Help! How much damage Is done when...?

[robm76]

I can unfortunately relate to this problem. Bought brand new reg set to take on vacation to belize in one week. My wife rinsed it with water sans dust cap after her refresher course in a pool (guess they should have refreshed her on gear maintenance too!). This brought up a few questions in my mind, though. Does it matter if your rinse tub was not contaminated with salt (ie. less likely to corrode?)

I have a Mares proton V16 and like to tinker. Would it be that hard to open and take a look or am I creating more potential problems with only a week to go before our dive trip?

 

[Mr Carcharodon]

OK, I have this “friend” who dunked his Brand new (less than 10 dives) Aqualung Legend LX Supreme in the dunk tank on the dive boat….without replacing the dust cap. .

Why do you assume that any harm was done at all? The inside of your "friends" regulator is basically the same materials as the outside. If the outside is not corroded why do you assume the inside would be? The only real difference is the inside dries more slowly since the water can not escape as easily. Purging was the right thing to do since it should have blown the residual water out. The only real hiccup is that you may have blow water down into the SPG. But that can be detached and allowed to dry too.

Of course the dive shops will tell you that an overhaul is required. I suggest you ask them why. They will probably tell you that mysterious bad things will have happened, and that you must give them the regulator and your money immediately. But ask them exactly what bad things happened and they will probably be stumped. You will have to judge why that is.

 

[CPDiver]

And the verdict is....

I took the reg into SeaDog divers in New Smyrna Beach, Florida after receiving the mixed opinions above. Rick, the Tech took the 1st stage apart and announced... the reg was "almost" completely dry. He dried, and lubricated the 1st stage and put it back together for me for a grand total charge of 0$. I gave him $20 for his time and my piece of mind.

Sea Dogs is a throwback shop. Good guys who love diving and bend over backwards to take care of you. Even if your LDS is 1200 miles away.

Thanks for all the input.

Bill