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After discussing the seldom examined risk on a few threads here (see this list) and shopping for a portable CO monitor/tester at the most reasonable prices possible for purchase and use, I found that there are actually few available - but purchased the newly updated Model 300 manufactured by KWJ Engineering Inc: Detect Carbon Monoxide
It cost a little more than the first one I found, now not available, but then is more accurate and lower cost over time and tanks examined. My Instructor was to lead a group trip to Utila Is, Honduras well before my next trip tho - so I asked him if he'd like to borrow it, check it out, and consider carrying it in their LDS. I gave them a call today to ask how they got along with it? "Don, you may have saved our butts!"
They took it, but with the host of details of getting a group started diving after flying to Central American country and covering all the usual safety needs - they forgot to use it the first day, until his wife complained of a bad taste during the first dive. They quickly retrieved the tester and discovered the air tanks filled by the resort were fine, but the Nitrox tanks supplied by another vendor in town were registering 15 ppm on this instrument known for its accuracy. Nitrox diving was immediately suspended until all tanks and the compressor could be drained and cleaned and the next days tanks cleared testing at less than 5 ppm. In addition to my PADI/TDI Instructor, they also had a fireman in the group who supplied information as to the possible and cumulative effects of CO poisoning.
15 ppm is not nearly as bad as experienced in the May 22 Maldives accident that killed one and injured nine, but it is 50% more than the 10 ppm allowed as the maximum accepted. It's impossible to say what diving gases at that contaminated level might have done to members of the group if the levels did not change? At best, I would think that the group travel & dive experience could have possibly been marred with "travelers flu" in some; the outcome could possibly been worse as CO affects some more than others.
As it turned out, the trip went smoothly after that; I'll be retrieving my tester this week and the LDS will be carrying it for sale as soon as it can be supplied.
I started to not bother offering, as it was a little much of me offering suggestions to my Tech Instructor - but that's never stopped me before. I am so glad I did now; I don't know how I would have handled it if I hadn't offered and someone got hurt.
They took it, but with the host of details of getting a group started diving after flying to Central American country and covering all the usual safety needs - they forgot to use it the first day, until his wife complained of a bad taste during the first dive. They quickly retrieved the tester and discovered the air tanks filled by the resort were fine, but the Nitrox tanks supplied by another vendor in town were registering 15 ppm on this instrument known for its accuracy. Nitrox diving was immediately suspended until all tanks and the compressor could be drained and cleaned and the next days tanks cleared testing at less than 5 ppm. In addition to my PADI/TDI Instructor, they also had a fireman in the group who supplied information as to the possible and cumulative effects of CO poisoning.
15 ppm is not nearly as bad as experienced in the May 22 Maldives accident that killed one and injured nine, but it is 50% more than the 10 ppm allowed as the maximum accepted. It's impossible to say what diving gases at that contaminated level might have done to members of the group if the levels did not change? At best, I would think that the group travel & dive experience could have possibly been marred with "travelers flu" in some; the outcome could possibly been worse as CO affects some more than others.
As it turned out, the trip went smoothly after that; I'll be retrieving my tester this week and the LDS will be carrying it for sale as soon as it can be supplied.
I started to not bother offering, as it was a little much of me offering suggestions to my Tech Instructor - but that's never stopped me before. I am so glad I did now; I don't know how I would have handled it if I hadn't offered and someone got hurt.
