A back plate for a breathing apparatus comprises a back plate frame for supporting a cylinder of breathable gas; and a pressure reduction valve configured to receive breathing gas from a cylinder of breathable gas; and a resiliently deformable element configured to support the pressure reduction valve on the back plate frame so as to permit relative movement between the pressure reduction valve and the back plate frame.

A harness may be used to carry a breathable air system. Generally, the harness may comprise at least one shoulder strap and a plurality of attachments configured to attach the at least one shoulder strap to the breathable air system. Additionally, the plurality of attachments may allow the breathable air system to be configured into a plurality of strap configurations. For example, the plurality of strap configurations may include a hip configuration, a waist configuration, a leg configuration, and/or a back configuration. In some configurations, an additional/accessory strap may be used to more securely carry the breathable air system in the plurality of strap configurations.

There is disclosed a harness for breathing apparatus comprising a structural support member for supporting a vessel of breathable gas, a waist belt, and a pivot joint mechanism coupling the structural support member to the waist belt. The pivot joint mechanism comprises a release part which is movable to decouple the structural support member from the waist belt.

A backrest for a scuba diver comprising a shaped plate supporting at least one air cylinder, at least a first strap comprising an upper right portion configured to fit around the scuba diver's right shoulder, an upper left portion configured to fit around the scuba diver's left shoulder and a lower portion configured to fit around the scuba diver's abdomen, wherein the shaped plate has a first right slide-through element and a first left slide-through element adapted to connect the upper right portion and the upper left portion, respectively, to the lower portion of the first strap, at least one weight pocket constrained to the lower portion of the first strap, wherein there is provided an anti-torsion means connecting the at least one weight pocket to the shaped plate and configured to oppose the torsion of the first strap in proximity to at least one of the first slide-through elements.

A carrying system is provided for use with breathing apparatus. The carrying system includes a backplate and a plurality of straps adapted to hold the backplate on the back of a user when the carrying system is worn. The backplate includes at least one plate of a plastics material. The at least one plate having a predetermined shape and the at least one plate being adapted to provide impact protection to a user during use by at least partially absorbing and/or dispersing impact forces, and to deform resiliency in response to external forces imposed by bending and/or twisting of a user during use and return substantially to its predetermined shape when not subjected to an external force.

An underwater recreation system for diving instruction and method of its use. The method includes providing a series of learning steps with diving techniques and instructions to practice at incrementally deeper depths and providing a surface floating depth limitation device that restricts the learning user to the particular maximum depth of their learning step. The apparatus for carrying out the method of diving instruction includes a surface floating depth limitation device with the means to connect to the breathing hose of a surface supplied air supply.

A buoyancy compensator jacket for scuba diving includes an inflatable and deflatable bladder; a backplate part, to which the bladder and elements fastening at least one breathing gas cylinder are attached; and at least one pair of shoulder straps for securing it to the torso of a user and at least one ventral securing strap or ventral closure of the jacket. The jacket further includes a sternal securing element composed of at least one sternal or chest strap, which has at least one costal connection element distinct from the pair of shoulder straps and connecting the sternal strap to the backplate part.

A buoyancy compensator jacket for scuba diving includes an inflatable and deflatable bladder; a backplate part, to which the bladder and elements fastening at least one breathing gas cylinder are attached; and at least one pair of shoulder straps for securing it to the torso of a user and at least one ventral securing strap or ventral closure of the jacket. The jacket further includes a sternal securing element composed of at least one sternal or chest strap, which has at least one costal connection element distinct from the pair of shoulder straps and connecting the sternal strap to the backplate part.

A support for a breathing apparatus including a cylinder cradle with a retaining surface for retaining a cylinder of compressed gas and a cylinder glider including a gliding element, the gliding element configured to support the cylinder above the retaining surface, wherein the cylinder glider is longitudinally separated from the retaining surface of the cylinder cradle.

Disclosed is a support frame for a breathing apparatus comprising a cylinder cradle for supporting a compressed gas cylinder, a cylinder-retaining strap having a first end secured to the support frame at a first fixing point and a second end adjustably secured to the cylinder-retaining strap between the first and second ends, wherein the adjustable strap loop is secured to a second fixing point so as to form an effective strap length between the first and second fixing points, and a releasable third fixing point, wherein the effective strap length is adjustable by adjusting a position of the second end along the strap to thereby adjust a size of the adjustable strap loop, and releasably securing the adjustable strap loop to the third fixing point.