horizontal ascents

[ekewaka]

theoretically he could always orally inflate his wing -- although if he got a gulp of the gas inside it he'd have serious issues.

I don't think inhaling a little argon would hurt him. Argon is not toxic. The lack of oxygen is the problem.

I wouldn't want to breath any gas out of my wing, whether it contains oxygen or not.

 

[Soggy]

I don't think inhaling a little argon would hurt him. Argon is not toxic. The lack of oxygen is the problem.

It is incredibly narcotic, to the point of being able to knock you unconscious. Toxicity is a relative term. Anything is toxic, given the right conditions.

I wouldn't want to breath any gas out of my wing, whether it contains oxygen or not.

Agreed. In fact, the technique for breathing off your wing does not involve breathing the gas that is in it (though you might get some anyhow). The "3rd regulator" involves holding down both the inflate and deflate buttons while breathing. The gas should follow the path of least resistance (out into your mouth). It's a last ditch resort in the case of several serious failures (out of gas buddy and broken left post), but it is one that can exist if you run your inflation off the right post.

 

[globaldiver]

"I don't think inhaling a little argon would hurt him. Argon is not toxic. The lack of oxygen is the problem."

Argon, although inert is more narcotic than Nitrogen.

 

[ekewaka]

It is incredibly narcotic, to the point of being able to knock you unconscious. Toxicity is a relative term. Anything is toxic, given the right conditions.

I didn't know that. Do you think that inadvertently inhaling a few cubic inches while orally inflating your wing would be enough to knock you unconscious? I wasn't actually recommending breathing it.

Agreed. In fact, the technique for breathing off your wing does not involve breathing the gas that is in it (though you might get some anyhow). The "3rd regulator" involves holding down both the inflate and deflate buttons while breathing. The gas should follow the path of least resistance (out into your mouth). It's a last ditch resort in the case of several serious failures (out of gas buddy and broken left post), but it is one that can exist if you run your inflation off the right post.

I am aware of this technique, and I have practiced it. I agree that you would lose this 3rd regulator. Aside from that and a little more difficulty with hose routing, I don't think using argon for bc inflation would be any more of a safety risk, although I can't think of any benefit to it.

 

[rjack321]

I don't think using argon for bc inflation would be any more of a safety risk, although I can't think of any benefit to it.

I don't think there's any benefit either and it relys 100% on one reg, valve, and tank for your bouyancy on a tech dive. While wearing heavy steel doubles. That is a safety issue. Definately not DIR to boot. Kinda like the rest of the setup.

 

[mwhities]

I did a horizontal ascent tonight.

Michael

 

[TSandM]

Good for you, Michael!

I did one, too, and it was almost on time and on depth . . .

 

[nereas]

"I don't think inhaling a little argon would hurt him. Argon is not toxic. The lack of oxygen is the problem."

...

You should check with a tech instructor on that thought.

Where is Chickdiver when we actually need one?

 

[SparticleBrane]

...did you read what was posted...?

 

[lamont]

I didn't know that. Do you think that inadvertently inhaling a few cubic inches while orally inflating your wing would be enough to knock you unconscious? I wasn't actually recommending breathing it.

That's if everything goes well. If it goes poorly (consider something like the blockage in the LP inflator suddenly clears and the wing begins to auto-inflate) then you could get a mouthful of it... I just don't like the idea of sticking my mouth over a bag of gas that will kill me if I inhale it... call me crazy...