A Question ForThe Old Timers

[MSP Rescue Diver]

I was reading a scuba article that was fairly dated (early 80's I think) that made reference to a danger coming from rusted CO2 cartridges.

Though it didn't say directly, I got the impression it had something to do about bc inflation. Were early bc's used only for emergency like a pilot's mae west?

Marc

 

[boomx5]

Back in the 80's they used to have an emergency inflator that used a co2 cartridge. It had a ball on a string that hung down by your bc pockets that when you pulled it, it activated the co2 cartridge. I think they did away with them because when they rusted they became useless.

 

[Walter]

Actually, the main reason you no longer see CO2 inflators is because of sharks.

If a shark becomes aggressive, you pull your knife, stab your buddy and pull his CO2 inflator.

Seriously, they are a great idea if you need emergency inflation on the surface. They are a terrible idea if they go off accidentally at depth. Rust had nothing to do with their demise.

 

[boomx5]

Walter once bubbled...
They are a terrible idea if they go off accidentally at depth.

Yea, that always scared me.

 

[rmediver2002]

For commercial diving an inflation source separate from the divers breathing gas supply is required. (OSHA 29 CFR 1910.430 (d) 3 & 4)

The buoyancy device must be manually inflatable, orally inflatable and maintain the diver on the surface in a face up position.

The depth these units are rated to is based on the size of the manual inflation system (either a pony bottle air / or CO2 cartridges)

The CO2 cartridges are periodically weighed to ensure they have not been expended; most often used are 37-gram carts.

They do rust after long exposures to the salt-water environment and if not removed and cleaned after each dive can rust in place making the actuator useless.

I have not seen nor heard of one being actuated at depth unintentionally but have seen many actuated when the diver is climbing into the boat…

Military divers use SCUBA to a depth of 190 fsw and use a buoyancy device qualified for that depth, most contain two 37.5 gram CO2 cartridges to provide adequate inflation at 190 feet sea water.


Jeff Lane

 

[DivingGal]

Walter once bubbled...
Actually, the main reason you no longer see CO2 inflators is because of sharks.

If a shark becomes aggressive, you pull your knife, stab your buddy and pull his CO2 inflator.

Seriously, they are a great idea if you need emergency inflation on the surface. They are a terrible idea if they go off accidentally at depth. Rust had nothing to do with their demise.

Gee I hope you wouldn't pull a knife on your buddy.... or Bonaire is the the last dive we'd do together LOL

I too thought it was due to rust --- and the "new" method of inflating BCs from the tank.

 

[Walter]

Am I an "old timer?" Depends on to whom you're comparing me. No point in stabbing you unless you have a CO2 inflator. We always worried about the ones who didn't laugh.

CO2 inflators existed along side LPI's for many years.