oldflounder
Contributor
- Messages
- 543
- Reaction score
- 76
- # of dives
- 200 - 499
I read this in Scubaboard Articles_Scuba Skills_Intermediate and Advanced Scuba Skills_Choosing the BCD You Need by John Adsit
[Some BCDs replace the normal low pressure inflator hose with one that also serves as an alternate air source. While all low pressure inflators can be used for air in an emergency, some designs incorporate a fully functioning regulator. In an out of air emergency, the donor gives the buddy the primary second stage and then uses the regulator on the low pressure inflator. Since many or most out of air emergencies are signaled when your buddy yanks the regulator from your mouth, this is a convenient way to go on breathing, and it has the advantage of eliminating an entangling hose from your regulator setup. Although this comes standard in some BCD designs, it can be added separately to most BCDs.]
What caught my eye, and what I have wondered about in the past, is this portion"While all low pressure inflators can be used for air in an out of air emergency" I have done a search here but I can't find any answer quickly.
I have read in an OOA you can suck off any excess air in your bladder in an emergency ascent because it will expand as you rise.
Supposing you had an issue with a malfunctioning primary and you didn't have an octo [stupid I know] or your hoses were cut by the bad guys, could you breath off your inflator mouthpiece by mainipulating the inflation button and release buttons? Would the pressure on your chest, at let's say 80', be too great on your chest to allow you to breath in without a primary regulator.
[Some BCDs replace the normal low pressure inflator hose with one that also serves as an alternate air source. While all low pressure inflators can be used for air in an emergency, some designs incorporate a fully functioning regulator. In an out of air emergency, the donor gives the buddy the primary second stage and then uses the regulator on the low pressure inflator. Since many or most out of air emergencies are signaled when your buddy yanks the regulator from your mouth, this is a convenient way to go on breathing, and it has the advantage of eliminating an entangling hose from your regulator setup. Although this comes standard in some BCD designs, it can be added separately to most BCDs.]
What caught my eye, and what I have wondered about in the past, is this portion"While all low pressure inflators can be used for air in an out of air emergency" I have done a search here but I can't find any answer quickly.
I have read in an OOA you can suck off any excess air in your bladder in an emergency ascent because it will expand as you rise.
Supposing you had an issue with a malfunctioning primary and you didn't have an octo [stupid I know] or your hoses were cut by the bad guys, could you breath off your inflator mouthpiece by mainipulating the inflation button and release buttons? Would the pressure on your chest, at let's say 80', be too great on your chest to allow you to breath in without a primary regulator.