Just staying down longer in the recreational range can be achieved with a set of doubles and an al30 O2 bottle. For a fraction of the price and training time/cost of a CCR. Do you have nitrox already? Any deco or trimix training? OC nitrox is a prerequisite for all CCR courses, some (many?) require adv. nitrox or equivalent as well. I'm sure my Meg course through TDI required Adv. Nitrox.
Did my Nitrox training late 2013, but never received my cert. (passed it no prob, but...long story), currently remedying that. Also currently talking with Mel Clark about the IANTD Rec received and Adv Rec Trimix classes plus a RB Demo during a week in Sept, so I think I've got a plan in motion for my fall. She will accept a couple more students in on the class and demo if anyone wants to jump in.
Off the top of my head I am thinking
New Kiss units
New Hammerheads
New SF2
Used Revos
Used Megs
are the most plausible local-ish units available.
Its a quick flight UT for a Hammerhead + training or service
Kiss and SF2 units and training in Bellevue. At Silent world and Bellevue Divers respectively
Revo and Meg training both available locally. Revo service is in Chicago, Meg service in Centralia.
I might be missing something but that's 5 different brands with multiple models within a brand.
Wow, thanks for all that, time to do more research!