Common Equipment Failures?

[NorthWoodsDiver]

The one thing not mentioned was I used to use a scubapro knighthawk bcd and I was doing a wall dive at 80' with about 200' below me when I noticed air was slowly dumping from the right shoulder dump. The scubapro gray pull had gone throught the D-ring and was stuck and constantly dumping air. I had no one close to help and found myself kicking to stay up against the rock wall so I would not sink while trying to fix the situation. I did get that little gray nob out and never could figure how it got stuck there in the first place. dont matter now cause I dont use the bcd I made the smart move and switched to BP/W.

 

[Steve_Dives]

I only have a year and a hundred dives on my gear, only problem I've had is my mask floods when my buddy makes me laugh!

[sarcasm/on]
I did have a gear problem at a resort; I had a tank that did NOT leak on one dive.
[sarcasm/off]

 

[tlmainer]

My problems have come with rental equip before I bought my own.
Free flow
Sticking reg's
BC on a night dive that would not air up
I did flood my own camera by not having latch completely secure (Dumb A_ _ move)

 

[nereas]

As a new diver, I rent or borrow pretty much everything except for mask, snorkel and fins. In my 30 dives, I've had 1 stuck inflator (slowly and steadily leaked air into the wing) and two BCs that couldn't stay inflated (right at that pull-dump where the corrugated inflator hose connects to the BC). One of the latter I caught at the store, the other was a slow enough leak where I didn't notice until some time in the water and had no trouble topping-off at the surface.

These problems happened on different equipment on different trips, and I'm pretty certain they're isolated. However, it got me wondering, how often do you run into problems, and what kind of problems are they?

I have had the B/C-wing inflator button sieze as well. When this happens on a foreign vacation, where there are no repair shops, it can be a big problem. So I always carry an extra inflator hose with me now.

Regulator free-flows are the other problem that is common with rental gear.

Both reg and inflator free-flows result from neglect of gear maintenance, which is common with rental gear.

Best thing would be to buy your own gear, except for weights and tanks, and take it with you. Then you can ensure the annual or semi-annual maintenance is performed.

 

[nereas]

I only have a year and a hundred dives on my gear, only problem I've had is my mask floods when my buddy makes me laugh!

[sarcasm/on]
I did have a gear problem at a resort; I had a tank that did NOT leak on one dive.
[sarcasm/off]

I have had my mask flood when my buddy steps on it in the boat. Then I go into the water with a broken mask which I am unaware is broken.

Now I always keep my mask(s) tucked into my fin foot "pockets" to protect them, until just before I am ready to put the mask on.

 

[scubadobadoo]

SAME AS THE REST...

blown o-rings are #1
slight reg free flow is #2
flooded or broken lights #3
dry suit issues are #4 (maybe #2 or #3 lol)
flooded camera housings #5

Most of this stuff can be avoided and most of it rarely happens and infrequently cancels a dive.

 

[nereas]

Although if you switch to a DIN connection, then blown O rings fall to -0-.

 

[ClayJar]

FWIW, with the pressure on it is usually harder to pull the collar back, and underwater wearing the gear and dealing with an inflating vest it is even harder. Tigerman is correct, the proper move is to disconnect the low pressure inflator hose (LPIH), while simultaniously dumping the vest. In the PADI OW diver confined water training each diver is required to master disconnecting their LPIH.

DSS makes those wonderful "hose hats" that you can slide onto any standard inflator (not the jumbo-sized octoflator ones, unfortunately). They're even available in pink (from both TDL and Think Pink Scuba, IIRC).

Although if you switch to a DIN connection, then blown O rings fall to -0-.

Of course, the count of *lost* O-rings increases significantly. (Why is it that the DIN reg face O-ring always makes a run for it when you are least capable of finding it? No worries, as I've got plenty of spares, but it's like they've got *brains* or something. :biggrin

 

[Tigerman]

Although if you switch to a DIN connection, then blown O rings fall to -0-.

Unless you have to rent tanks and the available tanks is yoke... Which is the only reason ive seen blown O-rings on the tank valve

 

[Cacia]

Never discount boat problems if you are drifting at night or in a remote place.

At least size up your vessel and factor it in to your chances of getting picked up, having the right equipment, etc. I have seen boats run out of fuel and the crank stuffing leak where the boat had to return quickly to the dock to keep from sinking.