Nutterbutter
Registered
Not sure if this post should be in this forum, or perhaps the advanced diving forum?
Is there a recommended procedure on what to do with your equipment and tank if you are left by a boat/lost at sea?
For instance: a standard vacation diver with 3mm wetsuit, standard jacket bcd and reg configuration, aluminum tank and safety sausage, surfacing with 500 psi of air. No powered air horn.
When you realize there is no boat to be seen, dumped your weights, deployed and secured your safety sausage, and you realize you are in a search and rescue situation, what should you do with your tank and regulator setup?
Catalina lists a 500 PSI tank as 2.8 pounds positive bouyancy. 4.1 pounds empty. Regulator setups are usually 1-3 pounds negative.
Should you empty the tank for maximum bouyancy and dump the regulator to deal with swell? Is the 500 PSI that useful? I imagine having a working regulator could be nice if a storm blew in, but you'd go through that gas very quick.
Dump the tank because even though it is positive, the weight makes dealing with waves harder? At home I have a bright yellow tank. Maybe dumping it makes me easier to find by putting another dot in the water.
Is there a recommended procedure on what to do with your equipment and tank if you are left by a boat/lost at sea?
For instance: a standard vacation diver with 3mm wetsuit, standard jacket bcd and reg configuration, aluminum tank and safety sausage, surfacing with 500 psi of air. No powered air horn.
When you realize there is no boat to be seen, dumped your weights, deployed and secured your safety sausage, and you realize you are in a search and rescue situation, what should you do with your tank and regulator setup?
Catalina lists a 500 PSI tank as 2.8 pounds positive bouyancy. 4.1 pounds empty. Regulator setups are usually 1-3 pounds negative.
Should you empty the tank for maximum bouyancy and dump the regulator to deal with swell? Is the 500 PSI that useful? I imagine having a working regulator could be nice if a storm blew in, but you'd go through that gas very quick.
Dump the tank because even though it is positive, the weight makes dealing with waves harder? At home I have a bright yellow tank. Maybe dumping it makes me easier to find by putting another dot in the water.