Always great too see how high quality products are made. The effort is definitely reflected in the price like you say, but theres a valid reason... theyre worth it!
All of the parts for the production rebreathers are now built in Poland by the company that owns XDEEP. Mike (i.e. KISS USA) is the USA distributor. He does final assembly, QC, and shipping out to customers in the USA.
Love the behind the scene video, question...ive heard different stories about who owns KISS, Mike obviously has a lot to do with it but ive heard Patrick Widmann, from Protec in Tulum, also hold "stock" in the company. Could you clear up this so i can tell my fellow cave divers down hear in MX the right story. Thanks and look forward to your next video.
Mike sold KISS to Darkwater, the company that also owns XDEEP. All of the parts for the production rebreathers are now built in Poland. They tooled up to produce the units at a very high level of precision--and the KISS rebreathers they are making are outstanding quality. Mike is the is the USA distributor (His company is now called KISS USA). For any units sold in America, he does final assembly, QC, and shipping out to customers/instructors. Hope that clears it up. You might wonder why Mike sold the company in the first place? Mike likes inventing new stuff and cave diving. The sidewinder was so wildly successful that it surpassed his ability to keep up with the demand. So the solution was to bring in a larger company to handle production, so he could focus on what he really likes to do--invent new stuff and go cave diving!!
There's a lot more people there then what you normally see from the dive talk videos. I'm guessing dive talk goes on a weekend. Do they still make new KISS Classic parts there?
All of the parts for the production rebreathers are now built in Poland by the company that owns XDEEP. Mike (i.e. KISS USA) is the USA distributor. He does final assembly, QC, and shipping out to customers in the USA.
A question about rebreathers: I've been watching a lot of high altitude mountaineering content, why is there not a rebreather system for climbing everest/ K2? Climbers go through tons of oxygen bottles and they don't even get all the oxygen they need climbing at 28,000+ feet on everest. A rebreather for them could be literally lifesaving, and they have tons of money so they could obviously pay for it.
The most important machine in that factory? The printer that spits our your checklist (I'd like to think this comment would make Mike proud. Use your checklists, kids).
All of the parts for the production rebreathers are now built in Poland by the company that owns XDEEP. Mike (i.e. KISS USA) is the USA distributor. He does final assembly, QC, and shipping out to customers in the USA.
Yes, KISS rebreathers are now built in Poland by the company that owns XDEEP. They invested heavily into high end manufacturing and the quality is excellent. Mike is the USA distributor of KISS, so any units sold in the USA go to him for final assembly, QC and shipping out to the customer/instructor. I probably should have explained that in the video. He still maintains his shop to work on side projects and he is always innovating new products, like the forthcoming GO rebreather.
If ya’ll could contact the sidemount BCD manufacturers and ask them to please drop the ridiculous crotch strap in favor of leg loops, I’d really appreciate it. ✌️
@@BlueWorldplusYah, X-Deep has switched to leg loops on the Zen and the Ghost. I think they know what they are doing. I’m holding out on buying a sidemount BCD currently because I want leg loops. And with my luck, I’d pay $800 and then a few months later the manufacturers will switch to producing leg loop units. 😂 It just makes sense. The crotch strap is more of a chafe point. Cave divers will complain about the potential snag hazard. Let them wear crotch straps. Not all sidemount divers are cave divers. 🤷
Anything brought to us by Mike Young or Jonathan Bird is stimulating, educational, and inspiring. Their passion makes other people passionate.
Always great too see how high quality products are made. The effort is definitely reflected in the price like you say, but theres a valid reason... theyre worth it!
Mike is so interasting. I love listening to every single of his appearances
What a treat to spend time there !!
Two legends!
Amazing to see this craftmanship from raw to end product.
Just an amazing group of people. Mike is a legend and so are you Jonathan. Hello Ben!!
Diving with Mike in a few weeks. Can't wait!!
That was amazing!! 🥲 thank you guys!
Awesome American company thanks Mike and crew
@Navy1977 OH wow thanks for sharing
All of the parts for the production rebreathers are now built in Poland by the company that owns XDEEP. Mike (i.e. KISS USA) is the USA distributor. He does final assembly, QC, and shipping out to customers in the USA.
That vietnam era re-breather was awesome. I wonder how those were put together, and how they have advanced over the years
Awesome!!
Very impressive
Ayeee way to go Ben, repping KUR!
very good!
