Tldr: Reg freeflowed and frightened into panic a fellow diver. Written from the spectators position.
Wordier ramble:
Was in the water with a random guy who just got his regs back from servicing. I'm naturally sceptical and have seen many freshly serviced regs fail badly on their first "real" dive so I asked before the dive if I could look it over and see how it breathed.
(I like gear and it was one of the shiny legend regs)
My quick once over included:
Slowly pressuring. Slow purge. Fast pressurize, fast purge. Breathed fine on land, wiggle tested it, looked for signs of sloppy service (weird damage or things omitted), finger checked the hose connections, heavy breathed. Wet the reg, blocked exhaust vents and blew positive pressure. Purged system then sucked negative pressure. Didn't do anything in the water or check cracking pressure by submerging the reg.
We dive separately as planned. He's in the water with his buddy while I'm solo diving taking photos.
I hear a bubblecloud going off and look to where I last saw them. Fin that way, find him alone looking wild eyed. Free flowing reg in hand fumbling for his alternate, mask mainly flooded. Finning oddly and jerky in every motion.
I give him a reg and take him by the shoulder strap. Eye contact, give him the breathe sign and ok sign. He calms while I shut down his tank valve. His buddy reappears looking puzzled. I let go of him to feather the valve and smack the reg a few times. Still freeflowing so I shut the valve down to a 1/4 turn and signal to him he is "out of air". He responds correctly. I suggest the buddy shares air and they ascend together. Didn't see them come back down and when I was done my dive they had left the site.
For what it's worth, seemed like a uncomfortable time for him.
Between the lost buddy, catastrophic free flow, panic, lack of CESA and flooding mask it seemed unpleasant.
Lessons learned?
Oh, in hindsight for my own behaviour, I added risk by leaving his tank partially closed to slow the free flow. Not my valve to touch. Second takeaway, would have been better to call my dive and see them safely to shore. The largest piece, underwater reg diagnosis shouldn't have taken place and added unnecessary delays and risks. He needed brought to the surface. Just call the dive.
Also curious what predive reg check I missed in going over his reg that might have caught it.
Cameron
Wordier ramble:
Was in the water with a random guy who just got his regs back from servicing. I'm naturally sceptical and have seen many freshly serviced regs fail badly on their first "real" dive so I asked before the dive if I could look it over and see how it breathed.
(I like gear and it was one of the shiny legend regs)
My quick once over included:
Slowly pressuring. Slow purge. Fast pressurize, fast purge. Breathed fine on land, wiggle tested it, looked for signs of sloppy service (weird damage or things omitted), finger checked the hose connections, heavy breathed. Wet the reg, blocked exhaust vents and blew positive pressure. Purged system then sucked negative pressure. Didn't do anything in the water or check cracking pressure by submerging the reg.
We dive separately as planned. He's in the water with his buddy while I'm solo diving taking photos.
I hear a bubblecloud going off and look to where I last saw them. Fin that way, find him alone looking wild eyed. Free flowing reg in hand fumbling for his alternate, mask mainly flooded. Finning oddly and jerky in every motion.
I give him a reg and take him by the shoulder strap. Eye contact, give him the breathe sign and ok sign. He calms while I shut down his tank valve. His buddy reappears looking puzzled. I let go of him to feather the valve and smack the reg a few times. Still freeflowing so I shut the valve down to a 1/4 turn and signal to him he is "out of air". He responds correctly. I suggest the buddy shares air and they ascend together. Didn't see them come back down and when I was done my dive they had left the site.
For what it's worth, seemed like a uncomfortable time for him.
Between the lost buddy, catastrophic free flow, panic, lack of CESA and flooding mask it seemed unpleasant.
Lessons learned?
Oh, in hindsight for my own behaviour, I added risk by leaving his tank partially closed to slow the free flow. Not my valve to touch. Second takeaway, would have been better to call my dive and see them safely to shore. The largest piece, underwater reg diagnosis shouldn't have taken place and added unnecessary delays and risks. He needed brought to the surface. Just call the dive.
Also curious what predive reg check I missed in going over his reg that might have caught it.
Cameron