How often do you test you alternate/octo?

[DBailey]

When I first started diving, I was ignorant enough to assume that my alternate air source would always work. After spending enough time on this board and reading about other's practice and experiences (good and bad), I have taken to checking my alternate air source on every dive.

My practice is three steps (with securing the alternate between steps so no danglies):

1. Check my primary and alternate when setting up my gear (or switching tanks). I actually take three of four breaths off them instead of just purging. I can be proactive in correcting anything without delaying the next dive.

2. I switch between my primary and alternate during descent. Just a couple times. Easier to turn around now if something is wrong.

3. Check one more time at my depth. This should represent the "most extreme" that the alternate will see on this dive.

I have had a couple dive buddies look at me funny underwater then question what I was doing upon surfacing. It sinks home once you tell them that you are making sure their back-up air source is working properly (PADI recreational set-up, no long hose or bungeed back-up).

Do others check their alternate this often? Or am I in the minority?

 

[Dive-aholic]

I test regs on the surface and at depth, with a bubble check at 15-20'.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I wear my alternate second-stage on a necklace, and test it every dive by breathing off of it while finning up for the dive.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[ScubaFreak]

Every dive- without fail.
Its a too important piece of equipment not to check at the same time you check your primary.

SF

 

[goodknight411]

Test before every dive and purge-check @ depth. Probably should breath off it, but usually don't.

 

[teknitroxdiver]

Purge-check? Hmm.

I test mine before and at some point during each dive.

 

[mdsd]

two or three breaths on the shore/boat (pre-dive)

and one quik purge at depth - free flow is the issue - had a free flow on my alt after a wave hit me and it emptied 500 psi quickly

always check the adjustment if there is one, sometimes it can move when gearing up

 

[El Orans]

Before and during every dive.

 

[munkispank]

ditto

 

[Tanked Monkey]

I check my primary and alternate before and during every dive. I also do the gas "smell" test before I breathe the regulator, as off-smelling gas can indicate other problems. Then a few breaths from each on the boat and a few breaths from each during the descent. Not too difficult, since my alternate is bungeed around my neck.

One time I was diving with a new buddy who just got a new backup regulator. He didn't tell me he would be breathing off it UW to test it out. When I saw him stick his alternate in his mouth, I was right up on him asking him if he was having problems. Made for a stressful minute or 2, until he told me what he was doing.

Mike