New maneuver of last resort?

[Charlie59]

This month's Undercurrent gives instructions on breathing the air from your BCD in out of air conditions. I've always wondered if this would work and the article shows it can.

Does anyone have actual experience in breathing the air from their BCD when unable to get air through another source?

Is this the new Spare Air?

 

[Gombessa]

Are they talking about sucking air from the bladder (sounds BAD) or breathing air from the tank via the power inflator (better)?

 

[Blackwood]

Are they talking about sucking air from the bladder (sounds BAD)

Yes.

There are considerations such as toxins and bacteria within the bladder, but if it comes down to infection vs. drowning, the bad sounding option is the better choice (yes, yes, you've done something wrong to get there blah blah).

 

[boat sju]

New? We discussed this in my OW class. In 1982.

From time to time it's been discussed on this board too. Consensus seems to be that it can be done of course, but don't practice it. Who knows what's growing in your bc.

 

[String]

Its hardly "new". Was around for decades. Then someone invented the octopus. It can be done, its hard to do especially if not practiced and really should never be needed.

 

[Gombessa]

Is it like oral inflation? Hold down deflate, inhale, release deflate? Did they used to tell you to expel the air into the water, or (gasp) rebreathe it back into the bladder for buoyancy?

 

[ba_hiker]

well another consideration is how much air is in your bc during a dive. I generally have my buoyancy adjusted to the point i dont have more than maybe one or two good breaths (about 1 or 2 liters or 2 to 4 lbs) of air in there.

I'd go for it if I had too, but wouldn't expect much.

 

[irishsquid]

well another consideration is how much air is in your bc during a dive. I generally have my buoyancy adjusted to the point i dont have more than maybe one or two good breaths (about 1 or 2 liters or 2 to 4 lbs) of air in there.

I'd go for it if I had too, but wouldn't expect much.

I'm with you on this one. About the only time I'd have enough air in my BC is when I'm floating on the surface. If both my regs were dead and the 1st stage was operating (highly unlikely), then it would definitely be an option.

 

[do it easy]

I did this once because I botched a valve drill, so it wasn't exactly an OOA. My primary was still clipped off and I had just shut down my backup reg. I took two breaths to buy enough time to unclip my primary. I hit both the inflate and the deflate in an attempt to get fresher air, although I did start to rise slightly since some air was filling the wing.

This is not high on my list of ways to bail myself out and certainly not something that I practice.

 

[Gombessa]

Thinking back to one of those messy CESA threads, that sounds like a prime non-emergency situation where it would have been better to signal OOA to your team rather than practice something that could have given you a nasty infection?