My wife dunked her reg with the dust cap off

[Downing]

She quickly realized her mistake and pulled the reg back out of the dunk tank.

She dived on it after that with no issues. Probably about 10 dives.

This happened on our vacation last week in Hawaii.

Here's my question: Do I really have to take it back in for service? It's a Sherwood, can't remember the model, probably middle of the line. I'd like to avoid having it serviced since I just had it serviced a month or so ago in anticipation of this trip, and I'd like to avoid having to pay for it again.

So soon.

 

[cudachaser]

With the half dozen regs I use in my classes...no matter how much I preach, "dry the dust cover and replace it" someone invariably forgets so when I go to rinse the reg gets soaked. All I do is hook the reg to a tank and blow air through it using one of the 2nd stage purge valves for about a minute. That will dry things out. Biggest risk is getting water into the pressure gauge, but that orifice is so tiny that it's unlikely...I've never had that occur.

 

[Downing]

All I do is hook the reg to a tank and blow air through it using one of the 2nd stage purge valves for about a minute.

Damn, that's a good idea. Wish I'd thought of it at the time.

At this point, I'm inclined not to have it serviced. I think my wife's forgotten all about it--or at least has chosen to forget all about it as she was pretty embarrassed when she did it.

 

[Puffer Fish]

She quickly realized her mistake and pulled the reg back out of the dunk tank.

She dived on it after that with no issues. Probably about 10 dives.

This happened on our vacation last week in Hawaii.

Here's my question: Do I really have to take it back in for service? It's a Sherwood, can't remember the model, probably middle of the line. I'd like to avoid having it serviced since I just had it serviced a month or so ago in anticipation of this trip, and I'd like to avoid having to pay for it again.

So soon.

Odds are, nothing bad happened.. don't know if you can see the bronze filter on that reg, but if you can and it is still a nice metal color, would not worry about it.

Note: If you do that.. let it dry without the cap on... sealing it with moisture can be an issue.

At the worst, you would need the filter changed (which is not a big deal).

 

[Downing]

I'll check the filter, if I can see it, when I get home tonight.

I did let it dry for a couple of days without the dust cap on once I got it home, which is what I always do for both our regs after a dive trip. Just seems like a good idea--or at least not a bad one as long as I remember to put the dust cap back on when I'm ready to hang it up in the closet.

Thanks!

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

I guess my only concern would be how "fresh" the water was in the dunk tank. If it was pretty clean (not too many salty regs soaked in it) I'd think you are probably "ok". If a little salt got inside the reg, it will (maybe) cause some issues over time (corrosion). If a lot of salt got in, well, the corrosion will occur more rapidly.

If only clean, fresh water got inside, and was subsequently dried out by diving with the reg, you should be ok.

I'd probably do as others have already suggested and check the filter for discoloration (green) over time. You could also pull the hoses and peer inside, also looking for any "green"... but more than likely you are fine.

Best wishes.

 

[spectrum]

I fall in line with the others. The subsequent diving probable cleared anything that entered, especially if the rinse water had low salinity.

Another thing to watch as you subsequently dive and clean gear is that the dry bleed on the first stage is still emitting a stream of fine bubbles. If anything clogs that up the depth compensation will stop working and she won't be happy when she gets deep.

Pete