Ok, before I start with the story, here's some backgroup info and a disclaimer:
I'm just recently certified and bought new equipment for my first dive trip since certification. I now recognize several levels of errors in judgement on my part in addition to the mechanical issue.
I received the new regs (Zeagle Envoy and Octo-integrated) a couple of weeks before my trip. I looked them over and hooked them up to a borrowed tank for a very cursory test (no water involved). When I shut the tank valve off, curiously, I could still draw air through my Envoy (but not my Octo). It was more difficult, but eventually I could get a whole breath in. Now, I knew enought that this was not really supposed to happen, but I thought that maybe I was just inhaling with a lot of force and once in the water, the thing would truly seal off.
First jump in the water (Turks), the Envoy seemed to be working ok, so I signaled "ok" and down we went. I did notice some wet breathing the deeper we went (to about 85-90 ft. max.) and I had never experienced this in my course. However, I had read about it here and thought perhaps this was normal and I would just have to learn to deal with it. It did raise my anxiety level which made me inhale harder and the circular problem was created. As I did more dives, I kept having to calm myself down to slow my breathing to minimize, but not eliminate, the problem. Actually, the problem seemed to be getting worse. I kept thinking that I must be doing something wrong with my breathing or I was just freaking myself out and further contributing to the problem. I was convinced that everyone else just had to deal with the same issues.
Now, on my 7th dive (4th day), I noticed some mild wetness just floating waiting to descend. My buddy and I gave the "divers down" thumb and off we went. At about 40 ft, things were so bad that by the time I had finished a complete inhalation, my mouth was basically nearly full with water. Panic! Since we had just descended a minute or so, I decided to return to the surface. My buddy suggested just trying my Octo and staying very close to him. Down again, and no problem with wet breathing at all! (The only problem was that an Octo is not really designed for pleasure diving, but rather as a true rescue reg. and therefore it was pretty uncomfortable and I had to keep my hand up holding it in my mouth to lessen the strain and this pulled my BC off balance.) A difficult dive and I was apprehensive the whole time.
When we were back at the hotel that evening, I thought I would try and have a look at the Envoy. (I really didn't think I would find anything obvious to me since I had never looked at the guts of a reg, so I had no basis for understanding what "normal" looked like.) Upon removing the cap, I immediately noticed that the crimped edge of the diaphram was seated unevenly. I thought that must be the problem. Water was leaking around the edge. Then I went to touch the diaphram and found about a 2 inch rip across it!!! A chill went up my spine as I realized that this was letting water in at 80+ ft.! I surmise that the incorrect placement of the diaphram caused a small tear that just kept getting bigger as I used it and therefore, stressed it each day.
I was really starting to get worried that I didn't have the mental toughness to overcome this problem and that maybe diving wasn't for me. My anxiety level had grown with each dive and now I know it was probably directly proportional to the rip in that diaphram.
I'm really angry with the assemblers at this point and can't wait to call them on this issue!! Anyone else ever heard of this problem?
Before everyone jumps on me, remember my disclaimer above. I recognize numerous levels of errors in judgement along the way on my part. This will become a valuable learning experience for me, but that sill doesn't excuse those that put it together!
I'm just recently certified and bought new equipment for my first dive trip since certification. I now recognize several levels of errors in judgement on my part in addition to the mechanical issue.
I received the new regs (Zeagle Envoy and Octo-integrated) a couple of weeks before my trip. I looked them over and hooked them up to a borrowed tank for a very cursory test (no water involved). When I shut the tank valve off, curiously, I could still draw air through my Envoy (but not my Octo). It was more difficult, but eventually I could get a whole breath in. Now, I knew enought that this was not really supposed to happen, but I thought that maybe I was just inhaling with a lot of force and once in the water, the thing would truly seal off.
First jump in the water (Turks), the Envoy seemed to be working ok, so I signaled "ok" and down we went. I did notice some wet breathing the deeper we went (to about 85-90 ft. max.) and I had never experienced this in my course. However, I had read about it here and thought perhaps this was normal and I would just have to learn to deal with it. It did raise my anxiety level which made me inhale harder and the circular problem was created. As I did more dives, I kept having to calm myself down to slow my breathing to minimize, but not eliminate, the problem. Actually, the problem seemed to be getting worse. I kept thinking that I must be doing something wrong with my breathing or I was just freaking myself out and further contributing to the problem. I was convinced that everyone else just had to deal with the same issues.
Now, on my 7th dive (4th day), I noticed some mild wetness just floating waiting to descend. My buddy and I gave the "divers down" thumb and off we went. At about 40 ft, things were so bad that by the time I had finished a complete inhalation, my mouth was basically nearly full with water. Panic! Since we had just descended a minute or so, I decided to return to the surface. My buddy suggested just trying my Octo and staying very close to him. Down again, and no problem with wet breathing at all! (The only problem was that an Octo is not really designed for pleasure diving, but rather as a true rescue reg. and therefore it was pretty uncomfortable and I had to keep my hand up holding it in my mouth to lessen the strain and this pulled my BC off balance.) A difficult dive and I was apprehensive the whole time.
When we were back at the hotel that evening, I thought I would try and have a look at the Envoy. (I really didn't think I would find anything obvious to me since I had never looked at the guts of a reg, so I had no basis for understanding what "normal" looked like.) Upon removing the cap, I immediately noticed that the crimped edge of the diaphram was seated unevenly. I thought that must be the problem. Water was leaking around the edge. Then I went to touch the diaphram and found about a 2 inch rip across it!!! A chill went up my spine as I realized that this was letting water in at 80+ ft.! I surmise that the incorrect placement of the diaphram caused a small tear that just kept getting bigger as I used it and therefore, stressed it each day.
I was really starting to get worried that I didn't have the mental toughness to overcome this problem and that maybe diving wasn't for me. My anxiety level had grown with each dive and now I know it was probably directly proportional to the rip in that diaphram.
I'm really angry with the assemblers at this point and can't wait to call them on this issue!! Anyone else ever heard of this problem?
Before everyone jumps on me, remember my disclaimer above. I recognize numerous levels of errors in judgement along the way on my part. This will become a valuable learning experience for me, but that sill doesn't excuse those that put it together!
