The 1996 Tek.Asia Conference – supported by its own magazine, ‘tec asia’, distributed to subscribers of Asian Diver Magazine – re-introduced rebreathers to the Asian market.

While interest in rebreathers and their capabilities was high, only three machines were realistically available to the Recreational/Technical diving market: The CCR155, by Biomarine, USA; The Atlantis 1, SCR, by DraegerDive; and the Fieno, SCR, by Grand Bleu, in Japan. {Military-only manufacturers then in production included; Carleton Technologies, (USA); Divex, (UK); Fullerton/Sherwood (Canada), and Interspiro AGA (Sweden)}.

However, models announced for 1997, were: Buddy Inspiration, by AP Valves (UK); CCR500, by Biomarine (USA); CCR2000, by Aura, (USA); MK5P, Cis-Lunar Labs (USA); Cochrane Closed Circuit Rebreather, Cochrane Consulting (USA); Halcyon, (USA); Topaz CCR, Steam Machines, (USA), and the CCR’s, UT240, UT180, UT90, from Undersea Technologies (USA).

Stuart Clough and UB240 CCR at 1996 ADEC Show

Making its international debut at the TekAsia Conference – held in conjunction with the 1996 ADEC Show atSingapore’s World Trade Centre in May of that year – the UT240 was a computer-controlled, self-mixing, fully closed circuit rebreather that automatically maintained the partial pressure of oxygen at 1.45 bar regardless of depth.

Designed by Stuart Clough, Director of Research & Development for U.S. based, Undersea Technologies, (and the man earlier involved with the development of the ‘Phibian’ rebreather) the recommended maximum depth limits when using the UT240 were 50-metres when using air as the diluent gas, or 100 metres when using helium – although the unit had been tested to twice that depth.

The unit was priced at US$15,000.00.

—ENDS—

Categories: History