Points of failure

[~ dry]

This is very useful information to me as a new diver. Thank you!

I have a question that didn't really get answered in my course. If you do your in-water buddy check and find small bubbles coming out from the valve-to-yoke connection (say a bit of dirt on the o-ring?) is it safe to dive anyway? Should you repair it immediately? Does it depend (and on what)?

Thanks for the replies.
You guys are awesome!

PS. Knowone, I'm guessing that's not tobacco

 

[Akimbo]

Thanks... I was looking for this to quote here.

That explains it. I was surprised when it wasn't in your post.

Here's how I relocated it on Google:

site:advanceddivermagazine.com "burst disk"

That trick is so cool, which I learned from HowardE

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/site-support/371288-search-modifiers.html​

:focus:

 

[DevonDiver]

Video depicting the impact of HP and IP hose failures...

 

[TSandM]

In general, if you notice a leak before you get in the water or upon entering the water, it is better to fix it than to dive with it.

It is not unusual for tank yoke o-rings on rental tanks to be in poor condition. It's not a bad idea to have a supply of such o-rings with you, so you can swap one out if it's leaking and a simple wipe doesn't stop it.

The natural history of MOST o-ring leaks is that they continue to leak, but the danger is that the o-ring will go completely. If you are going to take the risk of diving with a known leak, you have to ask yourself some questions: What is the level of risk of the dive? (In other words, how deep am I going to be, and is it really okay to surface anywhere on the dive?) What are my resources to manage the failure in the worst case scenario? (Do I have a redundant gas source, or a reliable buddy who is maintaining adequate gas reserves?) And what are my own personal competencies here? (Do I feel confident in doing an air-share with the proposed buddy, from the proposed depth? Would I feel comfortable executing a CESA in the event that the buddy is unavailable or unreliable?)

I have dived rigs with leaking yoke o-rings. I won't dive with ANY leak in a cave, or on a technical dive. I wouldn't be hanging around down at 100 feet with a leaking yoke o-ring, either.