DumpsterDiver emergency ascent from 180'

[EricTheDood]

Like anything in life, first stages can fail. If you find that acceptable or not doesn't change the fact.

That's a gross oversimplification.

First stage failures due to factory defects are exceedingly rare. Manufacturers have put forth effort to make things this way in both design and execution of their products. While I understand that failures can still happen, I'm comfortable with the probabilistic odds of failure with regards to new first stages from reputable brands.

On the other hand, first stage failures due to improper servicing seems to happen with a level of frequency that I'm personally uncomfortable with. If it doesn't bother you, then that's your own prerogative.

 

[Colliam7]

And it's not weird that type "A" people , Skydive - Scuba dive and Fly... Very few are one trick pony's...

Haven't skydived yet, not that I wouldn't, just the opportunity hasn't presented itself.

We not infrequently talk about the serenity of diving, of floating effortlessly underwater, where the only sound (at least, when we are OC) is our bubbles. There is something about being under canopy, that is similarly surreal. Quiet, peaceful, etc.

In flying there is the 'energy' of take-offs and landings, and the serenity in between (for the most part). If diving, there is the 'energy' of entries and exits, and the serenity in between (for the most part), and in jumping there is the 'energy' of exits and landings, and the serenity in between (for the most part).

 

[ams511]

Former Scubaboard participant "dumpsterDiver" recently (August 5) posted video on youtube showing an incident where he experienced a 1st-stage failure at 180 fsw and performed an emergency ascent using the AL13 pony cylinder he ordinarily carries. He was, reportedly, uninjured.

I always enjoyed DD's posts. I am sorry he was banned. I am glad he is ok.

 

[snowdog61]

I always enjoyed DD's posts. I am sorry he was banned. I am glad he is ok.

Take a peak at spearboard.com - he hasn't got himself banned there and provides 1st hand POV of what happened. Zeagle has requested return of the failed stage so maybe the postmortem will give a better indication of the failure - insufficient torque, re-used diaphragm, HP seat failure etc as it still seems to be elusive.

 

[Colliam7]

Take a peak at spearboard.com

Thanks for alerting us to the thread on that forum. There is a pretty good discussion about what actually failed (diaphragm), and some issues with servicing, as well as his first person account of the event. Worthwhile read there as well as here.

 

[stuartv]

A link sure would be convenient...

 

[Colliam7]

A link sure would be convenient...

Yeah, I had to look it up. See if this works for you: Zeagle Regulator Blows at 180 ft - Spearboard.com - The World's Largest Spearfishing Diving Boating Social Media Forum

If not, go to spearboard.com, and do a Search using 'Zeagle regulator Blows at '

 

[2airishuman]

I read through the thread on the other board. I think it is interesting that DD is in the center of the pack there, or perhaps on the conservative side, in his approach to dive safety and redundancy.

In response to some questions further back in this thread: 1) DD was diving an HP120 on this dive, and 2) this was not a planned decompression dive.

 

[scubadada]

Take a peak at spearboard.com - he hasn't got himself banned there and provides 1st hand POV of what happened. Zeagle has requested return of the failed stage so maybe the postmortem will give a better indication of the failure - insufficient torque, re-used diaphragm, HP seat failure etc as it still seems to be elusive.

Yeah, I had to look it up. See if this works for you: Zeagle Regulator Blows at 180 ft - Spearboard.com - The World's Largest Spearfishing Diving Boating Social Media Forum

If not, go to spearboard.com, and do a Search using 'Zeagle regulator Blows at '

Thanks, very interesting read, a very different flavor than here on SB

 

[stuartv]

Thanks, @Colliam7. I will definitely be looking forward to hearing what Zeagle says.

Pending real analysis from Zeagle.... The posts over there seem to be suggesting that the problem was that the environmental seal diaphragm was, possibly, reused when it should have been replaced. And that that environment seal diaphragm blew out, resulting in the catastrophic gas loss.

Disclaimer: I'm no reg tech. Not even close. So I might not have even used the correct terms just now.

So, being reg-ignorant, I would have thought that the environmental diaphragm would just keep dirt, etc. out. Not that it was fundamental to retaining your gas. What's up with that? Does that mean that the little rubber diaphragm I can see on the top of my DR XT regs is the same thing? And if I happened to bump into something sharp that poked a hole in that piece I could also have a catastrophic gas loss?