Breathing air from BCD in OOA situation ?

[annlaur]

Hi everyone

I’ve been wondering…

Let’s say you’re out of air with no buddy around nor pony bottle :

:06: Is breathing air out of the slow-exhaust valve of your BCD a safe alternative ? :06:

This is just a theorical question as I’ve never been in such a situation nor intend to be, but it’s bugging me not knowing.

Thanks for your answers.

Anne-laure

 

[jmani]

Hi everyone

I’ve been wondering…

Let’s say you’re out of air with no buddy around nor pony bottle :

:06: Is breathing air out of the slow-exhaust valve of your BCD a safe alternative ? :06:

This is just a theorical question as I’ve never been in such a situation nor intend to be, but it’s bugging me not knowing.

Thanks for your answers.

Anne-laure

I am sure this has got to be a no-no. But saying that I do know a guy that went OOA on a safty stop and (using his words) user his BCD as a temporary rebreather. I can think of a thousand reasons why this should not be done and none for why it should. Last resort for a OOA should be a swiming ascent.

John

p.s. Happy Friday!!

 

[The Kraken]

If you're properly weighted, there probably won't be enough air in it to breathe.

But, to answer the question directly, without going into different scenarios, yes, if there was air in your BC you could breathe it.

Is it a safe alternative, I would say no, but it is an alternative.

the K

 

[Nomad]

Some of the paperwork that came with my BCD mentioned that you could potentially contract a respiratory illness by attempting to inhale the air in your BCD.

Respiratory illness sounds better than death to me, however, as the original poster already intimated, just watch your air levels so that you don't run out during your dive.

 

[Diver0001]

Hi everyone

I’ve been wondering…

Let’s say you’re out of air with no buddy around nor pony bottle :

:06: Is breathing air out of the slow-exhaust valve of your BCD a safe alternative ? :06:

This is just a theorical question as I’ve never been in such a situation nor intend to be, but it’s bugging me not knowing.

Thanks for your answers.

Anne-laure

As a last resort you could theoretically depress *both* the inflate and deflate buttons at the same time, hold it lower than your mouth and breathe the bubbles, like breathing off of a free flowing reg. I've tried this just to see if it works and it's possible but you need to be calm and focused. I think there might be one agency that trains this. I've never heard of anyone who used it in response to a real emergency.

R..

 

[nwdiver2]

Access to a secondary air source would be preferable.

 

[Rick Inman]

In an OOA situation without an overhead, a breath or two should become available to you from your tank as you ascend without having to resort to breathing from your BC (assuming you haven't had a major equipment failure).

But in theory, if you have it together, you could get a breath or two from your BC. Even weighted right, as you ascend the small amount of air in your BC will expand. But if you let it do so, you could be taking a quick ride to the surface because you failed to dump it, and trying to get a breath at the same time is asking for trouble.

Stick with a good buddy.

 

[The Kraken]

Some of the paperwork that came with my BCD mentioned that you could potentially contract a respiratory illness by attempting to inhale the air in your BCD.

Respiratory illness sounds better than death to me, however, as the original poster already intimated, just watch your air levels so that you don't run out during your dive.

That would more than likely come from bacteria growing from poorly maintained gear.

I dare say taking a couple of breaths from a BC would cause no great pulmonary hazard.

the K

 

[njd3rph]

Yes, you can use your bcd as an air source in an ooa situation. Yes, there is the potential for an upper respitory infection due to bacterial contamination from the bladder of the bcd (water in bladder = bacterial/fungal growth);however, a respitory infection is better then drowing or getting bent from ascending too rapidly. However; diving without a secondary air source and no buddie is poor diving practice.

 

[annlaur]

Geez, that was fast.
Thank you for the answers, now my curiosity is at rest, I’ll be able to sleep tonight :11doh:
Have a great week-end

Anne-Laure

PS : again, it was just a theorical question about a last resort alternative to drowning. I don’t intend on diving solo or without a pony. As a matter of fact, I wouldn’t even dive without an instructor right now.