Survey on Rebreather Diving: Choices, Habits & Honest Answers

Rebreather Diving: Choices, Habits & Honest Answers

(2026) This survey is ONGOING & OPEN TO ALL SCUBA DIVERS.

What draws divers to rebreathers? What keeps them diving them? What makes others decide against them? We want to hear about your experience, whether you dive with a rebreather, have stopped, or have never tried one.

This survey is part of a series of dive industry studies by InDEPTH Magazine and the Business of Diving Institute, with generous support from DAN Europe and GUE.

Answers are anonymous, and we greatly appreciate your participation!

Your participation will contribute to a better understanding of the dive industry to the benefit of all stakeholders

Tap 'Start' to participate in this short survey. You must get to 'Finish' for your answers to be recorded.

Rebreather Diving: Choices, Habits & Honest Answers

Please Note:

Answers are anonymous, and your participation will help improve understanding of the dive industry for all stakeholders.
There are no right or wrong answers. Please answer based on what you actually do or think.
In the following questions, "rebreather" includes open-circuit and closed-circuit rebreathers.

Clear Selection

Have you dived in the past 12 months?^*

1. Yes

2. No

Clear Selection

(Dived in the Last 12 Months)

What types of diving have you done in the past 12 months, on any breathing system? Select all that apply.

1. Wreck penetration

2. Cavern or cave diving

3. Open-water diving without planned decompression

4. Open-water diving with planned decompression

5. Scientific or occupational diving

Clear Selection

(All)

What is your current diving qualification or teaching status? Select all that apply.

1. Recreational open-circuit diver

2. Technical open-circuit diver

3. Rebreather diver

4. Divemaster or equivalent

5. Open-circuit instructor

6. Rebreather diving instructor

7. Instructor trainer

Clear Selection

How likely are you to dive with a rebreather in the next two years?

1. Definitely will

2. Probably will

3. Unsure

4. Probably will not

5. Definitely will not

Clear Selection

What is your biggest reservation about rebreather diving today?

1. I have no significant reservations

2. Purchase and initial training costs

3. Running and maintenance costs

4. Preparation and cleaning time

5. Equipment complexity

6. Consequences of making a mistake

7. Maintaining skills and regular practice

8. Access to training, servicing or consumables

9. Travel logistics

10. It offers little advantage for my diving

Other:

Clear Selection

Which best describes your experience with rebreathers?^*

1. I am rebreather diving certified

2. I am currently taking my first rebreather course

3. I have tried rebreather but have not started a certification course

4. I have never dived rebreather, but I am attracted to it

5. I have never dived rebreather, and I am NOT attracted to it

Clear Selection

(Rebreather Certified)

Are you an active rebreather diver or inactive?^*

1. Active (I dived rebreather in the last 12 months)

2. Inactive (I didn't dive rebreather in the last 12 months)

Clear Selection

Please Note:

If you are a former or inactive rebreather diver, please answer the experience questions about your most recent period of rebreather diving.

Clear Selection

Approximately how many hours have you spent diving rebreather in total?

1. Fewer than 50

2. 50–199

3. 200–499

4. 500–999

5. 1,000–1,999

6. 2,000 or more

Clear Selection

Approximately how many rebreather dives have you completed in the past 12 months?

1. None

2. 1–10

3. 11-25

4. 26-50

5. 51-100

6. More than 100

Clear Selection

Which rebreather make and model do you dive most often? If you no longer dive rebreather, name your last primary unit.

Clear Selection

What had the greatest influence on your choice of that unit?

1. Its suitability for my intended dives

2. An instructor’s recommendation

3. What my buddies or team use

4. Local servicing and support

5. Purchase price or a used-equipment opportunity

6. Comfort, fit or configuration

7. Its control and monitoring systems

8. Manufacturer reputation

9. Availability to try it before buying

Other:

Clear Selection

If you were choosing again today, with no financial penalty for changing, would you choose the same unit?

1. Definitely yes

2. Probably yes

3. Unsure

4. Probably not

5. Definitely not

6. I would choose not to dive rebreather

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How well did your initial rebreather course prepare you for your first dives after certification?

1. Very well

2. Fairly well

3. Neither well nor poorly

4. Fairly poorly

5. Very poorly

6. I have not yet dived rebreather outside training

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When did you last deliberately practise rebreather diving emergency procedures in the water?

1. Within the past month

2. More than one month ago, but within three months

3. More than three months ago, but within six months

4. More than six months ago, but within 12 months

5. More than 12 months ago

6. Never since my initial rebreather course

Clear Selection

During your most recent period of rebreather diving, how often did you use a written or electronic checklist when preparing your unit?

1. Every time

2. Most times

3. Sometimes

4. Rarely

5. Never

Clear Selection

Have you ever entered the water knowing that a required pre-dive check was incomplete?

1. Yes, once

2. Yes, more than once

3. No

Clear Selection

Have you ever cancelled a rebreather dive before entering the water because of a concern about your unit?

