Arrest uncontrolled ascent by perforating BC: opinions?

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I think you have your answer. Simply remove the source by disconnecting the inflator (same for drysuit or pop a seal). Also you have a few other ways to expel air from a BCD, practise them all gloves on and gloves off and learn to inspect and maintain your bcd. In the time you pull your knife you could of disconnected the inflator. So now if you cut your BCD what are you going to do for surface floatation other then drop you weights, tank, reg and other equipment Good thing that wetsuit floats but man thats one expensive dive. But then your life ain't worth all that equipment anyway
 
TX101:
Holy crap! I thought I was well 'ard yesterday diving in 4 C water (and 10 C air). Out of interest, what brand regs do you use?

I use the Poseidon X-treme deep 180 for both posts...

it took me about a year to choose regs, in the end choosing from APEKS ABYSMAL (poseidon / kirby morgan combination) and the Poseidon X-treme.
I choose the extreme..simplicity in the construction, specialy built for extreme diving, and GUARANTEED by poseidon to work to deapths up to 200 meters. (after having a regulator failing me at 55 meters deapth I liked the idea of having lots and lots of spare to work my way on)

if you want the specs for it
www.poseidon.se
press English -> regulators -> extreme deep
Press the PDF that comes up.
First it is in swedish then scroll down and you will have one in english.....
or try this link
http://www.poseidon.se/bild.dip?id=365

check the picture of the TDA tests ;-)
if you want my personal judgement on the reg, give me a mess and ill send you the pros and cons with it...

sorry for the hijack....
 
I have to agree with FredT.
 
As others have mentioned, there are usually a number of viable options to release air from the BCD...they normally have one or more dump valves which can be used to allow excess air to escape if the inflator is stuck. One thing a number of people have mentioned is disconnecting your inflator hose. That's the best choice, of course, but CAN be pretty difficult under pressure....you can see this for yourself, if, as many new divers do, you turn on your air BEFORE connecting the inflator....needs a little bit of strength to pop on that inflator against the air pressure already in the hose. Underwater, I find it easiest to use 2 hands (one on the "big hose, deflator" and one on the inflator connector) to get more leverage/a better grip. Especially when the inflator connector is a little corroded, (common in rental gear) this can be a little difficult....more so, certainly if you were wearing gloves, in an emergency, etc. Always a good idea to practice things like this in safe, shallow conditions to find out how feasible it is "for real." Sometimes there'll be a slow leak there, where the BCD is ALWAYS being slowly inflated....easier to just disconnect the inflator & use oral inflation to adjust bouyancy as needed.

Chris
www.letsdiveguam.com
 
New diver here. I have taken the advice of the many senior members here to practice at least one skill on each dive. One thing that worries me the most is that of uncontrolled ascent due to a stuck inflator so I practice that most. On my recent dive vac, I practiced removing the inflator hose. I also make it a habit to know and be familiar with the dump valves on my BC. In fact, during my dives, I used these dump valves to let air out of my BC to control my buoyancy. Of course, owning my own BC helps a lot in being familiar with your dive equipment.

midwestdvr
 

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