Survey Results: The Future of Rebreathers in Scuba Diving

Understanding the potential and limitations of closed-circuit rebreathers vs open-circuit scuba in the future of scuba diving.

In 2022, we conducted a survey on the potential and limitations of closed-circuit rebreathers vs. open-circuit scuba in the future of scuba diving in preparation for the 2023 Rebreather Forum 4 in Malta.

InDepth Magazine and the Business of Diving Institute collaborate on a series of scuba diving industry surveys to better understand where we stand on dive industry issues, identify workable solutions, increase awareness of opportunities, and, most notably, fuel discussions among dive professionals.

We thank the following scuba diving industry leaders for directly supporting this initiative: Shearwater, DAN Europe, and GUE. We also thank all of you who took part in these surveys and studies.

This post is part of our Dive Industry Compass series by the Business of Diving Institute and Darcy Kieran, author of:

TL;DR Overview

The survey results indicate significant market potential and strong conviction among current users that rebreathers will become essential diving tools: 56.7% of scuba divers not currently using rebreathers are likely or extremely likely to eventually transition.

Among current rebreather users, 68.6% are convinced that rebreathers will replace standard open-circuit gear as the dominant form of technical diving within the next 5 to 10 years.

The main incentives driving adoption for both groups are practicality and extended performance, particularly the extended range for depth and time (rated highly by both groups), as well as the benefit of more efficient decompression. While existing rebreather divers value the easier logistics and cost savings on helium/trimix, they noted that the perception and reality of safety must be addressed if rebreathers are to achieve greater widespread usage.

To unlock this market potential, industry professionals must focus on specific areas of opportunity. Although non-rebreather divers identify the Cost (7.8 score) as the primary factor stopping them from purchasing, current users emphasized that the most crucial factors for increasing usage among technical divers are enhancing Safety (8.3 score) and improving Logistics (7.8 score).

Instructors should note that the availability of training (7.3 score) is seen as a more critical factor than the cost of training (5.9 score). For dive shop owners and resort operators, increasing the number of dive charters & resorts welcoming rebreathers is also a necessary step for growing the market.

Furthermore, appealing to recreational divers requires positioning rebreathers differently, as many non-technical divers are currently satisfied with open-circuit diving and do not yet perceive sufficient value in switching equipment.

Detailed Rebreather Diving Survey Results

First, we will report on the answers provided by current rebreather divers to determine what motivates them to use this type of equipment, what they believe is necessary for more divers to adopt rebreathers, and what they envision as the future of rebreather diving.

Then we will examine scuba divers who are not using rebreathers and attempt to determine how likely they are to dive with a rebreather one day, what has prevented them from doing so already, and what would encourage them to make the transition.

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 rebreather.

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: 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” appears to be the primary driver for most current rebreather divers, who choose to dive with a rebreather, notably for its extended range and 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, according to 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 uncertain about the future of rebreather bailout.

How likely do you think that rebreather bailout (e.g., 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 the 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 the 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 by either making rebreathers safer or by better communicating their safety.

Additionally, it’s interesting to note that the logistics of diving with a rebreather appear to be as important as the cost itself. 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 primary reason rebreathers have not yet captured a larger market share.

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 diving system suitable for all.
It’s less about the safety and more about 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 dominate the recreational diving world due to their complexity. But it will definitely remain the primary tool for Technical diving. Tech divers have the discipline to be methodical in their diving.

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 previously dived 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: 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 drive current rebreather divers to dive with a rebreather appear similar to those listed as potentially influential by current divers who are not already using 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 require decompression and is limited to the one-hour time limit set by the dive boat captain will need other, more compelling 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.

Video Summary & Thoughts

Who answered the survey on the future of rebreathers in scuba diving?

942 scuba divers participated 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:

1.2%: 18–24
14.4%: 25–34
33.5%: 35–44
29.4%: 45–54
17.0%: 55–64
4.4%: 65 and over

Have a look at more scuba diving market research, surveys, reports & statistics in Your Dive Industry Compass.

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Survey Results: The Future of Rebreathers in Scuba Diving