At Divetech we love the KISS Orca Spirit rebreather. What’s not to love? It’s a fully capable trimix rebreather that weighs less than 40 lbs ready to dive. It packs in a carry-on legal suitcase, it’s simple, it’s streamlined. And it just works. However for those new to rebreather, or even experienced rebreather divers, the layout of the KISS might be tough to understand over the internet. This diagram and the video below is intended to provide those interested with a bit more information on the layout of the KISS Spirit and KISS Sidewinder rebreathers. Please remember, this diagram is a digital rendering. As such some of the parts and fittings are not exact representations. This diagram is meant to give an overview.
Offboard diluent and bailout tank with 1st stage regulator. Not pictured (for clarity) is the 2nd stage regulator and SPG.
Unit feed hose with high-flow quick disconnect.
Diluent feed hose
PO2 monitoring computer. Shown is a hardwired Shearwater Petrel, but there are many options including a NERD, 4-pin and Fischer cables.
Loop hose
Inhale head with over-pressure-valve.
Wing or BCD inflation hose
Mouthpiece. This can be a standard DSV or a number of bail-out-valve options.
Exhale head with Automatic Diluent Valve. This head is also where the oxygen input gets routed.
Oxygen manual addition valve with mass flow orifice. There are several options available for this, the most basic is shown.
Sensor pod with 3 molex-style galvanic oxygen sensors.
Inhale scrubber
Diluent manifold. A 2-gas Y-block is shown, but others are available as the requirements for diluent change. For example if a BOV is used, the diver would switch to a 3-gas manifold.
Exhale scrubber.
Counterlung. Both the Spirit and the Sidewinder use a one-piece counterlung that also serves as a manifold to connect the 2 canisters. The width of the counterlung varies by unit. The Spirit uses a narrow manifold, while the Sidewinder uses a wide one. Both unit lungs are about 8 liters in volume. The lung shown not an actual lung, it is merely an illustration for photographic clarity.
The oxygen tank with fixed IP 1st stage regulator.
The KISS Spirit and KISS Sidewinder are essentially the same rebreather. The main difference of course is that the Spirit is the "back mount" unit with the scrubbers mounted on the diver's back. The Sidewinder is the "sidemount" unit with the scrubbers mounted on the diver's sides. The different configurations of course require a different wing, harness, counterlungs, and low pressure hose routing, but aside from that, the units are identical in function.
There are a number of different part options, and many ways divers will configure their actual units. This layout is the basic configuration.