1. Yes, once

2. Yes, more than once

3. No

Clear Selection

Outside a planned training exercise, have you ever switched from your rebreather to a bailout breathing system during a dive?

1. Yes, once

2. Yes, more than once

3. No

Clear Selection

Have you ever continued a rebreather dive despite an equipment warning or unusual behaviour that you could not explain at the time?

1. Yes, once

2. Yes, more than once

3. No

Clear Selection

Has the money or effort invested in a trip ever made you less willing to cancel a rebreather dive?

1. Yes, but I cancelled the dive anyway

2. Yes, and I went ahead with the dive

3. This has happened on different occasions, with both outcomes

4. No

Clear Selection

Have you ever wanted to question another rebreather diver’s preparation but stayed quiet?
If several occasions apply, answer about the most recent.

1. Yes, because they were more experienced or senior

2. Yes, because I was unsure whether something was actually wrong

3. Yes, because I wanted to avoid conflict or embarrassment

4. Yes, for another reason

5. No—I raised the concern

6. I have not been in this situation

Clear Selection

If you experienced a rebreather equipment problem or close call, how comfortable would you feel describing your own actions in a report shared with the diving community?

1. Very comfortable

2. Somewhat comfortable

3. Neither comfortable nor uncomfortable

4. Somewhat uncomfortable

5. Very uncomfortable

Clear Selection

If open-circuit breathing gas were free and readily available, how would that affect your rebreather use?

1. I would stop diving rebreather

2. I would dive rebreather less

3. No effect: I would dive rebreather about as much or more

4. I would not return to rebreather diving

Clear Selection

Compared with what you expected before your first rebreather course, how has rebreather diving affected your enjoyment of diving?

1. Much more positively than expected

2. Somewhat more positively than expected

3. About as expected

4. Somewhat less positively than expected

5. Much less positively than expected

6. I had no clear expectations

Clear Selection

Have you ever made a rebreather dive that was beyond your training, knowing it at the time?

1. Yes, once

2. Yes, more than once

3. No

4. I was unsure whether the dive was within my training

Clear Selection

If you have ever described a rebreather incident in a way that left out a mistake you made, what was the main reason? If several occasions apply, answer about the most recent.

1. To avoid embarrassment

2. Because I did not think the mistake mattered

3. For another reason

4. I never did

Clear Selection

Have you ever publicly recommended a rebreather unit while privately having serious reservations about it?

1. Yes, and I had a commercial relationship with the brand

2. Yes, without a commercial relationship with the brand

3. No

4. I have never publicly recommended a CCR unit

Clear Selection

Have you ever decided not to dive with someone again because of how they operated their rebreather? If several occasions apply, answer about the most recent.

1. Yes, and I told them why

2. Yes, but I did not tell them why

3. No, although I have considered it

4. No, I have never felt the need

Clear Selection

What is the hardest truth about your own rebreather diving that you would hesitate to say in front of your buddies or students? Please do not name other people.

Clear Selection

(Attracted)

What most attracts or originally attracted you to rebreather diving? Select all that apply.

1. Longer dives

2. Lower breathing-gas costs for the dives I want to do

3. Decompression advantages

4. Getting closer to wildlife

5. Quiet, bubble-free diving

6. Access to particular sites or projects

7. The technical challenge

8. Diving with friends or teammates who use rebreathers

9. Professional or teaching opportunities

Other:

Clear Selection

Wrapping Up

Please remember...

Please remember to get to the "Finish" button (below) for your answers to be recorded.Thank you for your contribution to a better understanding of the dive industry!

Clear Selection

What is one thing about rebreather diving you wish people discussed more openly?

Clear Selection

Please, select the group that includes your year of birth.

1. 1901-1927 (The Greatest Generation)

2. 1928-1945 (The Silent Generation)

3. 1946-1954 (Boomers I)

4. 1955-1964 (Boomers II/Generation Jones)

5. 1965-1980 (Generation X)

6. 1981-1996 (Millennials)

7. 1997-2012 (Generation Z)

Clear Selection

In which region is your country of residence?

1. United States (including AK & HI)

2. Canada

3. Mexico, Central America, Caribbean, Tropical Atlantic

4. South America

5. Western Europe (never part of the Soviet bloc)

6. Eastern Europe (former Soviet bloc, including Russia)

7. Australia, New Zealand

8. China, Hong Kong, Macau

9. Japan, Other Non-Tropical Asia-Pacific Region

10. South Pacific, Indo-Pacific, Other Tropical Asia-Pacific Region (incl. Maldives)

11. Egypt

12. Middle East (excluding Egypt)

13. Africa, Madagascar

Clear Selection

To which gender do you most identify?

1. Female

2. Male

3. Non-binary / Other / Unsure / Prefer Not To Say

Clear Selection

Exit

Please note: You must get to the ‘FINISH‘ button for your answers to be recorded.

Thank you for your contribution to a better understanding of the dive industry for everyone’s benefit. You’re awesome! Dive safe!