Are scuba regulators life-support equipment?

[tphelps]

I believe it is life support equipment as our bodies are not adapted to live underwater!

 

[Nemrod]

You're not a lot of fun at parties, are you?

I have no response to this.


Flies find horse manure

interesting.

but I never thought much of it except to step over it.

N

 

[halocline]

I believe it is life support equipment as our bodies are not adapted to live underwater!

Well then clothes are life support because we're not adapted to being outside naked in the cold, does that mean nobody except 'authorized repair techs' should be able to buy a needle and thread, buttons, zippers, etc....

I guess cars are life support, because we're not adapted to hurtling down highways at 70mph. So I guess nobody except dealers should be able to buy auto parts or work on cars.

Since our bodies are not adapted to surviving without food, most things at the grocery store are life support. Better not cook anything for someone else unless you're a factory authorized chef.

Every day everyone of us is involved in some activity that involves equipment that allows us to do things we're not 'adapted' to doing. So where's the 'life support' crap for all of that? The ONLY reason scuba manufacturers and dealers get away with this nonsense is because the market is small and consumers have tolerated it. A big contributor to that reason is the unfortunate fact that scuba training and gear sales are usually combined at the same business and run by the same people.

 

[Splitlip]

I guess I missed where service is relevant to the OP. I do enjoy the metaphors scattered throughout the thread BTW.

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

I believe it is life support equipment as our bodies are not adapted to live underwater!

Hi Tyler,

The problem a lot of us have with the term "life support" and scuba gear in the same sentence is that the term has been used by manufacturers and shops to mislead new divers in order to sell them equipment and service they may not really have needed.

Example: An enthusiastic new diver has just finished basic OW and asks his instructor / shop owner about a piece of equipment they are considering purchasing. They want to know which regulator they should buy for their typical reef dive here in Hawaii, and see that "Brand X" has models in several different price ranges, and that there are also diaphragm and piston, balanced and unbalanced designs...

The instructor / dive shop owner should try to explain the differences between the various regs, and what makes the more expensive regs breath ever-so-slightly better than the entry level regs, and help the new diver work out which reg to buy... but too often you'll hear "Do you really want to pinch pennies on your scuba gear?? .... It is Life Support, After All!"

Fear as a sales tactic is what makes a lot of us "irritated" with the "Life Support" topic.

Best wishes.

 

[dfx]

Well then clothes are life support because we're not adapted to being outside naked in the cold, does that mean nobody except 'authorized repair techs' should be able to buy a needle and thread, buttons, zippers, etc....

Clothing is neither technology nor a "system" nor equipment. If it gets so cold that you need to wear something heated or w/e to keep you alive, then you have a point. And then yes, it is life support gear.

I guess cars are life support, because we're not adapted to hurtling down highways at 70mph. So I guess nobody except dealers should be able to buy auto parts or work on cars.

Moot point because your life is contained within the vehicle, and the conditions inside aren't life threatening at all. You may argue that an airbag is life support in case of a collision, but that's a different type of life support. A diving bell isn't life support either, but the air delivery system into the bell is.

Since our bodies are not adapted to surviving without food, most things at the grocery store are life support. Better not cook anything for someone else unless you're a factory authorized chef.

See first point. If you're ever in a situation where your only source of food is some sort of machine, then yes, it would be life support.

And by the way, the topic of this thread isn't weather only authorized techs are support to service your life support gear. That's topic for an entirely different thread and a completely separate issue. We're only discussing whether or not they are.

Anything else?

 

[halocline]

And by the way, the topic of this thread isn't weather only authorized techs are support to service your life support gear. That's topic for an entirely different thread and a completely separate issue. We're only discussing whether or not they are.

Anything else?

The reason that the 'scuba as life support' argument is made by the scuba training/gear industry is specifically to justify controlled access to parts and service materials. That's why service is part of the discussion.

As far as 'anything else?' goes, I would like a cappuccino if it's not too much trouble.

 

[dfx]

The reason that the 'scuba as life support' argument is made by the scuba training/gear industry is specifically to justify controlled access to parts and service materials. That's why service is part of the discussion.

Who says that only authorized techs can service life support gear?

 

[halocline]

Clothing is neither technology nor a "system" nor equipment. If it gets so cold that you need to wear something heated or w/e to keep you alive, then you have a point. And then yes, it is life support gear.

Actually some clothing does utilize lots of technology and systems, just walk into any mountaineering store. Funny I've never heard a salesman at any of these places talk about "life support", even though the activity does require you to rely more on the equipment for survival than any smart diver relies on a regulator.

---------- Post added February 2nd, 2014 at 03:18 PM ----------

Who says that only authorized techs can service life support gear?

Maybe it's different in Canada, but in the U.S. try walking into a scubapro or aqualung dealer and buying a rebuild kit or parts for one of their regulators. Tell them you want to service it yourself. Then come back to this thread and give us a report.

 

[dfx]

Actually some clothing does utilize lots of technology and systems, just walk into any mountaineering store. Funny I've never heard a salesman at any of these places talk about "life support", even though the activity does require you to rely more on the equipment for survival than any smart diver relies on a regulator.

The important point is that clothing only provides passive protection. That disqualifies it from being considered life support equipment. At least in my opinion, but I can understand that in some cases this is debatable.