High pressure hose blowing, can it happen UW?

[DougK]

On my second ocean dive earlier this year in Mexico, our dive leader back rolled off the boat and came up to find his high pressure hose had ruptured. I was at a slight distance from him and I could not see exactly where the break was -- only the bubbles churning the water.

This got me to thinking: does this happen often? was it likely poor maintance? and *** most importantly could this happen under water? What would happen if it did? Would he have instantly lost air to breath, or would it just have reduced the air to the regulator?

I was using rental equipment from the shop and was currious is maint. could have been an issue?

 

[David P]

you sure it was the high pressure? the HP is at tank pressure (around 3000psi) and not the low pressure (~150psi)

a hose with 150 psi with a good leak can whip around and hurt! (happend in the garage with my compressor) I would have to think that a 3000 psi hose could cut your leg or head off!

 

[jonnythan]

HP hoses have fairly small openings, and a busted one doesn't leak all that much. A blown LP hose will empty your tank before a blown HP hose.

Think about it... 3000 psi spread over an area only .01 square inches is only 30 pounds.

 

[teknitroxdiver]

If you have a high-pressure hose blow underwater, it will sound like a billion screaming teapots. And, if that hose gets pushed up against your flesh, it can (will) force air under the skin, possibly causing death. A LP hose can do this too.

 

[PhotoTJ]

I had my inflator hose QD come off, and jam open, from the boat they said it looked like I was swimming in the head of a glass of beer from a poorly tapped keg.

Blew about 1000 before I could contort myself enough to shut off the air.

 

[The Fresh Prince]

If you have a high-pressure hose blow underwater, it will sound like a billion screaming teapots. And, if that hose gets pushed up against your flesh, it can (will) force air under the skin, possibly causing death. A LP hose can do this too.

Gee Dr. K. Next time you dive, take your knife and cut your pressure gauge hose. You will find out that "it leaks very small bubbles". Not the whip of death you broadcast. :10:

 

[The Fresh Prince]

Gee Dr. K. Next time you dive, take your knife and cut your pressure gauge hose. You will find out that "it leaks very small bubbles". Not the whip of death you broadcast. :10:

Now, if your hp hose was to unscrew from your first stage, it would be very cool. And empty your tank in short order.

 

[scubajoe]

I saw an article somewhere on how long it takes to drain a tank with a high or low pressure hose failure at various depths. The low pressure hose was much quicker at all depths. The high pressure hose took a very long time to drain the tank. I will try and remember where I saw that info and post it.

Joe

 

[jonnythan]

teknitroxdiver has obviously never seen the inside of an HP hose. Find an old one and cut it in half.

 

[scubadoguk]

teknitroxdiver has obviously never seen the inside of an HP hose. Find an old one and cut it in half.

what he said about pressure injections is correct COULD give a embolism but the hose going off pop where ever it goes off will cause a problem for most divers, in 20 yrs I have seen 2 hoses blow and I had one LP whip me good enough to make me bleed through a tee shirt, so its possible but not likely