Funny taste in Air?

[reefseal]

I've recently been getting my tanks filled at a different dive shop than normally go to. I noticed the air has a different bitter taste when breathing off reg underwater. I don't know if I'm imagining things. Should I mention to shop? Air doesn't smell any different when hit purge valve.

Just curious if anyone has experienced similar.

 

[fire_diver]

Yes, I would definately mention it to the shop. If it was a one time thing, maybe no worry. More than once, there's a real problem. If some contamintion was present (such as oil) you need to have your tank and regs stripped down and cleaned. Without an air purity test, I couldn't tell you for sure. But I would be bothered by it.

FD

 

[reefseal]

I'm definately going to mention now. This is not a one time only thing. I'll be back to shop over weekend and let them know. tx

 

[Weddas]

The taste could be coming from a petrol compressor..
Might be the fumes....
Hope i helped
weddas

 

[Vayu]

Dude... don't breathe the gas if it tastes like anything.

 

[havnmonkey]

It should taste like air... w/out that pesky exhaust taste.

 

[mike_s]

besides diesel/gas fumes/exhaust in the air and compressor oil leaks in the air, could a "filter system" that has gotten wet with compressor moisture and actually "mold" in the system?

 

[Dustinh]

I've noticed that no matter where i get tanks from, compressed air to me has a sort of different taste/smell.

 

[Aquanautchuck]

Have you noticed any headaches while diving or anything like that. I got bad air two times and out of everyone on the boat only me and another DM noticed it. It gave me a bad headache. Turned out that the filters needed changing. I had to have the tanks tumbled to get the taste out of them.

 

[reefseal]

fortunately, no ill effects. (at least none I can notice like head aches)