Gear rinse tub sanitation - a study

[muddiver]

The following was copied from the American Academy of Underwater Sciences new letter:

Washburn BK, Levin AE, Hennessy K, Miller MR.
Identification of bacteria in scuba divers' rinse tanks.
Undersea Hyperb Med. 2010;37(4):233-40.
Scuba divers typically rinse equipment in communal
tanks. Studies show these tanks are contaminated with
bacteria, but the types of bacteria have not been studied.
We sought to identify bacteria in rinse tanks at a dive
facility at San Pedro, Belize, to determine the origin of the
bacteria and determine whether the bacteria represented
potential threats to human health. The identity of bacteria
was investigated using reverse line blot (RLB) assays
based on 28 different rDNA probes designed to detect
known pathogens of sepsis, as well as by sequencing 23S
rDNA from isolates and performing VITEK identification
of several isolates. Based on the identities of bacteria in
divers' rinse tanks, many likely originate from the ocean,
and others likely originate from the divers themselves.
None of the bacteria identified would be considered overt
human pathogens. However, some of the bacteria found in
the tanks are known to be associated with unsanitary
conditions and can cause opportunistic infections, which
may pose health problems to some individuals. Rinsing
scuba equipment in communal tanks has the potential to
transmit disease among some divers. Equipment,
especially regulators and masks, should be rinsed/cleaned
individually and not be placed in communal tanks.

 

[Ana]

And I would think the same is true (to a lesser extent) for the communal mask rinse bucket.

For the life of me I can't understand the "throw your mask in the bucket" mentality, which is so well accepted every where.
In what world is ok to pour the substance of your choice all over your mask and then spread that substance in the bucket, just to be mixed with the 2nd mask that may or may not have the same substance. Even nicer for the people that use substances that produce bubbles... oh yes, I love to have your crud all over my mask and mask strap.

I always thought the way to use the mask bucket was to:
-grab some fresh water with the mask
-swish the water around the mask
-discard water

 

[lmorin]

............
I always thought the way to use the mask bucket was to:
-grab some fresh water with the mask
-swish the water around the mask
-discard water

Exactly. But we were on a liveaboard recently and the majority of folks first sprayed their masks with a soap solution, then used the mask bucket as a sink in which to rinse the soap from the mask. After most people had rinsed, there was as much soap in the bucket as was originally in the spray bottle. Hard to rinse out the excess under those circumstances.

 

[Lenaxia]

The rinse buckets near our LDS basically look like they are part of the ocean. There is obvious growth of... stuff... on the inside. Looks like a freshwater tank that is never cleaned.

 

[Garrobo]

It's Bush's fault.

 

[PatW]

It depends on the rinse bucket. I was at a resort recently. Their rinse buckets are emptied every night and turned over to drain and dry. I would think just doing that would cut down on the growth of any flora in the rinse buckets considerably. It would not eliminate it. If a place was using your normal slightly clorinated municipal water, that would cut down on any kind of growth even more.

 

[Buoyant1]

Two years ago I got an NASTY eye infection from (what the dr thought) rinsing my mask in the communal bucket! he said that either a combination of defog's or just plain old bacteria caused it!

The only things I rinse in communal buckets are wetsuits, (booties, gloves, hoods) my bp/w, and my fins! Regs get rinsed in the sink or by hose, same with the masks! I also carry a bottle of fresh water to rinse my mask on dive boats.

 

[ScubaSam]

i also carry a bottle of fresh water to rinse my mask on dive boats.

+ 1

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I rinse my mask in the water I'm about to go diving in ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Walter]

I rinse my mask in the water I'm about to go diving in ...

I often rinse my mask on my descent.