I love the contrast between Jonathan's excited outwardly bubbly extraverted nature vs Mike Young's reserved introverted stoic nature 😂
How do i get the canisters plug? It doesn’t come with the unit I guess cause I haven’t got any
Love the behind the scene video, question...ive heard different stories about who owns KISS, Mike obviously has a lot to do with it but ive heard Patrick Widmann, from Protec in Tulum, also hold "stock" in the company. Could you clear up this so i can tell my fellow cave divers down hear in MX the right story. Thanks and look forward to your next video.
Mike is not the owner any more
Mike sold KISS to Darkwater, the company that also owns XDEEP. All of the parts for the production rebreathers are now built in Poland. They tooled up to produce the units at a very high level of precision--and the KISS rebreathers they are making are outstanding quality. Mike is the is the USA distributor (His company is now called KISS USA). For any units sold in America, he does final assembly, QC, and shipping out to customers/instructors. Hope that clears it up. You might wonder why Mike sold the company in the first place? Mike likes inventing new stuff and cave diving. The sidewinder was so wildly successful that it surpassed his ability to keep up with the demand. So the solution was to bring in a larger company to handle production, so he could focus on what he really likes to do--invent new stuff and go cave diving!!
Hell I didn’t know they were that close! I am in Kansas City 😊
@Navy1977 Missouri
Close also down here in OKC.
Don't stop in unless you want to be put to work!! LOL!
There's a lot more people there then what you normally see from the dive talk videos. I'm guessing dive talk goes on a weekend.
Do they still make new KISS Classic parts there?
All of the parts for the production rebreathers are now built in Poland by the company that owns XDEEP. Mike (i.e. KISS USA) is the USA distributor. He does final assembly, QC, and shipping out to customers in the USA.
A question about rebreathers: I've been watching a lot of high altitude mountaineering content, why is there not a rebreather system for climbing everest/ K2? Climbers go through tons of oxygen bottles and they don't even get all the oxygen they need climbing at 28,000+ feet on everest. A rebreather for them could be literally lifesaving, and they have tons of money so they could obviously pay for it.
That's pretty smart!!!!
Im disappointed you didnt sneak and additional intel about the sidewinder 2.0 expected to be released this year
We did a whole video about that!
3:04 I spy XDEEP snaps! 👌😀 Cheers, #SeattleRingHunter
I didn't see the plutonium housing machined.
The most important machine in that factory? The printer that spits our your checklist (I'd like to think this comment would make Mike proud. Use your checklists, kids).
Use that checklist.
I assume Snow isnt common in Arkansas? As an ignorant Canadian, that was borderline comedy amount of snow😂😂
Arkansas is in the southern USA. An inch of snow brings the place to a halt.
@@BlueWorldplus ah I figured! Not great with where each state is geographically but I got a good kick out of it😆
Nice little video, but i couldnt help wonder why its all so cramped, in the building of these units, look a bit messy...
Looks like a hot mess.
All of the parts for the production rebreathers are now built in Poland by the company that owns XDEEP. Mike (i.e. KISS USA) is the USA distributor. He does final assembly, QC, and shipping out to customers in the USA.
I'd better hide before they see me!
I thought Mike sold KISS? probably misunderstood something
Yes, KISS rebreathers are now built in Poland by the company that owns XDEEP. They invested heavily into high end manufacturing and the quality is excellent. Mike is the USA distributor of KISS, so any units sold in the USA go to him for final assembly, QC and shipping out to the customer/instructor. I probably should have explained that in the video. He still maintains his shop to work on side projects and he is always innovating new products, like the forthcoming GO rebreather.
@@BlueWorldplus thanks! Didn't know about the go rebreather. That's great
If ya’ll could contact the sidemount BCD manufacturers and ask them to please drop the ridiculous crotch strap in favor of leg loops, I’d really appreciate it. ✌️
I like that idea.
@@BlueWorldplusYah, X-Deep has switched to leg loops on the Zen and the Ghost. I think they know what they are doing. I’m holding out on buying a sidemount BCD currently because I want leg loops. And with my luck, I’d pay $800 and then a few months later the manufacturers will switch to producing leg loop units. 😂
It just makes sense. The crotch strap is more of a chafe point.
Cave divers will complain about the potential snag hazard. Let them wear crotch straps.
Not all sidemount divers are cave divers. 🤷
Lot of money spent on this product. Jonathan must've gotten his for free. For such an expensive piece of equipment, his shop is kinda a mess.