rkinder
Registered
I posted this on another site so if you have already seen this forgive me.
This is a lesson’s learned type of post, as always, I will thank you in advance for reading to the end.
I spend a lot of time in the water, many times Solo due to the type and frequency of my non-PSD dives. With this in mind I am configured as my own buddy, everything is backed up, with plans for everything except my body failing. I treat every dive as if I am SOLO, even when diving with a group, always planning for a failure or emergency.
Last night this paid off, some would have seen the following as an emergency but was really just an inconvenience. I was at one of my favorite training sites working current about 700 to 800 feet from my point of entry, at 85 feet, with a 1.5 knot current.
I tried to take a breath and was rewarded with water and air. To state that my regulator was wet breathing is an understatement. I exhaled then took a slow breath, feeling the water entering slowly I determined it was time to go to my backup system. (Primary is 95 cuf tank Secondary or Pony is also a 95 cuf tank). At this point I flushed the regulator feeling that the exhaust valve had become compromised. Once reassembled the regulator was tested and found to still be wet.
I aborted the dive the only problem was it took 12 min. to return to the entry point and going straight up to the surface was not a good option, based on current and boat traffic.
This morning my fears where confirmed a flat piece of organic material had entered the exhaust valve but would not flush thru causing the entry of a large amount of water, it amazed me that the regulator continued to provide air based on the size of the material. I suspect that while gearing up in chest deep water the material entered the regulator and became stuck during the strenuous dive at depth.
Lessons to be learned from incident:
1. Well designed equipment allowed for delivery of air even when compromised.
2. Remain calm, work the problem don’t let the problem work you.
3. Always have a plan for each potential emergency and a backup plan in case the first does not work.
4. Make sure you have sufficient emergency gas to get back to safety.
5. But most important of all is to determine is it an emergency or is it an inconvenience.
In closing always prepare for failures and problems never let them become more than an inconvenience.
This is a lesson’s learned type of post, as always, I will thank you in advance for reading to the end.
I spend a lot of time in the water, many times Solo due to the type and frequency of my non-PSD dives. With this in mind I am configured as my own buddy, everything is backed up, with plans for everything except my body failing. I treat every dive as if I am SOLO, even when diving with a group, always planning for a failure or emergency.
Last night this paid off, some would have seen the following as an emergency but was really just an inconvenience. I was at one of my favorite training sites working current about 700 to 800 feet from my point of entry, at 85 feet, with a 1.5 knot current.
I tried to take a breath and was rewarded with water and air. To state that my regulator was wet breathing is an understatement. I exhaled then took a slow breath, feeling the water entering slowly I determined it was time to go to my backup system. (Primary is 95 cuf tank Secondary or Pony is also a 95 cuf tank). At this point I flushed the regulator feeling that the exhaust valve had become compromised. Once reassembled the regulator was tested and found to still be wet.
I aborted the dive the only problem was it took 12 min. to return to the entry point and going straight up to the surface was not a good option, based on current and boat traffic.
This morning my fears where confirmed a flat piece of organic material had entered the exhaust valve but would not flush thru causing the entry of a large amount of water, it amazed me that the regulator continued to provide air based on the size of the material. I suspect that while gearing up in chest deep water the material entered the regulator and became stuck during the strenuous dive at depth.
Lessons to be learned from incident:
1. Well designed equipment allowed for delivery of air even when compromised.
2. Remain calm, work the problem don’t let the problem work you.
3. Always have a plan for each potential emergency and a backup plan in case the first does not work.
4. Make sure you have sufficient emergency gas to get back to safety.
5. But most important of all is to determine is it an emergency or is it an inconvenience.
In closing always prepare for failures and problems never let them become more than an inconvenience.
