Make a hookah

Make a Hookah

Thinking about making your own hookah for diving? Here's some ideas to get you started!

Here's the best site I found with an overall breakdown of equipment.

General requirements for the compressor:

	max psi 100-150,
	CFM >1.5 at 45psi (CFM of 4-5 is ideal for 2 people).
	The higher the CFM you get more air flow for adding additional divers. Usually you need something around 3/4 to 3 Hp to get the CFM high for deeper dives (to get 2 people to 70ft, you need about 6 CFM at 50 psi). But if you're just cleaning the bottom, then 1.5 at 45psi, is fine. 45 psi is about 30 feet deep.
	Horse power is usually around 1 to 3 for a multi-person 30+ foot deep unit.
	(Example compressor specs here.
	However, for shallow water hookah action, you could probably use a 1/2, 3/4 hp unit with a good sized reserve tank and get one person to 25-30 feet pretty comfortably.

Filters:

	Need an air/water separator
	40 micron air filter
	These filters remove any condensation and particles from the compressor.

Reserve tank: The best tank I saw was made out of material like hypalon and could be rolled up. When it was in use, you can run a hose from the compressor to the tank, then from the tank to the diver. This allows the tank to sit on the water (helping to cool off the compressed air). And it rolled up nicely. It's called the Sea Breathe. With the flexible tank, the overall operating psi has to be limited which reduces the depth you can reach. The Seabreathe units only go to about 20feet or so. I've used one, and when you dive deeper, you have to either breathe really slowly or hold your breath below about 35 feet.

Regulator: just buy some used ones, and adjust them to a lower pressure (30psi instead of 100psi). You can adjust it yourself, but I don't know how.

Hose: You can buy the same hose they use for pneumatic tools. I found some in Mexico for only $22 for 25 feet. Scuba hose works too, if you can find some cheep on ebay or something.

Fittings: use the bronze NPT type fittings everywhere and they'll be compatible with the scuba regulator.

Belt: Hoses float, so the belt needs to keep the hose out of the way and keep it from floating off without you. Something with some nylon webbing and some lead fishing weights should do it.

Floats: In may third world places, you can still buy inner-tubes. You just have to keep the waves and water away from the motor and compressor....

General Info:
You've got to keep the exhaust away from the air intake on a gas powered model. Some units add a pipe or hose to pull clean air from a few feet away from the exhaust.

For more info click here and see hookah section and links.

Another example compressor (according to them 2hp is a minimum, but it's probably overkill for 1 diver < 30 feet.)

I've looked around some here in Mexico for options. Some of the compressors I've seen that come close are usually for pneumatic tools and paint sprayers. But the selection is so small that I can't find one with enough CFM. But they are all oil-less and some have a high psi. Remember the higher the psi rating, usually the lower the CFM rating. You only need to operate it at about 45 psi for 30ft., so if it can get to 80psi or so, then it probably will work ok.

I suspect a good system will probably run you about $350 to $500. I was hoping to get something for about $100, so I've decided I'll just practice holding my breath instead. If we had lots of room on the boat for it, I'd probably try making one. A really cheap hookah for just going <10 feet could be built using a 12V truck tire inflator and a reserve tank of some kind. You could probably put that system together for $100.