How much does an Evolution cost?

A better wording of the question might be 'How much does it cost to switch from an open-circuit diver to an Evolution CCR diver?' A complete ready-to-dive Evolution nitrox unit with cylinders, harness and wing is about $10,000 and to this you might add: off board bailout about $500, and initial stock of consumables about $300. Training, particularly if travel is required, will be a significant cost. We suggest planning on a total amount from $12,000 to $14,000. These are estimates, the total could be less or more depending on what suitable equipment you already have and what additional equipment you might choose to purchase.

How long does it take to get an Evolution rebreather?

APD Evolution rebreathers, along with all options, accessories and spares are usually in-stock for immediate shipment and also available for local pickup at Fill Express, our local dive shop in Pompano Beach, Florida. Occasionally, demand or logistics will cause brief stock-outs of the base Evolution unit but delays beyond 30 days are very rare.

How much does the Evolution training cost?

There is wide variation in CCR training costs due to a variety of factors, although location is often a major influence. At Fill Express the cost is $1500 for instruction only. Fill Express also offers an all inclusive version which includes the cost of pool rental, consumables, teaching materials, boat charters, and so on for a price of $2000. There is a very geographically diverse group of instructors and you might have an Inspiration/Evolution instructor in your local area. If you prefer to learn about your Inspiration/Evolution at Fill Express, training can be organized to accommodate your schedule and rebreather courses run every month.

What is the difference between the Inspiration and Evolution-Plus?

The most significant difference between the Inspiration and Evolution-Plus is size; the Evolution case is about a third smaller. This means the Evolution gas supply cylinders are a little smaller. As a result, a fully configured and ready-to-dive Evolution weighs approximately 54 pounds vs 65 pounds for the Inspiration. Other than these differences, the two rebreather models are functionally identical. They use the exact same Vision electronics head. Other than hose lengths, they have the same breathing loop components including the counterlungs. They also use the same weight integrated harness and wing. Because of it's more compact size, the Evolution is the more popular model.

How much does Evolution routine maintenance cost?

You should budget routine maintenance costs of approximately $500 annually. APD recommends that the hose o-rings, scrubber canister o-rings, scrims, and three oxygen sensors be replaced annually. They also recommend the DSV and first stage regulators be serviced every 12 months or 100 dives. You will also need to replenish minor consumables such as lubricant and disinfectant from the annual maintenance budget.

How much do the Evolution consumables cost?

As with all rebreathers, the major consumable cost is CO2 absorbent. An Evolution absorbent canister refill is about $20 and typically can be used for several dives, but there are other smaller costs such as batteries and gas fills. Keep in mind that for open-circuit and rebreather divers, consumables costs are usually insignificant in relationship to the investment in the equipment, training and other diving costs such as boat charters and travel.

What about the possibility of a 'caustic cocktail' with the Evolution?

Inhaling a mixture of CO2 absorbent and water while diving with an Evolution is very unlikely. The Evolution is a modern CCR design that includes several features to manage and remove water from the breathing loop. The 'caustic cocktail' is a concern from an earlier era of rebreather diving that has been overly dramatized, akin to the concern new divers express regarding 'shark attack'.

Does the Evolution have a CO2 monitor?

No. As a practical matter, there may be little value to detecting CO2 already in the loop as it could be too late to warn the diver in time to react appropriately. The Vision Electronics does have a device called the 'Temp-Stik'. This technology monitors the temperature of the granular absorbent. Some divers use the temperature monitor to help predict the useful life of the scrubber pack. The temperature monitor does not provide any information or warning regarding actual CO2 levels in the breathing loop.

How available is the Evolution CO2 absorbent?

Molecular Products, the UK manufacturer of the Sofnolime CO2 absorbent, has several strategically located warehouse distribution centers. In the global economy, absorbents are sold and shipped all over the world. As a result, supply logistics for absorbent is becoming less of an issue. The number of dive shops that stock absorbent is consistently growing, and you can always order on-line to be delivered to your door or directly to your travel destination.

Is a cartridge absorbent option available for the Evolution?

