{"id":8439,"date":"2022-06-20T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-20T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.underwatertales.net\/2022\/06\/20\/mares-horizon\/"},"modified":"2022-07-13T11:19:19","modified_gmt":"2022-07-13T09:19:19","slug":"mares-horizon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.underwatertales.net\/en\/2022\/06\/20\/mares-horizon\/","title":{"rendered":"Mares Horizon"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Mares Horizon: a revolutionary way to go underwater. My feelings after the Try Horizon, my test with the Horizon on my shoulders. Perfect simplicity, noise relief. Immersed in silence I was just an observer.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

May 2022, Isola delle Femmine (Pa)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The long awaited moment of the \u201cTRY HORIZON<\/strong>\u201d has finally arrived for me and my dearest buddies Silvia, Rosalba, Francesca, Mariateresa and Martina, at Diving Center Saracen<\/a> together with our instructor Tony<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"Mares<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Mares<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

We are ready to try the  Mares Horizon SCR<\/a> and we expect more than one test. To be able to live a wonderful experience<\/strong>, capable of upsetting our way of diving<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An exhaustive theoretical lesson<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The test began with a very interesting and comprehensive theoretical lesson<\/strong>. Tony described to us with great skill (and a lot of patience …!) the different components of the Mares Horizon<\/strong><\/a> and clearly explains the function of each of them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After more than two hours of very fruitful chats<\/strong>, we have a more global vision of this equipment and its great potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"Mares<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Mares<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

My first reflections<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In fact, since I started to get interested in the semi-closed HORIZON<\/a> circuit a few months ago, I was immediately attracted by its versatility<\/strong>, as it is very intuitive<\/strong> and suitable for any type of diver<\/strong>, recreational or technical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In my opinion, the MARES HORIZON<\/a> is first and foremost suitable for us, women: 12 kg against the 40 kg of a bi-cylinder<\/strong>… that’s no small feat!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A non-negligible difference for the back of even the most trained divers!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, being very light and compact, it can be taken anywhere without much effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"Mares<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Mares<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Horizon in my opinion<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Before moving towards the heart of today’s topic, I would like to specify that I will leave out too technical aspects in relation to the design and operation of the HORIZON<\/a> (while not remaining superficial …!) In order to focus on this exciting experience I lived in our beautiful natural gym of Isola delle Femmine<\/a>, a few steps away from the Diving Center Saracen<\/a> with shoes, focusing on our feelings of \u201cbubble-free\u201d divers!<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Promising simplicity, so that the user can concentrate on something else, the Mares Horizon <\/a>rebreather<\/a><\/em> looks like a rigid “backpack<\/strong>” to which one or two Nitrox cylinders<\/strong> are added in sidemount mode, on the sides.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Mares<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Attractive and well finished, the first thing that surprises, and that differentiates it from other rebreathers, is <\/strong>certainly its weight<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those who are used to CCR rebreathers or have already approached them know that they are a rather heavy equipment and not necessarily easy to handle, that is, they require considerable technical and theoretical preparation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here it is quite the opposite! In the sense that all the drawbacks of the RAC seem to disappear!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Horizon consists of…<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

The HORIZON consists of a harness<\/strong> and a unit<\/strong> that contains all the electronics<\/strong>, the O\u00b2 sensors<\/strong> and two canisters<\/strong>. In which a so-called fixing material<\/strong> is inserted. ” scrubber “(Sofnolime 797) whose function is to remove carbon dioxide from the exhaled gas.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Mares<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

To this, simply add a 7l tank<\/strong> loaded with a Nitrox blend with a minimum FO\u00b2 of 30%<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Given its lightness, the addition of a ballast is essential for correct weighing. However, the appropriate steel backrest can be found online. Handcrafted which, being heavier, allows you to reduce the weight on the belt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Mares HORIZON<\/a> rebreather is one of the so-called semi-closed rebreathers. As it partially recycles the inspired gas, therefore, the regular and constant injection of gas is necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First of all, it is necessary to remember the concept of “metabolic rate” that is the quantity of oxygen consumed every minute. It is unaffected by changes in depth and is therefore constant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While in an open circuit, gas consumption varies with depth (Boyle-Mariotte’s<\/a> law), in an SCR this variation does not occur. Part of the injected O\u00b2 is constantly consumed and we breathe in the new gas a few times before discharging it.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Mares<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
An active power SCR<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

The Mares Horizon is therefore an actively powered SCR with variable flow rates depending on the feed gas and the metabolic rate of its user.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This system therefore makes it possible to maintain the desired fraction of O\u00b2 in the breathing loop<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The system constantly injects Nitrox into the loop and the inert gases are not metabolized. Any excess gas will be discharged from the Over-pressure Valve (OPV) with the aim of maintaining an adequate pressure within the loop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is important to specify that, even if the bubbles are periodically issued by the unit, their size remains negligible. They flee from the back, they can be heard, but they cannot be seen from the user.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without diminishing the merit of those who developed the Mares Horizon SCR, it can be said that diving management with the Horizon rebreather is very similar to that with a classic open circuit tank. Indeed, they have managed to make a cutting-edge technology (rEvo<\/a>) intelligible and usable, until now reserved for niche users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, regardless of learning a new equipment, like a new computer, the principle of the SCR HORIZON is not much more complex to understand than diving with Nitrox!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In light of all this, it seems undisputed that it is not necessary to be a great expert in order to understand its correct functioning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vuoi il mio libro con dedica personalizzata?<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n
\n
\"20-Sfumatre-di-blu\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

A bit of history<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The first rebreather was designed, developed and patented in England by Henry Albert Fleuss<\/em> in 1878.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the time, this equipment was used by professional divers. For the purposes of rescue and military sabotage and anti-sabotage operations carried out during the Second World War.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this regard, we can mention interventions that took place in 1880, such as the explosion in the Seaham<\/a> coal mine or the flooding of the Severn<\/a> tunnel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the 1950s, several SCR models entered the market. And the first “recreational” SCRs appeared at the end of this decade: Drager’s Dolphin, Azimuth or Hollis Explorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Main function of the SCR system<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The concept is based on the principle according to which our lungs use only a fraction of the oxygen that we inspire with each respiratory act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, our body consumes only 4% of the oxygen present in the inspired air. So each breath allows you to accumulate an amount of O\u00b2 necessary for several successive breaths before having to eliminate the carbon dioxide<\/em> accumulated in the lung sac of our Reb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, its main function is to recycle the exhaled CO\u00b2 (in the exhalation lung bag), through the so-called “fixing system”. In order to continue its path towards the CO\u00b2-free inhalation lung sac, thus avoiding any symptoms of hypercapnia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, by constantly adding a small amount of a gas rich in O\u00b2 (minimum 5l \/ min) to the “breathing circuit”, it is possible to repeat the breathing act several times. With only gas present in the inhalation lung bag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advantages of the Horizon<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In addition to a low weight<\/em>, the ease of use<\/strong> represents the second strong point of the Horizon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The electronic system designed with the help of rEvo technology<\/em> undoubtedly makes it a life support equipment for the user. Providing it with clear and important information in relation to all its features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
Il mio corso rEvo<\/a><\/blockquote>