Do you turn the air off or leave it on after setting up on a tank?

[Baker_Dive]

Why would I disconnect a reg I just attached and knowing that the gas is off? The gauge clearly shows 0, I know it is now off and 0 and I know that my setup is functional.


That would indeed ....suck. Maybe if it is such a concern of not doing a gear check pre negative entry that maybe you should you leave your gas on but also practice and be able to work that valve while it is on your back.

Because you(any diver, could be his first dive from being certified) can be too excited to remember turning it back on and jump in water. Ask any Boat DM how many divers attempted to jump in with air turned off and luckily DM caught it and turned it open for them.

My point wasn’t to suggest that one SHOULD remove reg, my point was that once reg is hooked up air should be on, no good reason not to be.

Always assume your air is off, never jump in water without doing three giant breaths staring at spg. That is redundancy.

 

[Baker_Dive]

All of this discussion about jumping in with your air off, which I agree it is absolutely critical to have self-check procedures in place to ensure does not happen, does make me ask a question though. Can you not reach your valve? It has always been important to me to ensure that I can reach back and turn on my own gas. While I have NEVER jumped in with my air off, I regularly reach back and feather by valve during a dive. That reinforces the muscle memory to be able to reach and turn the valve if the need every arises. If you've not done this, it's a good idea to give it a try.

It is not a requirement for new certified divers to learn to turn tank on in water.

The people who jump in with air off and panic are newer divers and are taught redundancy on the surface to ensure it does not happen.

So far only reasons not to leave air on is to save psi from accidental bump or battery life.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

It is not a requirement for new certified divers to learn to turn tank on in water.

It's not rocket science. Reach back with your right hand, grab the valve handle, turn it. Lesson over. The challenge is (1) can you reach the valve and (2) practice enough to build muscle memory to quickly find the valve knob.

The people who jump in with air off and panic are newer divers and are taught redundancy on the surface to ensure it does not happen.

I wish that were the case but it is not. We've had a recent incident in Palm Beach County FL and it was an experienced diver who drowned.

 

[Baker_Dive]

It's not rocket science. Reach back with your right hand, grab the valve handle, turn it. Lesson over. The challenge is (1) can you reach the valve and (2) practice enough to build muscle memory to quickly find the valve knob.



I wish that were the case but it is not. We've had a recent incident in Palm Beach County FL and it was an experienced diver who drowned.

Have you dove or witnessed new divers? Some can’t clear a damn mask without flailing to the surface. We agree it’s easy and should be taught, however it’s not, so it’s a moot point.

That’s tragic and reinforces my point on redundancy. Leave valve open if reg is attached and do three giant breaths while staring at spg before getting in water.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

Have you dove or witnessed new divers?

No, I don't dive. I just like to talk about it on the internet.

 

[NW Dive Dawg]

For shore dives I fully pressurize both main and pony on my tailgate, check gauges, confirm pressures, take 1 or 2 breaths from primary second stage, pony second stage and Air 2. , check BC inflator / deflator....then strap in and go. Same thing if diving from my own boat......only gunnel instead of tailgate.

For charter boat dives I set up my gear asap once onboard, check all of the above and then fully depressurize for the ride. Then once we are a minute or 2 from splash time, re-pressurize, check gauge pressures and then strap in. Once ready to stride or back-roll, a couple of oral breaths into my BC, one final check of gauges for pressures, 2 or three nice hooves off of my primary 2nd stage and then go...

The two things I do that may be different than a lot of other folks are:

1) I NEVER, EVER......turn my tank valves on and then back a quarter turn. I just turn all the way on to a gentle stop. The quarter turn back rule, in my opinion, is a recipe for potentially ending up with partially "on" tank. I want my tanks all the way on or all the way off.

2) I dive with a small 2 inch SPG on my pony rig so that I can easily monitor / check pressure before and DURING my dive.

 

[Jeff_O]

Have you dove or witnessed new divers? Some can’t clear a damn mask without flailing to the surface. We agree it’s easy and should be taught, however it’s not, so it’s a moot point.

That’s tragic and reinforces my point on redundancy. Leave valve open if reg is attached and do three giant breaths while staring at spg before getting in water.

A gradually sloping beach dive on a calm day maybe not so bad if air is off. The one without much air in bc and air is off jumping off a boat is different. I would not be using a snorkel jumping off the boat. That is for surface swim. Turn off air and back on, I do since I check the garage and breathe with reg in mouth before jumping. Also remember to have legs with fins ready to come together, just as you are above the water from jumping off a boat height. Holding mask. Give sign with hand atop your head if all good and get away from some idiot that jumps from above before you clear out. I also use the silicone liquid spray on valves on bc for first dive to help prevent sticking valves. I guess I am just tedious with regard to dive prep and have a mind to double check.

 

[azstinger11]

For shore dives I fully pressurize both main and pony on my tailgate, check gauges, confirm pressures, take 1 or 2 breaths from primary second stage, pony second stage and Air 2. , check BC inflator / deflator....then strap in and go. Same thing if diving from my own boat......only gunnel instead of tailgate.

For charter boat dives I set up my gear asap once onboard, check all of the above and then fully depressurize for the ride. Then once we are a minute or 2 from splash time, re-pressurize, check gauge pressures and then strap in. Once ready to stride or back-roll, a couple of oral breaths into my BC, one final check of gauges for pressures, 2 or three nice hooves off of my primary 2nd stage and then go...

The two things I do that may be different than a lot of other folks are:

1) I NEVER, EVER......turn my tank valves on and then back a quarter turn. I just turn all the way on to a gentle stop. The quarter turn back rule, in my opinion, is a recipe for potentially ending up with partially "on" tank. I want my tanks all the on or all the way off.

2) I dive with a small 2 inch SPG on my pony rig so that I can easily monitor / check pressure before and DURING my dive.

Minus having my own boat to worry about, i do the same. If I am diving with a pony bottle it has an SPG clipped off to it.

I also usually build up my OC rig the night before when possible instead of on the boat/tailgate.

 

[Baker_Dive]

No, I don't dive. I just like to talk about it on the internet.

From your comments it seems true

 

[Divin'Papaw]

From your comments it seems true

Seriously? You are just a master at making friends and influencing people aren't you? Get off your high horse for just a minute and quit reading into other people's posts what you think they are saying. Read what others have to say, process it, and if you have an alternative viewpoint, articulate that without being obnoxious.