Survey | CCR & Open-Circuit Scuba | Dive Industry Market Statistics
Survey Results: The Future of Rebreathers in Scuba Diving
Understanding the potential and limitations of closed-circuit & open-circuit rebreathers in the future of scuba diving.
Darcy Kieran is the author of the handbook “Your Career and/or Life as a Scuba Diving Instructor: How to Make a Good Living Out of Your Passion for Scuba Diving” and a unique advanced logbook & checklists for scuba divers, divemasters & instructors.
InDepth Magazine and the Business of Diving Institute are collaborating on a series of scuba diving industry surveys to better understand where we stand on key dive industry issues, identify workable solutions, increase awareness of opportunities, and fuel discussions among dive professionals.
We thank the following scuba diving industry leaders for supporting this initiative: Shearwater, DAN Europe, and GUE.
In June & July 2022, we conducted a survey on the potential and limitations of closed-circuit & open-circuit rebreathers in the future of scuba diving in preparation for the forthcoming 2023 rebreather forum—stay tuned!
First, we will report on answers by current rebreather divers to determine what drove them to use this type of equipment, what they think is required for more divers to use rebreathers, and what they see as the future of rebreather diving.
Then we will look at scuba divers who are not using rebreathers and try to determine how likely they are to dive with a rebreather one day, what has stopped them from doing it already, and what would help them make the plunge.
1. Rebreather Diving Seen by Current Rebreather Divers
First, why are divers diving with rebreathers?
Reasons Current Rebreather Divers Use Rebreathers
Rebreather divers were asked to rate the reasons that brought them to go scuba diving with a closed-circuit or semi-closed rebreathers.
A score of zero (0) signified it was not a significant reason, while a score of ten (10) indicated a very significant reason. Here are the weighted averages of the importance of each of the following reasons for their decision to dive with a rebreather.
- 9.0: Extended range (depth, time)
- 7.0: More efficient decompression
- 6.5: In order to take part in exploration projects
- 6.2: Quiet / No bubbles
- 4.9: Smaller form factor (fewer cylinders/weights)
- 4.0: No open-circuit gas switching
- 1.6: Cool looking
“Practicality” is what seems to have driven most current rebreather divers into diving with a rebreather, notably for extended range and a more efficient decompression.
Among additional non-rated reasons, some divers mentioned:
- Helium/trimix/gas costs (mentioned repeatedly)
- Easier logistics over either multiple dives or for remote trips with limited availability of fills (regularly mentioned)
- A new personal challenge
- Increased safety
- Warm & moist breathing gas
- “Many of my friends already had a rebreather”
Will rebreathers replace standard open-circuit scuba diving gear in tech diving?
68.6% of current rebreather divers are convinced that rebreathers will replace standard open-circuit diving gear as the dominant form of tech diving in the next 5 to 10 years.
This is how likely it is to happen, from the opinion of current rebreather divers:
- 24.2%: Extremely Likely
- 44.4%: Likely
- 10.9%: Unsure
- 14.6%: Unlikely
- 5.9%: Extremely Unlikely
Will rebreather bailout eventually replace open-circuit as the primary form of bailout?
Current rebreather divers appear unsure as to the future of rebreather bailout.
How likely do you think that rebreather bailout (ex: sidemount rebreather) will eventually replace open circuit as the primary form of bailout?
- 3.7%: Extremely Likely
- 21.3%: Likely
- 31.2%: Unsure
- 37.1%: Unlikely
- 6.7%: Extremely Unlikely
How can we increase the usage of rebreathers in scuba diving?
Current rebreather divers were asked to rate factors that could increase usage of rebreathers among tech divers. A score of zero (0) signified it was a factor that would not play a significant role, while a score of ten (10) indicated a very influential factor.
Here is the weighted average of the importance of each of the following factors in increasing usage of rebreathers among tech divers:
- 8.3: Safety
- 7.8: Logistics
- 7.7: Cost of equipment
- 7.3: Availability of training
- 7.3: Number of dive charters & resorts welcoming rebreathers
- 6.5: Complexity
- 6.5: Better communicate the advantages
- 6.3: Have people try it
- 5.9: Cost of training
Current rebreather divers rated every factor as somewhat important (above 5) to increase the usage of rebreathers. It’s a bit like a Christmas wishlist, I guess!
But it’s notable that “safety” is the factor ranking as the most crucial. There may still be a fear of rebreathers among some scuba divers, and it needs to be addressed either by making rebreathers safer or by better communicating that they are safe.
Also, it’s interesting to note that the logistics of diving with a rebreather appear to be as important as the cost. It is possible that some divers could afford to dive with a rebreather but find the logistics of it daunting, which is ironic since current rebreather divers regularly mention “easier logistics” as a reason to dive with a rebreather. Rebreather manufacturers may want to put their marketing department on this!
It’s also notable that the availability of training is seen as a more critical factor than the cost of training.
“It’s too expensive” may not be the main reason rebreathers have not taken a larger market share yet.
Here are some comments provided by current rebreather divers on how to increase the usage of rebreathers in scuba diving:
- CCR should not be described as a technical branch of diving. It’s a modern system of diving suitable for all.
- It’s less the safety and more the perception of safety.
- Communicate the savings on helium costs when diving with a rebreather (this is a recurring theme that appears as a comment to every question).
Meanwhile, some respondents clearly expressed their opposition to the idea that rebreathers could become mainstream. Here’s an example:
- “CCRs will never take over the recreational diving world because of its complexity. But will definitely remain the primary tool for Technical diving. Tech divers have the discipline to be methodical in their diving.”
