free flowing reg

[MASS-Diver]

Yup, very good advice here as usual.

Last year, my buddy had a free-flow in cold, freshwater. We were in about 50' of water and both had over a 1/2 tank left. He sipped his reg and then grabbed my primary. We slowly ascended, by the time we reached the surface he had only about 200psi left.
If you're diving singles, don't waste time going for your octo, go for your buddies air ASAP as a free-flow really can drain a tank fast.

 

[Phil TK]

BlueWaterDiving once bubbled...
I Some time you can get your buddy's octo and have him or her trun your air off and then trun it back on agian and it sometime's this works for a safe ascent.

I've heard that this can be worth trying. Using your buddy's octopus and then have him shut off your air -then turn it on again half a minute or so later, there is a chance that the reg won't blow again (then obviously use your own octopus to ascend as normal if poss and end the dive) if it does blow again then you could breath the bubbles. On this point I'm not sure about breathing a free flow with the reg in the mouth, I 've always practised it with the reg out -this enables you to tilt your head so that the bubbles don't go right in front of your mask obscuring vision. However I think I will try it with the reg 'in' to see how it works for me, obviously having both hands free is advantagous.
For those who use twinsets this link shows a nice idea.
http://www.divernet.com/gear/invert1198.htm

Phil TK

 

[o2scuba]

Phil TK once bubbled...


I've heard that this can be worth trying. Using your buddy's octopus and then have him shut off your air -then turn it on again half a minute or so later, there is a chance that the reg won't blow again.




Good advice, this does work. While you are breathing through your buddies octo, try removing octo (briefly) and exhaling you warm breath through your own 2nd stage to help thaw it out. Then have buddy turn tank back on after a minute or two

In any case, I suggest getting a reg system that has cold water features.

A first stage with either a "dry bleed" system- constantly leaks a minute amount of air whenever you are NOT inhaling.
or
an environmentaly sealed first stage. Some are silicone packed

A second stage that has "metal fins" inside the plastic housing. The metel helps transer some of the heat from your exhalations to the orafice, discouraging freeze ups.

Also a couple of habits to develop when diving in cool conditions:

Exhale through the second stage several times just prior to descending-helps warm it up a little.

Be sure to maintain a slow-deep breathing pattern (even tho your butt cheecks are puckering up). Fast breathing can contribute to freeze.

Add air slowly (small incriments) to your bc-yep that low pressure inflator can free flow too-that can get pretty hairy, as you can immagine.
.
Hope this helps,

Andrew

 

[MikeFerrara]

Why not turn it off and on yourself?

 

[o2scuba]

MikeFerrara once bubbled...
Why not turn it off and on yourself?

Certainly an option. Although with the decrease in mobility accompanied by being linked up to a buddy sharing air, it might be eisier to have buddy do it. Also your own movements (lifting tank higher, reaching up behind your shoulder, or removing BC etc..) could increase the risk of dislodging your buddies reg.

Guess your level of experience would play a factor as well. An Open Water or Advanced Open water diver may not yet have the experience or confidence to perform this task on their own while so many other things are happening.

 

[Genesis]

is an ESSENTIAL skill and ESSENTIAL requirement for safety, IMHO.

If you can't get to your(s), then you need to fix that problem.

 

[o2scuba]

Genesis once bubbled...
is an ESSENTIAL skill and ESSENTIAL requirement for safety, IMHO.

If you can't get to your(s), then you need to fix that problem.

True, I agree. However doing it yourself would not be the appropriate action here.

We are not discussing solo, cave or tech diving. In this case the buddy is available. It is a recreational dive (recreational divers).

You speak of safety? Surely you can appreciate the need to reduce the amount of chance of more problems.

 

[Genesis]

then I should be perfectly free to manipulate my own valves to attempt to clear the problem.

The issue with someone ELSE doing it is that now you are not completely certain where the valve is positioned (in terms of open/closed.)

In this scenario you already have a good supply of gas. There is thus no reason for you not to do your own valve manipulation, except, of course, if you can't reach it!

Actually, your buddy messing with it is probably not so good, especially if he doesn't have a long hose he just gave you. Why? The first priority in an air-share is not to yank the shared regulator out of the receiver's mouth!

 

[o2scuba]

Genesis once bubbled...
then I should be perfectly free to manipulate my own valves to attempt to clear the problem.


AGAIN... we are talking about REC divers. . this is beyand their level of training By taking the attitude that you have to do it yourself (or that your buddy is somehow incompetent) you are creating a safety issue for the other diver. YOU are already in danger, don't jeopertise your buddies safety now by flailing around cranking valves, or removing your BC.





"The issue with someone ELSE doing it is that now you are not completely certain where the valve is positioned (in terms of open/closed.)"

(Not to hard to figure out there einstien, if the bubbles stop, chances are your bud was sucessful shutting off the tank)





"In this scenario you already have a good supply of gas. There is thus no reason for you not to do your own valve manipulation, except, of course, if you can't reach it!"



Of course you CAN reach it. But unless you wear your BC on your belly, that valve is behind you. An inexcperienced diver is LIKELY to knock out the buddies reg with that one motion of reaching behind. Or yanking so hard on the hose while removing BC that they will be left with only a mouthpiece, and of course those last thoughts of your advise.

I think THAT is a pretty good reason.






"Actually, your buddy messing with it is probably not so good, especially if he doesn't have a long hose he just gave you. Why? The first priority in an air-share is not to yank the shared regulator out of the receiver's mouth!

"

True, and how is this accomplished? By Linking up with your buddy, physically holding each other so he/she is not dragging you around by the teeth. Thus one hand is occupied, making the valve task more complicated.

A proper alternate air source is attached to the right side of the first stage, guess why?

That buddy of yours, just next to you, has a perfect view of the valve and can reach it effortlessly.


I don't think any experienced dive pro would argue that this is both easier and safer.

 

[MikeFerrara]

I realize this isn't the tech section. I'm not saying it should be cnsidered a requirement for rec divers but I rarely dive without a redundant reg meaning an H-valve for a single tank or doubles. For a streight foreward thing like a free flow it would be unlikely that I would require assistance.

However, in the context of recreational diving, don't mess around at depth trying to thaw a reg. Breath on the free flowing reg and head for the surface (as a team). Don't share unless you need to and don't try to thaw equipment at depth your just wasting time and gas and making things more complicated.

If a reg is handled wrong in the cold it may freeze at the surface. This reg may be usable when thawed. If a reg freezes at depth and there wasn't an obvious cause (like bumping a purge or some other large gas demand) I wouldn't use the reg again in those conditions. Even if the reg thawed I would still end the dive.

I dive mostly cold water and have only had one reg freeze and that one had the purge bumped on the edge of the ice.