Don't dive solo without the pony!! 
After 41 years I almost bought it today...
- Thread starter drbill
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ScubaRon
If you were diving a Mk 10, I cannot think of much that could have went wrong short of a valve that was only partially open or a sintered iron filter that was partially plugged. The piston design of the Mk 10 is really bullet proof and if an HP seat were to fail it would fail in a freeflow mode.
zeN||
Guest
Way to handle it, Dr. Bill.
For the benefit of all the "ex-spurts" who dis pony bottles, Dr-were you wishing you had that little insignificant few breaths of spare air when you found out you had no air????? Cheers zeN||
For the benefit of all the "ex-spurts" who dis pony bottles, Dr-were you wishing you had that little insignificant few breaths of spare air when you found out you had no air????? Cheers zeN||
OP
Thanks for the comments and well wishes.
Yes, I was diving my SP Mk10/G250. It had been serviced about a month ago and I'd been doing 10 dives a week on it so I expected no problem.
The air was definitely on... turned fully on and backed off a quarter turn. Checked that. I tested it before entering by breathing through my reg and watching the SPG- no fluctuation. Reg just failed... one breath was fine, next breath was no air. Could not breath off it the whole way up.
Talked to my LDS (who did the rebuild). All he could figure is that the piston froze in the closed position. I had one first stage go out on me two years ago in Thailand (rental gear) but it gave me PLENTY of air to safely ascend,
We're sending the first stage to ScubaPro for them to troubleshoot. Just too wierd especially since the unit functioned on the surface after I reconnected it. I had also wondered if something might have clogged the filter since that might have been consistent with the way it failed, and then worked topside.
Complacency is correct. I've lost friends, some who had done thousands of lifetime dives, because they became complacent and did something wrong. I was too lazy to use my pony bottle on the one deep dive I planned today and nearly joined them. I will be back to regular use of my pony bottle on dives below 50 ft from now on.
Unfortunately this is a small town. I walked into a restaurant late this evening and the musician sang a song about Dr. Bill running out of air at 70 ft. today.
Dive safe all!
Dr. Bill
Yes, I was diving my SP Mk10/G250. It had been serviced about a month ago and I'd been doing 10 dives a week on it so I expected no problem.
The air was definitely on... turned fully on and backed off a quarter turn. Checked that. I tested it before entering by breathing through my reg and watching the SPG- no fluctuation. Reg just failed... one breath was fine, next breath was no air. Could not breath off it the whole way up.
Talked to my LDS (who did the rebuild). All he could figure is that the piston froze in the closed position. I had one first stage go out on me two years ago in Thailand (rental gear) but it gave me PLENTY of air to safely ascend,
We're sending the first stage to ScubaPro for them to troubleshoot. Just too wierd especially since the unit functioned on the surface after I reconnected it. I had also wondered if something might have clogged the filter since that might have been consistent with the way it failed, and then worked topside.
Complacency is correct. I've lost friends, some who had done thousands of lifetime dives, because they became complacent and did something wrong. I was too lazy to use my pony bottle on the one deep dive I planned today and nearly joined them. I will be back to regular use of my pony bottle on dives below 50 ft from now on.
Unfortunately this is a small town. I walked into a restaurant late this evening and the musician sang a song about Dr. Bill running out of air at 70 ft. today.
Dive safe all!
Dr. Bill
Hmm.. Maybe there was something (rust fragment, etc) in the tank that clogged the valve during that dive? (I guess this could only happen if the dip tube on the valve came undone.)
OP
The tank recently passed visual but that's an interesting thought. It could explain things too.
Dr. Bill
Dr. Bill
flw
Guest
Ive had an argon cylinder fail with a bit of crud blocking the debris tube, because I keep it valve down - same as if you'd turned head down position. It un-blocked itself simply by turning it the 'right' way up and giving it a hefty clout. Slightly different, but by O2 failed on my rb last weekend due to salt deposit in the solenoid, just blocking the tube.
If you can remember which cylinder it is, take the valve out and check it
F
If you can remember which cylinder it is, take the valve out and check it
F
Hello,
Had the same thing happen to my buddy a couple of years ago at 38mtrs..
one breath ok the next nothing at all newly serviced reg as well.....
One question did you lower your head to look at something just prior to the air terminating?
In my buddys case he was lucky enough to reach me and use my reduntant occy. on inspection after the reg was fine 1st stage in working order...
The culprit was a small piece of tank crud that fell straight down the extended valve stem a one in a million chance . the tank apart from the small offending piece of crud was spotless. this happened whilst he turned upside down to investigate a hermit crab nearly the last thing he ever saw.
My buddy now also swears by twin sets or a pony bottle on every dive.
lady luck was smileing for you thanks for sharing
gary dive medic
Had the same thing happen to my buddy a couple of years ago at 38mtrs..
one breath ok the next nothing at all newly serviced reg as well.....
One question did you lower your head to look at something just prior to the air terminating?
In my buddys case he was lucky enough to reach me and use my reduntant occy. on inspection after the reg was fine 1st stage in working order...
The culprit was a small piece of tank crud that fell straight down the extended valve stem a one in a million chance . the tank apart from the small offending piece of crud was spotless. this happened whilst he turned upside down to investigate a hermit crab nearly the last thing he ever saw.
My buddy now also swears by twin sets or a pony bottle on every dive.
lady luck was smileing for you thanks for sharing
gary dive medic
sapphire
Contributor
Dr. Bill,
Is the surgery complete?? Because I want to have TWO living people to dive with tomorrow at Casino Point!
sapphire
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