peterbe
Registered
I think I learned an important lesson yesterday. First some background...
Last weekend I was diving in a fresh water scuba park in Texas (CSSP). Water temp was around 50F and I was wearing a 7mm sleevless vest with integrated hood with a full 3mm w/s over the top - so 10mm over my core, 3mm on arms & legs. The other divers with me were diving dry. I have around 40 dives.
I was comfortable in the water for the first dive but beginning to chill a little on the second. On the second dive I noticed that my 2nd stage was emiting bubbles even when I was not exhaling - I didn't register this as a freeflow as I thought a freeflow was more explosive than that. It was intermittant and I
completed the dive. I had the reg. serviced that week (Atomic B2 which I bought new).
Yesterday, conditions were slightly colder (49F) and the air temp was in the 40s and a bit windy. Same exposure protection, I made a 45 min dive with no incident. I was comfortable until we made our s/stop and I practiced some skills on a platform - then I began to get cold. We had a 2hr+ s/i and made a second dive. I was still a little chilled at the start
of the second dive. Again I noticed my 2nd stage freeflowing. I took it out of my mouth and waved it around and it stopped - this happened several times (I never thought to breath from my integrated octo/inflator!). The freeflow and (I guess) the cold had my anxiety level rise and I began having trouble maintaining buoyancy. After 3 or 4 of these incidents I came to the surface and swam back to the dock on the surface. Dive time was 30mins.
My SAC rate on the first dive was around .7 (which has been average for me this winter). On the second dive it was 1.35.
My buddy (a very experienced tech. diver) said that the cold was having me stressed, breathing too hard, and overloading and freezing the reg. His advice, learn to breath slower/deeper and dress more warmly!
I thought I'd share this and invite any other tips/advice.
Last weekend I was diving in a fresh water scuba park in Texas (CSSP). Water temp was around 50F and I was wearing a 7mm sleevless vest with integrated hood with a full 3mm w/s over the top - so 10mm over my core, 3mm on arms & legs. The other divers with me were diving dry. I have around 40 dives.
I was comfortable in the water for the first dive but beginning to chill a little on the second. On the second dive I noticed that my 2nd stage was emiting bubbles even when I was not exhaling - I didn't register this as a freeflow as I thought a freeflow was more explosive than that. It was intermittant and I
completed the dive. I had the reg. serviced that week (Atomic B2 which I bought new).
Yesterday, conditions were slightly colder (49F) and the air temp was in the 40s and a bit windy. Same exposure protection, I made a 45 min dive with no incident. I was comfortable until we made our s/stop and I practiced some skills on a platform - then I began to get cold. We had a 2hr+ s/i and made a second dive. I was still a little chilled at the start
of the second dive. Again I noticed my 2nd stage freeflowing. I took it out of my mouth and waved it around and it stopped - this happened several times (I never thought to breath from my integrated octo/inflator!). The freeflow and (I guess) the cold had my anxiety level rise and I began having trouble maintaining buoyancy. After 3 or 4 of these incidents I came to the surface and swam back to the dock on the surface. Dive time was 30mins.
My SAC rate on the first dive was around .7 (which has been average for me this winter). On the second dive it was 1.35.
My buddy (a very experienced tech. diver) said that the cold was having me stressed, breathing too hard, and overloading and freezing the reg. His advice, learn to breath slower/deeper and dress more warmly!
I thought I'd share this and invite any other tips/advice.