Air Quality

[tsunami001]

HEADS-UP!!!!! . . . ANYONE going to Cancun, Mexico should BE AWARE of the bad air.
Dove with "Scuba Cancun" and after some days of diving walked into the compressor room and confirm my supicion; There is oil in the air, the compressor is so old it leaks everywhere. The first symptom is that the air taste is somewhat sweet and after some use you might expérience soar throath and burnin of you respiratory track.

 

[DandyDon]

It amazes me how so many take the air quality for granted without inspecting the compressor or testing the tanks with a CO analyzer. I always test, and try to inspect if it is on site.

You may want to post in the Mexico forum as well.

 

[InTheDrink]

CO isn't the only issue (albeit an important one which is why I have a CO tester) and divers should check for smell, taste as well.

Did you haul them up on it? If so, what did they say?

 

[openmindOW]

Does anyone know Scuba Cancun is a PADI facility? If so, does a PADI retailer in Mexico have to met the same standards on air quality as a PADi retailer in the USA?

 

[InTheDrink]

Does anyone know Scuba Cancun is a PADI facility? If so, does a PADI retailer in Mexico have to met the same standards on air quality as a PADi retailer in the USA?

I'd be extremely surprised if the PADI air quality standards vary regionally. Local laws might vary but I can't imagine PADI's do. I'm speaking from a position of supreme ignorance on this, but it would seem very strange if that was the case - anyone know for sure?

 

[DandyDon]

I'd be extremely surprised if the PADI air quality standards vary regionally. Local laws might vary but I can't imagine PADI's do. I'm speaking from a position of supreme ignorance on this, but it would seem very strange if that was the case - anyone know for sure?

Yep, they're the same worldwide. They're required to submit quarterly air samples to an accredited testing facility and keep records. Very little Padi enforcement however so they're largely ignored in parts of the world, depending the country.
> In Mexico I was told by one large Cozumel Op that it was too much trouble but they hadn't killed yet;
> In the Bahamas I was told by one large Op that it was too much trouble;
> In the US with Federal Regulations what they are, some states having strict rules, and lawsuits just around the corner - cooperation is more common. Yet, the testing facilities do report test failures, and when there is a failure - it is often a very significant failure, but all they do is tell the compressor Op to fix the problem and resubmit.

DAN admits that they have no idea how many scuba drowning deaths had bad air as the real cause as many governments do not require body or air testing. In tourist popular areas, some pressure to not hurt the economy may discourage publicizing facts. I also wonder how many cases of "traveler's flu" were really close calls with bad air, and CO has no taste nor smell.

Home monitors will not help with the risk as they are set at higher levels than are dangerous underwater. There are two portable CO analyzers that test below 10 ppm. I'll have to find the info on the large one, but the tiny one I carry on all trips (like to have it in the car and the motel room even on non-diving trips with the family) Pocket CO - Miniature Carbon Monoxide Detector and Dosimeter is $139 for the basic or the Scuba kit developed recently includes...
* Pocket CO SCUBA instrument and manual (includes special TANK TEST mode).
* Leak-proof test bag with attached adaptor.
* Laminated instruction card
* Small storage case for Pocket CO SCUBA and test bag.
* 1 cylinder of calibration gas, good for up to 3 calibrations or tests in 1 year.
For $199.00