What is the Hydroid Aquabreather face mask? The Hydroid Aquabreather is a new scuba diving face mask invention.
Here is what you need to know about the Hydroid Aquabreather face mask before you consider buying it for recreational scuba diving.
Is it a rebreather? No. Is it SCUBA? Yes, but not as you’ve ever seen it before! Part HALO, part NASA, part Darth Vader, the Hydroid Aquabreather uses proprietary canisters of a chemical blend that, once popped, gives off Oxygen. This is then cycled through your helmet and you can dive to a max. depth of 42m/ 137 feet.
Without a doubt, this is the one scuba diving product for 2019 that has created the most buzz at DEMA Show 2019. Everyone is talking about it on the exhibit floor and at the cocktail parties. It is truly out there, so I had to take a closer look…
I’m chatting with Egor from Hydroid about this wacky invention. As far as my opinion on it… you’ll have to wait for me to go scuba diving with it and give it a review!
Egor, tell us more about the aquabreather.
The main principle of it is based on a regenerative substance. You open the cans and put them into the axis and the reaction starts. It both absorbs carbon dioxide and generates oxygen at the same time. The reaction goes round and round and round and provides you with oxygen.
DR: Does the Hydroid Aquabreather face mask work the same way as a standard scuba diving closed circuit rebreather?
Egor: You may call it that, but it’s doesn’t absorb, but it generates oxygen. There is an embedded sink to compensate for the pressure or any emergencys and there is an embedded computer to display all the necessary information about the dive including partial pressure oxygen and carbon dioxide.
DR: What’s the amount of time you can dive a Hyroid Aquabreather face mask?
Egor: The depth restriction is set to 42 meters/ 137 feet. It’s a safety restriction, and the estimated time of a dive is more than 60 minutes. It only depends on your breathing style. If you are a professional diver then you would last much longer.
DR: What kind of scuba diver is the Hyroid Aquabreather for?
Egor: It’s for recreational diving because it’s really simple to use. You just put it on, look in the computer in the mask and go dive. Our educational program is now in development.
DR: How do you think the scuba dive operators will respond to the Hydoid Aquabreather from a legal standpoint?
Egor: We need one more year to get a certification of the Hyroid Aquabreather in Europe and America. We need a year to make an educational program, and do all the needed tests to prove that our product is reliable.
DR: What’s the next step in the development?
Egor: Right now, it’s a working prototype, so we are testing this winter and spring. After that, we will start open-water testing to 40 meters/ 131 feet and then we’ll finish our educational program and start getting certifications in Europe and America.
DR: Are you talking to the main scuba diving agencies, or are you kind of developing your own thing?
Egor: Right now we’re discussing those problems, but the second option is preferable for us.
DR: Where can people find out more information about the Hydroid Aquabreather?
Egor: You can visit our website at http://aquabreather.com/en/ There is a lot of information about our apparatus and our contact information if you want to ask any questions.
Check out all the reviews we did at DEMA 2019: Major Manufacturers, New Scuba Diving Gear, Scuba Start Ups and Innovators, and UW Photography and Lighting.
