Wth?

[bowlofpetunias]

I normally circumvent it by telling them as I approach.. "My air is ON!" I had my air turned off by the crew once in spite of that! I was not a happy camper!

 

[ev780]

Touching my gear pisses me off. Holdover from the FD. Screwing with a firefighter's gear is a good way to lose teeth.

Really? Never had a water balloon in your boot?

---------- Post added October 2nd, 2015 at 08:42 AM ----------

It is rather funny to see so many people over reacting.

..........

Over-react on ScubaBoard?!?!?!!? NNNNNOOOOOOOOOO!

 

[glassbottom]

I normally circumvent it by telling them as I approach.. "My air is ON!" I had my air turned off by the crew once in spite of that! I was not a happy camper!

I had this happen recently. The NEW dive crew member mistook my tank for off..Then closed and opened my valve while telling me it was closed.....

I could feel him make the turns in both directions and just kind of gave him the dead stare.


I told him I open it wide open then quarter turn closed to prevent it from jamming open. This used to be a thing a while back, and my DI even told us the same when I redid my OW course. But the crew member acted like he had never heard of this before. Is it not anymore as common or perceived as a potential issue anymore?

 

[boulderjohn]

I told him I open it wide open then quarter turn closed to prevent it from jamming open. This used to be a thing a while back, and my DI even told us the same when I redid my OW course. But the crew member acted like he had never heard of this before. Is it not anymore as common or perceived as a potential issue anymore?

I would say common practice is pretty much the opposite of what you just described. The belief that it is necessary to turn it back a quarter turn is still very widely held by instructors and divemasters, which makes things mildly difficult for those of us who know it is not true.

---------- Post added October 2nd, 2015 at 12:53 PM ----------

DMs typically like the 1/4 turn so they can twist it open to open to check and then put it back a quarter. It is very common, therefore, for a DM to turn your valve both ways.

 

[uncfnp]

Really want to mess with the DM? Use your sidemount right hand tank dive one then left hand tank dive two.

I have learned to not obscess when the DM checks my valve. Either way I check it with three breaths watching gauge before splashing.

 

[Freewillow]

Either way I check it with three breaths watching gauge before splashing.

That's the way to do it. Total agreement

 

[boulderjohn]

Either way I check it with three breaths watching gauge before splashing.

Two years ago I did a scuba refresher in the pool with a couple who had not been diving for a couple years. When we suited up, I had them do a pre-dive safety check, of course. I told them that when they checked their air, they should look at the gauge while taking 3-4 breaths, and if the needle did not move, it meant their air was turned on. They did that, and the wife confirmed he understanding that if the needle was not moving, it was OK. I worded my response carefully--"It means your air is turned on."

We got into the pool and worked on skills for a while before she suddenly bolted toward the surface in panic. On the surface, I tried to inflate her BCD and discovered her tank was empty. "How much air was in your tank when you checked it," I asked.

"It was down in the red," she said, "but the needle wasn't moving so I figured it was OK."

 

[uncfnp]

Two years ago I did a scuba refresher in the pool with a couple who had not been diving for a couple years. When we suited up, I had them do a pre-dive safety check, of course. I told them that when they checked their air, they should look at the gauge while taking 3-4 breaths, and if the needle did not move, it meant their air was turned on. They did that, and the wife confirmed he understanding that if the needle was not moving, it was OK. I worded my response carefully--"It means your air is turned on."

We got into the pool and worked on skills for a while before she suddenly bolted toward the surface in panic. On the surface, I tried to inflate her BCD and discovered her tank was empty. "How much air was in your tank when you checked it," I asked.

"It was down in the red," she said, "but the needle wasn't moving so I figured it was OK."

Ok I "liked" that post but then on second thought maybe not so much!

 

[JasonTheColdGuy]

How does the weight of your tank know that you are at the end of your dive? Am I supposed to drain my tank underwater until I'm at 500 psi just so I don't need air in my BC?

Might have been answered, but my 2 cents

To figure out my propper weighting I brought my tank down to 500psi (35 bar), then slowly added weigt until I was neutrally buoyant (I had a buddy next to me with the lead and a secondary). Thinking ahead, I need to do that with my BP/W setup........

 

[Bob DBF]

I have learned to not obscess when the DM checks my valve. Either way I check it with three breaths watching gauge before splashing.

Realize that on the surface a tank with a quarter turn open may not show any deflection on your gauge. It's not life threatening, but could be an interesting problem later and deeper.

I have always backed off a valve from fully open because only a few valves are made to be intentionally backseated. That being said, a sixteenth or eighth should be good as you only have to make sure the mechanism is not jammed open. 1/4 turn is a good catch phrase for someone that doesn't understand what and why they are doing it, and makes up for an occasional sloppy valve handle.

For my local boat trips, where I provide my own tank, I purchased a Vindicator valve handle for my boat tank to make it clear to all the position of the valve.


Bob