I have read the conspiracy theory theme here, before. So, are you telling us that there are real incidents but they have All been covered up? Or enough that it is a huge problem?
I maintain my system and have all the air quality checks done on time, every time. This is not a hidden head, it's a thinking one. One who can think for herself.
Anyone can test the air in their tank any time they like. Sell them their sensor...
Just out of curiosity, Don, do you work for or have an investment in this?
Work for? Ha! If that were the case, I'm sure that I'd be in trouble for not being diplomatic. The only investment I have in this is the money I spent on my first tester, to be followed by the purchase of a different brand when it's soon available. No, I don't sell them either.
Yes, there are real incidents, some of which are covered up we know, many of which probly hidden before we can. I never suggested a conspiracy, don't know where you heard that idea, but it's not much of a leap for details of accidents to be suppressed to protect the local tourism in some destinations.
A Cocoview accident was well suppressed. Some made it sound like the DM died trying to save the Texas diver and the widow's settlement including keeping quiet so it's very difficult to find info on that one.
A Maldives accident was suppressed but one of the survivors made it public here which prevented it from being hidden. That the Operator sued Scubaboard really blew her cover.
A Cozumel accident early this year was suppressed enough that all you can find is the thread on SB by a survivor. Well, the well established Op with his own compressor lost the diving franchise for that resort. I actually talked with that owner before he went quiet and he seemingly had the same approach as you: Maintaining the compressor, changing the filters, naively thinking that's all it took - never testing.
Those are examples we know about. It's just too easy for the others to get written off as drownings so we never know.
You're not interested in an inline monitor I take it. So get the tank tester then; it's cheap. Test tanks that are filled after the compressor has worked its hardest & hottest, if you want to
know how good your efforts are working.
Judging by his avatar and signature line, I'm guessing he does.
Bad guess. I do greatly appreciate that Analox developed the product specifically for dive customer needs, but I would be glad to give an interested diver choices on a three other models. The only one cheaper tho is the Pocket CO, which works well but is a bit of a hassle and takes at least 3 minutes per tank.
OK stop avoiding it. I'll ask directly. Refer me to these incident reports that back up your claim or stop making unsubstantiated claims. If its a real problem there WILL be incidents and world wide - not just the third world countries. Lets see some hard facts here.
See above. But with low cost tank testers going out with more and more divers, some reporting back here, we'll know more in months to come. Tanks
will be tested more and more by divers even if the Ops don't care enough, at the worst
after incidents and accidents. Last February in Roatan I was only checking my own tank as it did take 3 minutes and the highest readings I got were 5 ppm so I didn't make a big deal about it. My roomie kept feeling ill after diving so I did check one of his but that wasn't his problem; there are many reasons a person can feel ill in Roatan of course, especially on his first dive trip, but you don't know if it could be tank air unless you test.
Why would it have to follow. Its a dive operation right next to the USA where this particular paranoia originates. And one company. One company spending some money to satisfy the paranoid few that go through its doors is a lot different to starting an industry trend. Again, if there were real incidents to back up your statement that this is a threat then fair enough but where are these incidents? Lets have some details.
Several real incidents there actually. Different compressors than the above story, but there were several bad tank tests by different members here. That compressor owner still didn't want to do anything as he has control of fills for most of the island so it took more. I actually got to read the background story on that one; interesting on how things get accomplished at times.
Why just the middle east ? Not heard of the place called "europe" that has strict health and safety rules and guidelines yet has no problem with this? Or that continent called "Australia"? Both decidedly first world with extremely strict HSE regimes yet none of the countries involved have identified any problem or need. Or in fact russia, or anywhere in africa, or anywhere in asia. Countries who rely on tourism money from diving who if people were dying would be forced to do something about it.
Ah Australia and much of Europe does have strict rules and possible repercussions. There was still an incident in Australia this year, described on the Analox page. The others are more removed from our knowledge here so we'd not know what's happening in them, all the more reason for the prudent diver to carry his own tester and test tanks.
Funny thing: When a diver
does find a significant reading, it's difficult to find anyone around who cares. Difficult to change old habits.
More likely these places are being sensible and refusing to buy in to the unsubstantiated claims of a paranoid few who are a completely insignificant part of a market. If there is a need or reason for spending money it will be spent. If there is a legitimate H&S need it will be spend. Not one country in the world INCLUDING the USA has identified this as a problem.
The CO monitor phenomenon is isolated to less than a handful of people on one small internet forum and thats it. Its not a real world issue.
Yeah, it's pretty obvious that you're not at all interested in improvements, and with the current lack of testing facts one can spin the situation to make it sound ok. If you don't test with one analyzer or another know, it's simply untested, unproven, just hopeful. You could get dealer cost but I doubt that you want to spend even that small amount to prove anything.
There will still be a problem for the traveling tourist after s/he tests, when significant readings are discovered. It's not like one could get money back on the trip if the tanks are bad, but at least the divers who do test will
know what they're diving, can make informed decisions on how deep or trying to find cleaner tanks, and such. When I first got my first analyzer, I loaned it to an Instructor leading a trip to Utila, who forgot about it being packed until everyone got ill the first day. Then he tested, discovered bad fills, and the Op took immediate action to drain all tanks, clean the compressor, change filters and who knows what else. He couldn't test 3 tanks/day for the entire group but subsequent tests he did do were much more acceptable.
So affordable inline monitors will not be expected in your area, fine. Cheaper tank testers will be available for who want to be sure in spite of the lack of prevention.
