy or team that already use rebreathers, and you are willing to commit to training and diligence, rebreathers might make sense.
But this is a commitment, not a convenience.
Personal Perspective
Some recreational divers buy into rebreathers because of FOMO. They want to be part of the elite or technical crowd, but their mindset and habits don’t match the tool they’re strapping on. You can’t shortcut your way into rebreather diving.
You’re ready for a rebreather when you're already diving with discipline and system awareness on open circuit. That means using checklists without exception, building in redundancy, thinking through failure points, and treating every dive like it matters. Who you are and how you dive should not change just because your equipment does.
I dive that way. I meet the training prerequisites. I can afford the gear. And when I take an honest look at it, I’m not ready for a rebreather. You probably aren’t either.
And it’s totally fine. The vast majority of recreational dives and divers don’t need or benefit from one. Just dive.