Bacteria in Scuba Equipment = Sickness??

[AquaGuy]

About 48 hours after the past two dives (Dives three weeks apart), I have become sick. Sore throat, cough, cold, flu like symptoms. I own all of my gear (including tanks) and am wondering if my equipment could be the cause of this. Is it possible to have bacteria inside tanks/regs etc which could cause this? My gear is about two years old and is serviced annually. I do the typical washing and rinsing with fresh water etc after each dive. As far as I can remember, I did not orally inflait my BC. My BC is rinsed out each time with fresh water also.

Please advise if anyone else has encounted this. If so, how do I get rid of the bacteria?

Thanks

Aqua Guy

 

[DandyDon]

Have you checked the bacteria counts for the place you dived? I've read that Tiajuana sewage can cause problems there...?

Call County Health to see who would have such info...

good luck, don

 

[GQMedic]

In this regard, nothing's impossible for a bacteria that you are sensitive to hide as it were in your reg or other place, it's more likely what Don described to be the case. I've not had this issue myself, but I have had some pretty nasty ear infections from diving So Cal waters.

 

[paolov]

I had a similar experience last year. I leave my gears in the resorts equipment room (they don't charge me storage though) heheheheh

anyway , after my weekend dive i noticed i had more of soremouth,on Monday afternoon i felt it developing to a full blown infection.

i traced it to my regs mouth piece. Ever since i clean my mouth gears with a dose of chlorine (1 teaspoon dissolved into 1 liter of water) for 5 mins. then rinse then wipe it with rubbing alcohol and give it a good rinsing. I soak my primary and secondary regs . the BC inflator i have not soaked yet.

And i can attest that it feels great, and no more sore mouths!!!!

 

[Genesis]

Its entirely possible, particularly if your reg mouthpiece remains wet.

Most bacteria and virii cannot survive being dessicated (dried out); there are exceptions though. Its also possible that a mold got going on the mouthpiece or in the reg; those are nasty, and can cause really ugly infections if inhaled.

If I'm diving back-to-back days I usually rinse the reg second stages in a dilute simple-green solution and then make sure they sit with the mouthpieces down so they drain in an attempt to avoid this.

 

[Saturation]

Its entirely possible, particularly if your reg mouthpiece remains wet.

Most bacteria and virii cannot survive being dessicated (dried out); there are exceptions though. Its also possible that a mold got going on the mouthpiece or in the reg; those are nasty, and can cause really ugly infections if inhaled.

If I'm diving back-to-back days I usually rinse the reg second stages in a dilute simple-green solution and then make sure they sit with the mouthpieces down so they drain in an attempt to avoid this.

Yes, and sea water is a mild antiseptic. As the water dries out, the sea water becomes increasingly concentrated and increases its 'killing' power.

 

[Genesis]

True, but sea water is usually rinsed out (intentionally) once back topside.

Its the fresh water that you rinse with that is the potential problem.

 

[AquaGuy]

Thanks for all of the information. I think I will rinse all of my gear out with simple green or chroline. The place I dive is not known to be contaiminated. Genesis, thanks for the information about the mouth piece. I will be sure to make sure it's dry and to clean it with simple green.

 

[DandyDon]

Since regulators & snorkel mouthpieces are so often rinsed in the same tanks as other gear - including wet suits, and we all know what happens in wetsuits, I like to rinise my mouthpieces with Listerine mouthwash.

don

 

[FredT]

Please advise if anyone else has encounted this. If so, how do I get rid of the bacteria?
Aqua Guy

At the start of a long dive session, and several times during the run if the gear stays wet for many days a quick rinse of the mouthpiece and second stages in Listerine or distilled adult beverage (rum/tequila) seems to work well.

FT