The Extendair EP cartridge will not fit in the Evolution canister and while an adapter exists for the Inspiration/Evolution-Plus canister, the scrubber has gas flow characteristics optimized exclusively for granular. As a result, an APD scrubber adapted for use with cartridges has significantly shorter duration than granular. Also, the APD Temp-Stik scrubber monitor will not work with cartridge absorbents.

Does the Evolution accept a fourth Oxygen sensor?

Technical divers will be pleased to know a fourth oxygen sensor solution is available from Delta P for the Inspiration, however it will not fit in the Evolution case. An add-on Y-adapter and cable for the Delta P VR3 allows a fourth sensor O2 monitoring solution to be installed in the breathing loop without modifying your Inspiration. The additional dive computer allows independent monitoring of the fourth oxygen sensor and together with the Inspiration Vision electronics provides triple redundant monitoring of PO2, depth and time as well as dual redundant real-time decompression status.

What is the Evolution maximum dive time and depth?

Rebreathers carry many hours of breathing gas regardless of depth. The Evolution can accept auxiliary outboard plug-in gas supplies as well, so dive time is no longer limited by gas volume. As with most rebreathers, the Evolution diver is typically limited by the duration of the CO2 absorbent, so multi-hour runtime dives are routine. As with open-circuit nitrox diving, rebreather divers must also track their decompression and oxygen exposure; depending on the dive profile these may also limit the dive time. The Evolution rebreathers are suitable for diving at all sport depths and have been tested to a depth exceeding 300 feet. There are some individuals who routinely dive the unit that deep and deeper. Although the rebreather can function at depths much deeper, there are numerous additional considerations. The Inspiration and Evolution rebreathers are a popular choice for divers who wish to dive to extremes.

Does the Evolution take a long time to maintain?

Yes and No. Many rebreather sport divers, including Evolution divers, find they spend noticeably more time on equipment compared to open-circuit because the rebreather diver must always be careful and disciplined about maintenance. If you have been habitually careful with your open-circuit dive equipment and treat your equipment with respect, as an experienced Evolution sport diver you will spend only slightly more time with your closed-circuit maintenance than you did with open-circuit. In multi-dive days and multi-day diving, because the Evolution rebreather needs very little attention between each dive in a series, considerably less total time may be spent on setup and maintenance than with open-circuit.

How well does the Evolution travel?

The Evolution is used by divers who travel all over the world. The Evolution can travel in any number of configurations that best meet the needs of each diver. Some divers choose to travel with the Evolution in a large impact resistant equipment case, some travel with the unit partially disassembled in a hard sided suit case, and others fully disassemble the unit to ease packing and traveling. Regardless of the brand of rebreather it can be annoying to travel with cylinders because they are carefully examined by security personnel, and occasionally even confiscated. You may prefer to rent cylinders at the destination or ship the cylinders ahead by a package carrier.

Is the Evolution available in any color other than yellow?

The durable cover is bright yellow color to improve visibility in low light or silty conditions. In 2008, APD also introduced a limited production run of the cover in a gloss black color. Some people have aftermarket painted or otherwise personalized the cover to suit their preferences. We hear that Krylon Fusion® spray paint works well for painting the plastic cover.

How is an Evolution different from other rebreathers?

All of the major rebreather models are good quality units. There is no perfect rebreather; they all have strengths and weaknesses that make each uniquely more or less suited to your needs. Beyond the features of the rebreather itself, you should consider the supplier along with how the model was designed and has been supported. Only a very few rebreather models are supplied by large and well-established dive equipment companies. The APD Evolution is from a large dive equipment company in business over 37 years. As an independent dealer, we stock Evolution units, spares and consumables with online ordering and same day shipping.

Is the Evolution rebreather safe?

The Evolution is a tested modern electronic CCR design. One expert on recreational sport and technical diving has said closed-circuit rebreathers are safer than open-circuit for the diligent diver. No type of rebreather can be said to be categorically safer than another. The quality of training is a major factor affecting rebreather safety. No rebreather is foolproof, and the fact remains that compared to open-circuit there are a disproportionate number of rebreather fatalities; nearly all of which have been attributed to diver error. Your safety while diving is controlled by you, not by your rebreather.

Last Updated: 18-Aug-2008