Is there a physiological benefit to diving with a rebreather?
Yes, there is a physiological benefit at least with a constant pO2 rebreather. If you maintain a constant higher pO2 than you would have during an open curcuit dive, you will absorb less Nitrogen into the body. This can lessen the chance of DCS relative to open circuit on the same dive profile. Of course you need to be more aware of CNS toxicity when diving a closed-curcuit rebreather due to the higher exposures to O2 . Semi-closed rebreathers do not generally have the same physiological benefits, because the do not maintain a constant pO2.
