A new generation of "oceanauts" led by Jean-Michel Cousteau are embarking on an
extraordinary documentary filmmaking expedition of adventure and discovery to the most
remote islands on the planet in "Voyage to Kure." Cousteau and the Ocean Futures
Society team will use new technology for diving that will advance the standards of
documentary excellence. The latest equipment, which allows divers to stay underwater for
longer periods of time, will be used in Voyage to Kure. Below is an overview of
the state-of-the-art diving technology currently in use by the expedition team.
JMC SuperMask
The JMC SuperMask is a lightweight modular full face mask that allows for easy and rapid
adaptation to various self contained underwater breathing apparatuses as well as surface
supplied systems.
The mask frame and rigid components are made of high impact plastic. The face seal is
made of the highest quality silicone that conforms to the diver's face. The modular
removable mouth pod is designed to quickly interchange allowing the diver multiple
breathing gas options. The masks are designed to accept various wireless and hardwire
communications configurations.
The removable lower pod is a feature unique to this mask. When diving, the pod is easily
removed and replaced on the mask giving the diver capability to buddy-breathe, use a
snorkel or an octopus or perform an "in water" gas switch.
With the pod sealed to the mask, the flexible, silicone pod cover allows the diver to
quickly place the regulator mouthpiece into the mouth or dive with it free of the mouth for
communications. With the mouthpiece in, the regulator may be used without the pod being
sealed to the mask.
The mask may also be used surface supplied. Currently in development are several
different pod configurations for both open circuit and rebreather use.
For more information:
JMC SuperMask - http://www.oceanicww.com/index2.cfm
Inspiration Rebreathers
The launch of the BUDDY Inspiration in the summer of 1997 was the successful
culmination of an intensive two and a half year R&D project that promised to change the
sport of diving, pushing back the boundaries of what was achievable. Since then the
Inspiration has fulfilled that promise, becoming the most widely used rebreather on
the planet - used by the Ocean Futures Society expedition team, professional film-makers,
photographers, archeologists, technical deep divers discovering virgin wrecks, record
breaking cavers as well as many thousands of dedicated amateur rebreather divers
worldwide.
In a fully closed circuit rebreather like the
Inspiration your exhaled air is
continuously circulated within the unit where it passes through a CO2 'scrubber' before
returning cleansed of CO2 to the inhalation side of the loop. Oxygen is injected into the
loop automatically by a computer-controlled solenoid valve in response to information
received from three independent oxygen sensors. In this way the
Inspiration
maintains a
constant partial pressure of O2 (i.e. at the Setpoint ppO2 level)
throughout the dive. Therefore, you only consume the small amount of oxygen that your body
actually needs and metabolizes, in contrast to the extremely gas-inefficient open-circuit
system which vents the entire exhaled breath (including all the unused oxygen -
approximately 17% of the 21%) out into the water. Closed Circuit diving therefore has a
number of dramatic differences and advantages over conventional diving:
- Extended duration diving with greatly reduced gas consumption, both in terms of each
individual dive (at 40m the Inspiration is at least 100 times more gas efficient than
open-circuit!) and for serial dives - there is no need to constantly refill.
The expedition film team uses
state-of-the-art closed circuit rebreathers, affording them longer duration
underwater and non-invasive approaches to wildlife subjects. Photo
credit: Tom Ordway, Ocean Futures Society
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- Warmer and quieter diving with no bubbles to scare off wildlife. This makes a
dramatic difference for underwater camera operators on the Cousteau expedition to Kure. Not
only is it exceptionally easy and comfortable to breathe from without the mechanical
action, resistance or noise of a normal regulator, but also allows for very close
encounters with marine life. This makes it ideal for photographers, filmmakers,
marine-biologists, archaeologists, as well as the ordinary sport diver who just wants to
get closer.
Other features of Inspiration include:
- Perfect buoyancy control with the ability to hover with effortless stability (because
the same volume of gas is either in your lungs or in the Inspiration's
counter-lungs).
- Greatly reduced decompression times and increased No-Stop times. Again, you can
extend the duration of each dive and cut out the hassle and boredom of long decompression
stops because you are constantly breathing a higher percentage oxygen (and therefore less
nitrogen) decreasing inert gas loading at depth and increasing off-gassing on the ascent.
- For technical divers who want to go for the next phase in diving - 50 to 100m - the
Inspiration can be rigged with either Trimix or Heliox as the diluent gas instead of
compressed air to go below the current 40m limit attainable with the Air/Oxygen
configuration.
- No pre-mixing of gas or gas switching during the dive. The Inspiration gives
you all the advantages of Nitrox diving and Nitrox decompression but without the problems
of pre-mixing, fore-casting the target depth or the depth limitations.
- The entire unit (consisting of the two 3 litre cylinders - one oxygen, one diluent -
the CO2 scrubber and sensors, valves, computer display units, wings style BC and casing)
weighs no more than a normal 15 litre air cylinder with regulator and BC. It is simple to
rig, easy to handle on land and is a dream in the water. The streamlined casing makes the
unit feel like a 10 litre!
Force Fins
The Ocean Futures Society Expedition team dives with custom-made Launch Pad fins with the
Oscillating Propulsion System (OPS) designed and manufactured by Force Fins.
Seriously technical fins for seriously technical divers, Launch Pad are foot
pockets to which you can attach a variety of blades. The patented twist to the Launch Pad
System is that each blade can be adjusted to change its flexibility, pitch, orientation or
relationship between you and the water. This allows you to optimize how the fin and water
work for you in variable open water conditions.
OPS (Oscillating Propulsion System) has a long narrow blade that tapers to a
point, to draw water similar to the way in which water wicks to the end of a leaf. When you
kick it oscillates like an eel. When locked into its flat position, the blade is flexible.
Twist the blade at its point of attachment to stiffen the blade and shorten the oscillation
for more sprint acceleration, when confronting a current!
The dynamics of the Fin Blades that attach to the Launch Pad System can be
changed with a twist of your wrist while your underwater and underway.
The Launch Pad System is modular. The Launch Pad Foot Pocket is designed
to take on a variety of fin blades.
For more information:
http://www.forcefin.com/FF_PAGES/FF_Products/launchpad_footpocket.htm