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Marc, Diluent is added to the counterlung in the BioMarine units via a Schrader valve that is actuated ONLY when the lung collapses due to increased water pressure, or intentional evacuation of gas in the counterlung by the diver. There is no diluent solenoid, for none is needed. Essentially, if your diluent gas is properly mixed for the depth you expect to attain (i.e. gas ppO2 = setpoint of O2 at maximum depth), you can never exceed your set point of ppO2 by adding just diluent to the counterlung. Oxygen, on the other hand, must be regulated carefully, and its addition controlled - both by the machine, and the diver. In the machine, this is handled by the electronic solenoid. On the diver, this is handled by your thumb on the manual add valve, and your eyes looking at your secondary display so you don't add too much. The inherent beauty of a well-designed rebreather (such as the BioMarine) is that they came up with a system that literally gives the diver minutes to hours to work around a particular system failure - that is, if the diver was properly trained, did the required maintenance, and isn't a total dumb ass. Open circuit gives you seconds to get out of a jam, which requires proper training, required maintenance, and you can't be a total dumb ass either. The difference really boils down to the kind of diving you are going to be doing, and the requirements of the dive. These cavers do unbelieveable shit with open circuit - some rebreather divers are doing unbelieveable shit with rebreathers. Me, I'm just havin' fun. Kevin HeyyDude.
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