Had a close call because of your gear?

matjo1 · Sep 7, 2006

Have you ever had an equipment problem underwater? How did you react to it? How did you fix it? I would like to compile a list of all possible equipment problems or malfunction. Please feel free to elaborate, I want to know everything! How fast does a tank drain when a burst disk goes? What about a LP hose? A HP hose? How big is the bubble wash with a burst tank o ring? Please feel free to direct me to appropriate threads.

Tienuts · Sep 7, 2006

During my DM class, we were doing out of air simulations. My dive buddy, after turning off my air for the simlation, went to turn my air back on. Instead of turing my tank valve, he turned my wireless transmitter (for my computer) right off. Very impressive, and very LOUD next to my head. The HP port though, is resricted, so even if you lose a HP hose, it will take a while before all of your air is lost.

Also my remote exhaust valve failed on my wings, and I couldnt inflate them. I had to ditch my weights to maintain buoyancy at the surface.

do it easy · Sep 7, 2006

Tienuts:
During my DM class, we were doing out of air simulations. My dive buddy, after turning off my air for the simlation, went to turn my air back on. Instead of turing my tank valve, he turned my wireless transmitter (for my computer) right off. Very impressive, and very LOUD next to my head. The HP port though, is resricted, so even if you lose a HP hose, it will take a while before all of your air is lost.

Also my remote exhaust valve failed on my wings, and I couldnt inflate them. I had to ditch my weights to maintain buoyancy at the surface.

I think that Curt Bowen did/posted some research on this, and I think it was about 90 seconds to drain an AL80 from the LP side and 22 minutes to drain an AL80 from the HP side.

I don't recall the times for the burst disk failure...

I had a deco reg with a loose second stage once- I opened the tank valve to pressurize the reg to switch to it and I immediately saw bubbles gushing form the second stage fitting. I shut the deco tank down, switched to my bungeed backup, screwed the loose second stage back on, and pressurized it to test it... it worked after that.

cobaltblue · Sep 7, 2006

I blew out a burst disc while filling a HP 100. (someone put a valve in from an LP tank) it took about 1.5 minutes to empty the tank. I'm not sure how long it would take in the water. I would also guess it may depend on whether or not the hole disc popped out. The one on my tank was no where to be found.

Doc Intrepid · Sep 7, 2006

Control bar, top of the page just beneath where it says "Welcome, Matjo1"...

Third button from right is Search, click on it then click on Advanced Search...

You can enter keywords such as "HP hose failure", "SPG failure", "Tank Valve O-ring", etc. to find many threads in the archives on both real world incidents as well as research, Bowen's among others. You may have to try different combinations of words, however, there are tons of threads in the archives that would no doubt be of interest to you.

Regards,

Doc

TheRedHead · Sep 7, 2006

I've researched burst disc failures and have found only a few incidences reported. A problem with a yoke o-ring is much more likely to happen. Even then, it is more likely to happen when you pressurize the tank.

Tamas · Sep 7, 2006

I ripped my sandals walking to the boat once and was forced to step on a pebble......does that count?

TheRedHead · Sep 7, 2006

Tamas, did you have back up sandals? If you don't get your sandals serviced regularly, YOU COULD DIE.

Tamas · Sep 7, 2006

TheRedHead:
Tamas, did you have back up sandals? If you don't get your sandals serviced regularly, YOU COULD DIE.

I did actually have backup footwear (not on a bungie around my neck though) and was able to deploy it within minutes saving myself from another possible killer pebble attack....but these were my favourite 15 year old, comfy, swamp creature scented Jesus slippers.....RIP my old friend.

Who knows, maybe it was better they went -- at least this way, the others around me didn't die.

FredT · Sep 7, 2006

My first dive on the Hydro Atlantic way back in the dark ages was done with a single tank and a hang bottle. Chasing a large black grouper under the bow that I didn't get a shot at put me way farther into deco and lower on air than planned, so I was forced to use my hang bottle. The second breath from it the exhaust mushroom valve split and I saw half of it drifting down current. Needless to say the reg was suddenly breathing more than a bit "wet."

I ripped the exhaust tee off the reg, discarding it, and replaced the exhaust valve with my thumb while holding on to the hang line and my speargun with the other hand. Right long 30 minute hang before the bend-o-matic cleared lifting my thumb when I wanted to exhale, and pressing it on the port when I wanted air which kept most of the water out of the mouthpiece.

BTW if anyone diving the Hydro Atlantic gets blown off that tee fits a SP109 second stage. It should be 200 to 300 hundred yards north of the wreck.

FT

Had a close call because of your gear?

Please register or login

matjo1

Contributor

Tienuts

Contributor

do it easy

Contributor

cobaltblue

Contributor

Doc Intrepid

Contributor

TheRedHead

Contributor

Tamas

Contributor

TheRedHead

Contributor

Tamas

Contributor

FredT

Guest

Similar threads