It is with great pleasure that the CEDU Recognize and Present the "Honors of the Association"  Award to the following individual for outstanding achievement in the Design, Construction and Use of HomeBuilt Closed Circuit Rebreathing Apparatuses.

        Without instruction, coaching, reverse engineering or plagiarism, the above named individual has designed, built, dived, and shared his enthusiasm and dive toys with friends, family, and the world at large.

CEDU Honors of the Association

    This CEDU Honors of the Association is presented to Stan Henning of Fortuna, CA.

    Stan Henning took the plunge and joined the ranks of CEDU Honorees by successfully building and diving his Manual Control Mixed Gas Closed Circuit Rebreather.

    As can be seen in the images below, excellence in engineering design, layout, and construction, has been accomplished.

    Stan says that he became certified on open circuit in 1974 at that wonderful age of 15.  That was in the days when you had to pester a dive instructor to convince them that  you were not too young to dive.  He finally convinced his instructor Bob Mosbarger... and has never stopped being fascinated with diving, and diving equipment since.

    He designed his unit specifically for the type of diving that he does,
                "forty to fifty feet... and with plenty of bottom time."

    Except for Mark Monroe's PPO2 display Stan says that "everything is completely off-the-shelf, and was built or installed with ordinary tools..."

    The counter lung is an inner tube from a pick up truck-tire. The scrubber unit and it's surrounding case, as well as the tank mounts and counterlung enclosure are sewer pipe pvc from the local plumbing store.  The hoses from the addition valves to the loop are BC inflation hoses that are attached to a modified BC inflation valves   He used two first stage regulators from open circuit rigs to cut the initial pressure from the tank down to the loop.  At a local welding supplier he bought welding respirator masks, and used the check valves from them, (and some more pvc plumbing parts) to manufacture his mouthpiece.   He purchased breathing hoses from Oxycheck and obtained a transfer whip from Northwest Scuba.

    Stan has over thirty years of diving experience, and is Nitrox certified.  He adds that he  found Vance Harlow's book "Oxygen Hacker's Companion" to be a valuable resource.

    Stan was able to gather a lot of good technical information from various websites.   It was also through his searching that he discovered the Crestline Experimental Dive Unit.  And offered a "Thanks to CEDU and Dr. Bob for constant encouragement..."

    Stan, you are more than welcome.  It gives me more pleasure than you can imagine knowing people like you out there that have the desire, motivation, dedication, focus, ability to gather new knowledge and apply that new knowledge in the accomplishment of a personal goal.    You were able to identify your mission requirements, design your unit, acquire necessary materials and components, construct it, test it, solve problems and re-engineer as required to ultimately produce a product which successfully met your mission requirements.  No doubt you may eventually refine your unit by adding such things as a DSV and an automatic oxygen addition system.  But you built your very own rebreather and you are diving it!   Congratulations,   You accomplished your Mission.  Now enjoy the rewards.

For your achievement this "Honors of the Association" is presented.

  Stan Henning diving the Van Duzen River.

 
 
 
 

    Congratulations Stan Henning,
        may all your diving be safe and fun.
 
 

                        Respectfully Submitted,
                        Robert Iannello, DDS
                        Director, CEDU
                        June 2004
 
 

                                (P.S. Welcome to the CEDU)
 
 
 
 

(And now a word  from our sponsor.....)

        Please note that all items seen on  these pages that come into contact with high pressure oxygen have been Oxygen Cleaned, Oxygen Converted, Oxygen Compatible or Designed for Oxygen use.
        You will be in for a rude awakening if you connect a scuba first stage to a high pressure oxygen tank; the rubber/nitrile o-ring(s),  internal lubricating grease, moving potentially spark generating parts,  and other contaminants are all potential sources of heat / inigition / fuel which can have catastrophic consequences in a high pressure oxygen environment.
        Building Rebreathers are a fun hobby, but it can also be fatal even before you make it to the pond.

OSHA States:
         "Compressed oxygen cannot be used in a device designed for compressed air because minute amounts of oil or other foreign matter in the device components can cause an explosion."  In fact, 30 CFR 11 prohibits certification of any device designed to permit interchangeable use of oxygen and air.
        It is an accepted safety rule that:  OXYGEN NEVER BE USED IN A DEVICE UNLESS IT IS SPECIFICALLY  DESIGNED FOR THAT PURPOSE.