Incident—all well

[Catito]

Diving in the Keys. My Buddy and I were in the water at 25ft swimming around the reef near the boat, waiting for the other divers to enter the water. I typically dive with steel tanks. Just as everyone was down and the guide started out, I heard a loud roar. I bumped my Buddy, and pointed to my tank. She immediately gave the thumbs up—and shoved her octo towards me, but I was still getting nitrox so I didn’t take it. She grabbed the first stage of my tank and started pulling me up—and we went up together slowly. As we were going up I started to unbuckle from my BCD in case the steel tank became too heavy—I was going to ditch my gear if necessary and swim to the surface. At the surface she turned off my tank. I swam to the boat, connected up with my second tank while everyone patiently waited at depth, and once back in we had a nice dive. Turns out my O-ring had blown.

Thoughts afterwards:
1. I was happy we were not at 100ft but only 25ft
2. Instead of ditching my gear (which I did not) I could have inflated my BCD before my tank emptied or orally inflated my BCD and ditched my weights.
3. Was proud of my Buddy for her quick action. Neither of us panicked despite all the bubbles and noise…but again, at 25ft the surface is right there.
4. I will inspect my O-rings closer prior to future dives
5. I was happy that the dive op accommodated me and allowed me to switch out quickly and take the dive.

 

[Searcaigh]

I will inspect my O-rings closer prior to future dives

Always a good thing to do.

Consider converting your first stage to a DIN, less likely to have any tank O-ring issues when at depth.

 

[Catito]

Always a good thing to do.

Consider converting your first stage to a DIN, less likely to have any tank O-ring issues when at depth.

Great idea.

 

[Angelo Farina]

No DIN valve, I suppose, and a single first stage with a single valve...
I never considered such a setup "safe enough" for me. I witnessed too many O-ring extrusions with Yoke regs....
My current tank is a 15-liters Faber steel, it has two convertible DIN-Yoke posts, two separate valves, and I use it with two independent DIN first stages (SP MK5 converted to DIN).

 

[BoltSnap]

One of the reasons I use DIN. I have witnessed several such o'ring extrusions on INT/Yoke valves. Luckily, all of them occurred on the surface or only a couple of meters below surface.

 

[Johnoly]

3. Was proud of my Buddy for her quick action.

Glad it turned out well.
Did you buy your buddy lunch?

 

[BoundForElsewhere]

Glad it turned out well.
Did you buy your buddy lunch?

Lunch? I would have given her one of my kids. Well, at least the one I don't like that much...

 

[BoltSnap]

Lunch? I would have given her one of my kids. Well, at least the one I don't like that much...

That's not a reward, it is a punishment

 

[inquis]

As we were going up I started to unbuckle from my BCD in case the steel tank became too heavy—I was going to ditch my gear if necessary and swim to the surface

Overall, nicely handled! In the interest of learning, though, the part I quoted seems strange to me. How would the tank become "too heavy" as you ascended?

 

[Catito]

Lunch? I would have given her one of my kids. Well, at least the one I don't like that much...

Hahaha