Freeze! Freeze?

[gene02]

Down in Georgia your probably diving warm water and if you have a free flow at all it's probably due to a maintenance issue. Up here in the Great lakes when your diving 35 degree water if your first stage goes the air rushing through it will supercool and freeze your gums. That will cost you a trip to the hospital. Not a good thing. That's why your taught to take the second stage out of your mouth and sip the air in the event of a free flow.
Chances are though if you stay below the Mason-Dixon line and or stick to quarries and properly maintain your gear, you won't have an issue. Get out on one of the Great Lakes in an open boat in November, well then, that's another story.

Jim

Hey thanks for that info Jim I had no idea! I have not dove in cold water yet but that makes sense now that I think about it.

 

[Barnacle B]

I had a free flow in Lake Michigan a few years ago. Was July and the water temp was 38 at 120 ft. Odd thing is, it was not my primary 2nd stag that had the free flow. I had a sealed system in my primary 1st and second stag. I overlooked my Octo. Had a cheapy. After all, it was just a backup (dumb,dumb,dumb!). The octo bagan to free flow. I was just beginnig my dive, so had plenty of air. Also had a pony with a sealed reg. I slowly and calmly started back up. At about 60 ft. during a stop, the free flow stopped. Finished my stops and surfaced. Don't overlook your octo!

 

[PhilEllis]

I have had regulators begin to freeze in the store while running massive amounts of air through them on the Atmospheric Inhalation test equipment. This was when the regulators were NOT in the water and the ambient temperature was at 68 to 70 degrees.

Phil Ellis
www.divesports.com