Emergency--lost P-valve plug

[boulderjohn]

My P-valve has one of those screw in plugs with the holes in it. When I want to use it, I unscrew it to the point that the holes in the shaft are exposed.

I was hanging my suit to dry tonight and noticed I had lost the plug. I have no replacement, and I am supposed to dive in the morning. If I "charge" the hose just before the dive, will I be OK? Or am I putting myself at risk for a UTI?

I will be diving fresh water in a cave.

 

[Peter_C]

As long as your catheter doesn't doesn't fail it isn't a problem. I used to leave mine open from the beginning of the dive to the end, with a non balanced simple bolt. You could also throw an o-ring on a bolt and seal it up.

FWIW I stored my bolt in my wetnotes so I would never loose it.

 

[BabyDuck]

yes - 'charge' it, and as long as you don't have a pop-off, you'll be fine.

 

[TSandM]

Look at it this way -- leaving the valve open is not much different from diving in a wetsuit

UTIs from catheters are much more related to backflow of urine from the resistance of voiding through a long, thin tube than they are exposure to sea water.

You'll be in a world of hurt with a popoff or disconnect, though -- I hope this is a recreational dive?

 

[boulderjohn]

Thanks, folks.

I did two dives at Madison Blue today. They were wonderful dives. As I descended the platform on each dive I charged the system and had zero problems.

The reason I as concerned was that I had a friend whose suit flooded during a dive, he had a malfunction in his balancing chamber, got the flooded water into the system, and he got a UTI that was painful to watch, let alone be a part of. He ahd the same brand P-valve as I.

 

[JahJahwarrior]

Ah so you are the gentleman from Colorado I was talking with at the table!

P valve bolts are for people who wear non- Rochester wideband catheters or who want to snag the line my bolt lives in my wetnotes.

 

[boulderjohn]

Ah so you are the gentleman from Colorado I was talking with at the table!

You know, when you mentioned where you were from, etc., I was suspicious and almost said something. Sorry I didn't!