Problem with my Oceanic reg

[alan_lee]

Was out diving last weekend and when I was at a depth of only about 20+ metres and in a position whereby my head was lower than my feet, I started inhaling some drops of sea water. It's never happened before, so I'm wondering if it's something wrong with my reg.

The other problem I had was when I was in a trim position, and after deploying the SMB, I turned up head to check the SMB, and wasn't able to inhale. When I turned my head down again, the reg started operating as per normal.

Would be grateful if someone could tell me if there's something wrong or is it a peculiarity with the reg.

Cheers!

 

[Thalassamania]

Odds are that there was water in your tank.

 

[philmayer]

I've never had either of those problems with my Oceanic regs. Do you have an Oceanic tech nearby that can take a look at it?

 

[alan_lee]

Yeah, I've sent it in for the annual servicing, told them about the problem, but the tech wasn't around at that time to explain to me. Hopefully they'd be able to rectify the problem. Anyway, now I know those problems aren't supposed to happen.

 

[Thalassamania]

Once again, you need to check the tank. I'll bet there's water in the tank and no drip tube.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

What model reg is it. I have an alpha 7 that sometimes breathes a little wet inverted. No big deal. Also a weak or dirty exhaust diaphragm will cause a reg to breathe a little wet inverted or turned so far that the pressure on the diaphragm is unequal to the point that the crud is holding one side slightly open. It does not take much. A few grains of salt or sand is sufficient.

 

[alan_lee]

Thalassamania: It was a rental tank I was using, so I guess there wasn't much I could do about it.

JimLap: I'm using an Alpha 8

 

[300bar]

Once again, you need to check the tank. I'll bet there's water in the tank and no drip tube.

OP sayed he started inhaling drops of water,you are talking about water passing thru
the 1st stage,won't that come in at high speed (i.m. pressure)

 

[Thalassamania]

OP sayed he started inhaling drops of water,you are talking about water passing thru
the 1st stage,won't that come in at high speed (i.m. pressure)

In my experience it will spray the interior of the second stage and then go through the mouthpiece as drops of water.

 

[captndale]

On all conventional second-stage regulators the exhaust valves are located at the lowest point in the breathing chamber, below the mouthpiece. That is, when the diver is in the normal position. When you get in an inverted position, the exhaust valves will be above the mouthpiece. Since water has a tendency to flow downhill, any water in the regulator will not be expelled with your exhaust as it is when you are in a normal swimming position. Your regulator is not designed to work upside-down.