You may further help the dive industry by taking part in other ongoing dive industry surveys. You will find results from our past surveys, here.2. Rebreather Diving Seen by Scuba Divers Who Are NOT Diving With Rebreathers
Will most scuba divers dive with a rebreather one day?
How likely are non-rebreather divers to go diving with a rebreather, eventually?
Scuba divers who have not been diving with a rebreather are quite receptive to the idea that they will, eventually, do so with 56.7% of them stating it was likely or extremely likely.
How likely are you to eventually dive with a rebreather?
- 27.8%: Extremely Likely
- 28.9%: Likely
- 22.8%: Unsure
- 12.6%: Unlikely
- 8.0%: Extremely Unlikely
Rebreather manufacturers should be excited by these numbers. Now, they need to figure out how to make it happen.
What is stopping scuba divers from using rebreathers?
Scuba divers who are not diving with a rebreather were asked to rate the factors that stopped them from doing so. A score of zero (0) signified it was not a substantial factor, while a score of ten (10) indicated a very significant factor.
Here is the weighted average of the importance of each of the following factors in stopping current scuba divers from diving with a rebreather:
- 7.8: Cost
- 5.1: I like how I currently dive
- 5.0: Safety
- 4.6: Complexity
- 4.3: Logistics
- 3.0: Limited availability of training
- 2.8: Limited number of dive charters & resorts welcoming rebreathers
- 2.0: Don’t see the advantages
Although current rebreather divers estimated that cost was not the most important factor (ranking in 3rd place), non-rebreather divers claim that the cost is the most limiting factor.
Of course, in a survey, consumers are likely to claim that products & services are too expensive, probably hoping to influence a price reduction! It is undeniable that cost matters, but there is more to it than just a dollar sign.
For instance, it is interesting that “I like how I currently dive” is the 2nd most substantial factor limiting rebreather adoption by current divers. In other words, why change my dive equipment when I’m enjoying diving the way I do it now? This becomes a question of “perceived value.”
In the comments provided by the respondents, we could identify other reasons that could be worth investigating, like:
- “Difficulty choosing a brand and model without rebreather training, but rebreather training is model specific!!”
- Lack of ability to fine-tune buoyancy via lung volume during cave diving.
- Finding CCR buddies / Limited number of CCR teams or partners in my area.
- Time before and after the dive spent preparing/cleaning.
- Too much work for 15 to 25 dives per year.
What would make scuba divers decide to dive with a rebreather?
If you were to decide to dive with a rebreather, how important do you think each of the following reasons would have been in your decision, from a scale of 0 (not important) to 10 (a very important reason)?
In parentheses, we provide the score given to this factor by current rebreather divers, for comparison.
- 8.7: Extended Range for Depth & Time (9.0)
- 7.5: More Efficient Decompression (7.0)
- 5.8: Quiet / No bubbles (6.2)
- 5.6: Smaller Form Factor with Fewer Cylinders/Weights (4.9)
- 5.5: In Order To Participate In Exploration Projects (6.5)
- 3.9: No Open-Circuit Gas Switching (4.0)
- 1.7: Cool Looking (1.6)
Overall, the factors that drove current rebreather divers to diving with a rebreather appear similar to those listed as potentially influential by current divers who are not already diving with a rebreather.
Extended range and a more efficient decompression appear to be the two primary keys in driving scuba divers to rebreathers. These factors make sense for tech divers.
But what about non-tech divers? If rebreather manufacturers want recreational divers to adopt this type of equipment, they will need to position their products differently. A recreational diver who doesn’t need decompression and is restricted to the one-hour time limit set by the dive boat captain will need other, more valuable reasons to try a rebreather.
By the way, in the comments to this question, many non-rebreather divers also mentioned the cost of helium as a reason they may consider switching to a rebreather.
Who answered the survey on the future of rebreathers in scuba diving?
942 scuba divers took part in the rebreather survey. These divers were grouped as follows:
- 517 (54.9%): rebreather divers or instructors
- 306 (32.4%): tech divers or instructors (but not with rebreathers)
- 119 (12.6%): recreational diver or instructor (no tech or rebreather diving)
Some questions were only asked to one of these groups, as outlined in the results provided in this report.
Survey respondents were residents of the following geographic area:
- 51.8%: Europe
- 24.5%: USA (including Alaska & Hawaii)
- 23.6%: The rest of the world
Scuba divers who answered our rebreather survey were in the following age groups:
- 0.2%: Under 18
- 1.0%: 18–24
- 14.4%: 25–34
- 33.5%: 35–44
- 29.4%: 45–54
- 17.0%: 55–64
- 4.4%: 65 and over
Also from Darcy Kieran:
- Handbook: Your Career and/or Life as a Scuba Diving Instructor: How to Make a Good Living Out of Your Passion for Scuba Diving.
- Logbook: Advanced Scuba Diving Logbook with Checklists for certified scuba divers, divemasters & dive instructors.
- Handbook: Advanced Guide to SPF Scuba Diving for Scuba Divers, Divemasters & Dive Instructors: Develop Better Scuba Diving Skills, Dive Safer, Save Money & Have More Fun!
- Handbook: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide To Scuba Diving: How to Increase Safety, Save Money & Have More Fun!
- Logbook: STARTER Scuba Diving Logbook with Checklists while getting your open water diver certification!
- Reference book: Scuba Diving Industry Market Reports, Data & Statistics.
Side note: During your surface intervals, have a look at my novels with a scuba diving twist, starting with “Mystery of The Blue Dragon” and “Shadows on Ocean Drive.”
You could help the dive industry by taking part in ongoing dive industry surveys. You will also find results from our past scuba diving market studies here.
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