Bailout gas expiration date

[RainPilot]

Does anyone do bailout ascent practice then, or just simulate shallower with cheaper gas?

My normoxic instructor course final dive was a full bailout from 60m. Still ended up with half an AL80 of 18/45 left afterwards, joys of a shallow GF. Opening that tank to empty for the next fill was ...heartbreaking, though not that expensive all things considered. If it was 10/80 or such I suspect I'd have found a booster PDQ.

 

[rjack321]

Does anyone do bailout ascent practice then, or just simulate shallower with cheaper gas?

At this point I just use cheaper 32% although I probably practice less than I should. I bailed from 190ft once, it was like doing an OC dive to me and just a waste of money.

 

[rjack321]

My normoxic instructor course final dive was a full bailout from 60m. Still ended up with half an AL80 of 18/45 left afterwards, joys of a shallow GF. Opening that tank to empty for the next fill was ...heartbreaking, though not that expensive all things considered. If it was 10/80 or such I suspect I'd have found a booster PDQ.

35cf of 18/45? That's a couple of dil fills

 

[RainPilot]

35cf of 18/45? That's a couple of dil fills

Yeah unfortunately no booster available at the time.

 

[mdwalter]

Do you ever dump and refill your bailout tanks?

No, that would be really wasteful.

 

[Matan]

Does anyone do bailout ascent practice then, or just simulate shallower with cheaper gas?

ideally - this is important to practice.
reality - no one likes to spend helium and not everyone have access to a booster

but must be practiced sometimes - crap will happen need to be ready.

Matan.

 

[wedivebc]

Does anyone do bailout ascent practice then, or just simulate shallower with cheaper gas?

I usually schedule a bailout drill from 100ft with simulated deco on the first day of the class using air as bottom bailout. I suppose if I was concerned about stale gas in my bailouts I might re-think that plan

 

[mr_v]

Bailout and do SCR ascends as often as you can. Gas costs are quite small compared to medical bills or funeral.