Bring your own mouthpece -- for rental gear?

[nwflyboy]

Me and the wife are off on our big dive trip in a couple weeks. We do not have our own regs (at least not yet...maybe if Mrs nflyboy enjoys diving in Sulawesi...). So we will have to make do with the rental gear we encounter.

I've often wondered if it was practical/reasonable/wise (or even possible) to bring along one's own custom mouthpiece and use it on rental gear. I've wondered about this for a couple of reasons...

1. From a simple hygiene standpoint, I've generally tried not to think too much about where that regulator has been when one has been handed to me. Given the high turnover of visitors at a resort dive op and the quick swish it probably gets in a sink after the previous day's diving...well, like I said, I try not to think about that too much. But even if I do manage to stifle the "ewwww...." reflex, I can't help wondering if essentially sharing a big rubber hunk o' dental floss with countless strangers might be asking for trouble. I mean, they're not going to autoclave these things, I figure they probably get a quick dunk in a pail of fresh water to knock some of the sand and salt off, and are hung up to dry. Am I crazy?

2. From a comfort standpoint, after muiltiple long days of diving, I definitely experience some jaw fatigue. I generally don't get post-dive headaches, but Mrs nflyboy has occasionally. I also know that at the end of my second dive of the day, I sometimes find that I'm holding the reg in my mouth with my hand, rather then continuing the clench marathon. I've heard of custom-fit mouthpieces (e.g. SeaCure?) and some folks swear by 'em.

So my questions for the cognoscenti...

Can you get a detachable, custom mouthpiece that you can bring along to be used on rental gear? If so, is there anything I need to watch out for? How much work/hassle is involved in swapping my custom mouthpiece in, on the dive shop's rental reg? Is that something dive shops do routinely, or are they likely to scoff and whine if I asked them to do such an outrageous thing?

Thanks!

PS: Yes, I'd love to go out and buy the regs, but it's not in the cards for this trip. Maybe next time.

 

[Web Monkey]

I've often wondered if it was practical/reasonable/wise (or even possible) to bring along one's own custom mouthpiece and use it on rental gear. I've wondered about this for a couple of reasons...

Absolutely. Bring your own and a few wire ties.

There are a couple of different sizes, so you might want to call ahead and see what brand regs they use.

Terry

 

[driftin' by]

Agree... the idea of using someone else's mouthpiece is disgusting. I use these on my gear but would be ideal for changing out mouthpieces. It beats cutting off zip ties. You should have something flat and rigid (bc knife) for opening it.

 

[MichaelBaranows]

It surprises me that people use rental or training gear and have no problem with using the same mouth pieces. To me that is like brushing your teeth with someone elses tooth brush.

 

[scubatoys]

With the custom mouthpiece - keep in mind as a previous poster said, there are Seacure #1, 2 or 3 depending on which brand of reg. The link I left there gives you the names of the brands and which one fits it.

Now for the bad news. I realize a bunch of shops tell you that you need a mouthpiece for their class, or their rental gear. Mouthpieces are a great markup item. Is it more sanitary? If you are a germ... you are much more likely to be happy growing inside the dark moist second stage, than exposed to sun and air on the outside mouthpiece.

Really the best thing for killing anything - dunk it in a chlorinated pool. That will destroy everything on it. If no pool around, I know there is "mouthpiece spray" but honestly - it's a bit much money for what it is. A very simple solution is just take a little listerene and a small spray bottle, spray on the mouth piece, a blast inside the second stage, let it sit there for a minute, rinse in water and go diving.

But if you want the custom, I can understand, and if the placebo effect of having your own makes you more comfortable - go with that!

 

[Ed Palma]

Dang! I was gonna suggest that.

Actually I never really thought of all that when I was still renting gear. It does sound rather disgusting, especially if the previous diver had to vomit into their reg.... However, the prospect of bringing several kinds of extra mouthpieces to fit several different kinds of regs, plus having to get the shop to allow you to switch out the mouthpieces makes this solution a bit cumbersome.

I was gonna suggest a quick alcohol rub down, but I think the listerine suggestion by scubatoys is a better (and more palatable) one.

 

[scubatoys]

Another good option might be rent at home, do what you want to sanitize, and take the reg with you. Probably cheaper in the long run anyway. Or if really worried, and not ready to take the plunge on a reg setup, you could rent the reg setup and buy just a second stage... your own. And have that put on before the trip, take it off after. Then you're one piece closer to having your own reg setup!

 

[daniel f aleman]

When setting rigs up for a class, or putting them away after a class, I always spray the mouthpiece with Scope, let it set until dry, and hose off with water.

 

[RaginCajun]

Good points folks..

I just had this experience recently...

The wife & I were going on vacation and as it turned out the weekly rental price at my local shop was much cheaper than 3 days of vacation prices.

The interesting thing though, was that when I picked up the rental regs they came without mouthpieces and my LDS basically made me purchase 2 new mouthpieces. In fact they had two fish bowls of brand new mouthpieces. They were not that expensive either ~$4 each.

Honestly, I've rented regs before and didn't think about it that much but you guys bring up some good points.

My wife & I have two sea cure mouthpieces on order for our personal regs now too!

 

[scubafanatic]

.....Leisurepro sells " Sterisol Germicide Mouthpiece Deodorizer "

$6.00 for a 2 oz squirt bottle ...........