help with Hookah compressors...

[Graeme Tolton]

G'day all

Next year I plan to clean my boat using the increasingly popular hookah-type setup and would like to ask some advice about the compressors people use before purchasing one. I need to get a compressor for paint spraying in a couple of weeks so rather than get two, I'm looking for one that can be used for both purposes (paint spraying now & very occasional shallow diving in the future). I should point out that the diving will only be a couple of hours every couple of months (to clean a hull with draft of 2m). I plan to get all the proper equipment and take a course prior to doing anything dive-related, including getting the other components (I'll also be hoping for advice on these in due course), but I'm ready to get the compressor now.

My question is, would a compressor with the following spec be suitable as a hookah-type compressor to be used as outlined above (assuming all the correct filters/hose/regulators etc):

2.5HP oil-free w/ 50 litre reciever tank
f.a.d. 8.8cfm
10 bar max pressure

Any feedback on suitable compressor spec would be gratefully received, thanks.

Wolf

If you plan on taking a scuba course, why bother with surface supply? Fwiw rent gear when you need to clean the hull. One al80 should last 1 1/2-2 hrs at 4 m.

 

[Dave Chicagp]

Here's a related question, in that paint is involved. Can I use a diving hookah as a positive air pressure respirator when epoxying down below on the boat (in the boatyard) and use the same rig to dive and clean the bottom of the boat? If so, any issues about which I should be aware?

 

[frogman62]

Dave, If the compressor is truly a diving Hookah compressor, you can use it safely for breathing air with a full face mask. You want to be able to keep the air on your face free from the fumes of the epoxy, just like the fire fighters use a full face mask to protect them from toxic smoke.
There is no reason that a full face mask designed for diving can't be used for breathing air on the surface or in the hold on your boat. However , don't attempt to use an face mask for fire fighters under water, as it is not designed for that purpose.

 

[Karnic]

Thanks for the detailed info Jim. I'm totally new to diving so please forgive me if I've misunderstood your reply, but I think we must be talking about different systems or something... The commercially available hookah diving systems operate at much lower pressures & air volumes than you have indicated. For example, one of the Air Line compressor's is 2.18cfm @ 50psi but is reportedly good for one diver down to 50ft (Air Line Diving System | The Air Line by J. Sink) & the hookahmax compressor is 2.55cfm @ 65psi, which they advertise as enough for 2 divers to 30ft (Hookamax Dive Systems). Am I missing something here?

To answer your other questions: the compressor I was looking at is an electric single head piston, oil-less operation but not a diaphragm compressor, so I will continue searching.

Thanks again.
Wolf

HI Mate

I came across your reply on the forum and I think you could be of great help.
I am a 50 year old man . I live in Malta Europe .

As stated I live in Malta and as it is an island in the Mediterranean since young we swim a lot so I can say that I am a good swimmer. I also own a 23ft open boat in which I use for fishing and recreational. I snorkel and sometimes I freedive as well( Hold breath ) in order to clean hull and do some checks etc.
In order to clean hull I used to freedive under the boat clean a bit and go up for air repeatedly. I do half a boat whilst my brother do the other half. Also in order to attach mooring chain and rope, to mooring block , I used to hire a diver . Lately I was thinking that doing this kind of work is not that safe first because In order to get the job done I hold my breath underwater for prolonged time and secondly, I am finding issue hectic , tiring and with a lot of hassle.

As Im getting old I decided to buy a hookah system ( Air buddy ) which cost me a fortune but in order to make the job easier I considered it will be a valuable tool. Also as stated although i freedive and swim a lot I am not that familiar with scuba gear but I talk a lot with local scuba guys over here and do lots of online research. Online research was very valuable but honestly it scared me lots after reading about possible dangers which I honestly pay attention to but are making me paranoid after using system.

In order to cut story short the only use I bought this hookah system for the SOLE USE to clean under hull ( 1 and a half metre depth ) and maybe attach mooring ropes to mooring ( maximum 3 metres )

The issues in which I need your expert advise are these:
1 I am very aware that I have to breathe in and out ( opposed to freediving). Lets say Im under the boat cleaning hull and I inhale and exhale and ascend ( 1 metre) If I just exhaled I would not need more breathes while ascending cause i resurface in a couple of seconds. Am I right?
2 As I am not going very deep 100% sure do I need to worry about decompression limit issue?
3 As maximum time underwater would be half an hour what issues should I watch out for? Barotrauma is an issue I worry about cause as stated I used to dive holding breath and with hookah i understand that you have to breath and so technically its the opposite and i am not used to breathing underwater. However talking with locals here many said that if not going deep there seems to be less dangers than going very deep and should not be that much concerned, just to breathe normally while underwater.
4 I am getting a bit paranoid if im breathing correctly or not. Will bubbles coming out of regulator confirm im EXHALING ie I Am emptying lung?

I understand fully that taking a Scuba course would be of a benefit for me and my brother but as I am responsible and will not dive that deep do I really need to take it . With the money I spent on the hookah moneywise I cant afford it at the mo ( course) . First use of hookah i practiced taking breathes snorkelling with the hookah from surface first and then i think will go for the dive to clean after getting used to it. Locals here think that I am overthinking but I understand also that safety concerns are not to be taken lightly especially underwater . I still try to find a scuba course and take it some time but at the moment moneywise its a bit of a problem. Also after my first try I really enjoyed snorkelling with the breathing apparatus but as i resurfaced I was struck by an anxiety attack cause you know I kept thinking if I damaged lungs etc (after all the research I done ) and felt abit dizzy or disorientated. Normal? I think it was an anxiety attack .

Appreciate lots your kind help and thanks for your time.

Kind Regards

 

[CG43]

Hello Karnic

First , you are not to old .
At your age, the famous Russian apnea Queen Natalia Molchanova started her career .

Do not underestimate your skills . As a freediver you are a diver and have the best conditions to dive safely with the Air Buddy.

At max. 12 m depth and 55 min diving time there are no deco problems.

Don't say you don't have money for a diving course , you can read that cheaply in any diving book or in the net.

An actual danger, as you already know, is the barothrauma of the lungs .

Let's do some calculations :

Depth 3 m, 90% lung volume, ascent without exhalation.
1.3 ATM / 1 ATM (surface) * 0.9 Max Volume = 1.17 Max Volume.
Damage to the lungs is likely.

Depth 3 m, 77% lung volume, ascent without exhalation.
1.3 ATM / 1 ATM * 0.77 Max Volume = 1.0 Max Volume .
Damage to the lungs. is unlikely .

Depth 12 m, 40% lung volume, ascent without exhalation.
2.2 ATM / 1 ATM * 0.40 Max Volume = 0.88 Max Volume .
No damage to the lungs.

As the calculations show, it is not even necessary to exhale during the ascent in any case, but you should get used to it for safety reasons.
When diving down and constant depth, you can breathe the way you want.

I like the design of the AirBuddy .
It will do what you need .
What about the noise and what percentage of the time does the engine run when you dive calmly?

My first diving apparatus i build 15 years old was a hand pump , 50 m cheap garden hose , a savety non return valve and a exhaust valve .
The boy who pumped had to interrupt the pumping more often to get kinks out of the hose. At 7.5 m depth we were already pushing with our full weight on the pump lever. We even dived under the ice with it. When the pumping boy got tired , he just stopped . The diver waited, was it just a kinck in the hose, or was it over with air and he had to surface ?

Greetings Rainer