No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

[MaxBottomtime]

I think you misread the original post. We did test the inflator before entering the water, found it to be leaking air into the BCD, unplugged the LP hose and she dove with it unplugged. A third party plugged it back in underwater while trying to be helpful, causing the unintended ascent.

Mike

I understood. Did you try turning the inflator button?

 

[BadGoat]

I understood. Did you try turning the inflator button?

Yes, it didn’t help. It leaked past the button regardless. Additionally the dive shop had supposedly just fixed it for the exact same issue. She was very comfortable with just leaving it unplugged and inflating her BCD orally when necessary.

Mike

 

[gypsyjim]

I think you misread the original post. We did test the inflator before entering the water, found it to be leaking air into the BCD, unplugged the LP hose and she dove with it unplugged. A third party plugged it back in underwater while trying to be helpful, causing the unintended ascent.

Mike

Over the years, both my kids and I have done this several times, when grit or corrosion caused the valve to "dribble" air, and gradually added gas to the bladder.
When you do not have ready access to a replacement valve it is an easy, on the go, remedy to disconnect the inflator to keep it from effecting your buoyancy at depth, and then re-connect it when back on the surface, but the diver needs to be very comfortable with both dis-connecting and reconnecting that valve.
I also witnessed a death that at least partially was a result of having a dive operator do this to a diver's rig, when that diver was not (in my opinion) prepared and comfortable with this operation.

 

[Ana]

you can stealthily do almost anything with a divers gear and most wouldn't have a clue

I'd advise against it, there may be 100 divers that won't noticed but there may be that one that does noticed, and it may not be pretty.

 

[johndiver999]

Pretty wild story - if it can happen it will happen. I've worked on another diver's gear without their full and informed consent. For example, it is not all that unusual to see a tank slipping out from the BC strap.

I normally try to make sure the person knows I am there and not trying to kill them, but I am not sure there is a good signal for your tank is going to float off if I don't fix it.

I imagine the diver could work from above and behind a diver and re-connect the hose quickly without being too obvious. I don't think I would ever hook a hose up like that, but I might grab the end of the hose and the inflator and wave them around in the diver's face if I suspected they were unaware of the disconnect.

 

[gypsyjim]

Unless I am under your instruction, actively participating in a class you are teaching, just touching my life support system can be taken as assault.
You are free to observe, and even to comment, but unless I give you permission, my gear is not yours to touch, alter or adjust in any way.

 

[Lorenzoid]

And how about the well-meaning crew member who touches your valve just before you splash? I know there are different schools of thought on that.

 

[StefinSB]

If you guys went in in a team if 4 you should have communicated to everyone that the inflator is disconnected. Communication goes further than the violence suggested by some posters.

 

[gypsyjim]

Who suggested using violence?

 

[kelemvor]

And how about the well-meaning crew member who touches your valve just before you splash? I know there are different schools of thought on that.

I had a DM in key largo swap my gear for me during the SI when I wasn't looking. Unfortunately, I'd already swapped it so he put me back on the tank I already dove. Fortunately, I check stuff like gas pressure long before I splash.