Reg Exhaust and Hood Issues

[gNats]

Hey everyone!

Went diving yesterday at Gilboa Quarry in Ohio. I recently bought a dry suit, so I know I am still dialing into my gear. Water temps were about 55 deg F and surface temps 46-50. BRRRR COLD FUNCKLES.

My issue - exhaust bubbles from my reg were going into my hood and, well, bugging the heck out of me to say the least. Not only was it allowing cold water to enter into the hood, but it was giving me boyancy issues. Great big pockets of air in the head region is not always recommended I am told. The exhaust was also causing me face mask problems. My fab mask had seal and fogging issues for the first time.

Here is what I was able to analytically surmise. It was worse when I was in a vertical position. Although, it also occurred when horizontal if I looked up or around to check on my buddy. The exhaust showed no favorites, it went into the left or right side of my hood (sometimes both at the same time.

I dive with a Mares She-Dive regulator. It blows exhaust to both the right and left from directly underneath the mouthpiece. I use an Aqua Lung low profile mask. I tried 2 hoods yesterday, both Henderson. The first was the Henderson Hyperstretch Dry Suit Hood with a fitted neck seal. The 2nd was my original Henderson Hyperstretch bib hood. 7 mm. Both have a factory installed vent hole. Both are size small, which is the best fit for me. I had my buddy tuck my bib hood into my dry suit collar.

My buddy thought I should try to rig a tube from the regulator exhaust to extend the exhaust further away from my face. I'm not keen on that idea. I spent a lot of money on the reg and modifying it doesn't sit too well with me. I specifically went with this reg because it was designed for the smaller proportions of a woman's face (opposed to a men's or gender neutral reg). His other idea was to burn additional holes into the hood, which I am not opposed to, and would probably reduce the air volume in the hood.

The other idea I had while driving home last night and pondering my dive dismays, is whether or not my issues are technique based?

The water vis was great and the quarry itself is a blast to dive at. So, I was pretty disappointed that my entire 2 dives were spent pushing the air out of my hood and clearing my mask rather than enjoying the rainbow trout.

All advice is welcome, including honest opinions about my gear selection.

Thanks everyone!

 

[hudson]

I don't have that issue but then I have a different regulator, and I also trim back the face opening on the hoods quite a bit (feel more comfortable that way), but I would be careful with that since you may end up getting cold.

Had a huge trapped air problem with my previous hood that didn't have a vent (I put a hole in it but it didn't help much, so make sure it's big enough) but my current Henderson vent works just fine.

 

[spectrum]

Routing the exhaust will open a whole can or worms you don't want to get into.

You are correct that air in the hood will spawn a lot of misery. it can also keep you noggin warm if kept reasonable.

1. Make sure the hood fits. For cold water diving you want something with a face seal that clings to your face and trim is as described here. If your hood is puckered out at the temples it's the wrong hood.

2. The hood wants to have some vet holes in several positions along the center line of your head. Good hoods include vents and a baffle panel to divert the inrush of cold. With a soldering iron or a torch heated nail (#6 finish bound blunt) you can burn a few holes in your hood. Consider where the highpoints will be while swimming.

3. If you notice the bubble tip your self head down and it will probably escape out the neck opening.

Pete

 

[616fun]

Are you sure it's from the reg? I've always noticed blowing air into my hood while clearing my mask. Since you have the mask tucked under the hood it's the only place for the air to go.

You can resolve the issue by putting a few holes in the top of the hood. Heat up a nail and push it through the top of the hood where air collects. It will allow an escape path for the air. Be sure the holes are at the top most position while your in the water, otherwise they will be useless. Even if there are factory installed vent holes they may not be where you need them.

 

[dlndavid]

I had the same problem, but adding vent holes fixed it.
Don't wear the hood when attempting to add vent holes.

 

[J.R.]

Ummm... from the description elements you gave... air in hood , mask issues... it sounds like you *may* be sepending a lot of your in water time in a verticle heads up position???

 

[gNats]

I don't have that issue but then I have a different regulator, and I also trim back the face opening on the hoods quite a bit (feel more comfortable that way), but I would be careful with that since you may end up getting cold.

Thanks for your comment. The LDS I purchased the dry suit hood at said it was trimmable.

Question: Is the "idea" that by trimming back the face opening, I will be making a flatter seal against my face or is the idea to bring the opening back away from the reg exhaust?

Personally, the opening does seem to cover too much of my face - I have to pull it down so it doesn't interfere with my reg.

I'll have to check out the face opening in a mirror and see the type of fit it has with the mask and reg in place. I little more exposed skin would be worth it if the exhaust doesn't interfere with the overall fit and function.

 

[gNats]

Ummm... from the description elements you gave... air in hood , mask issues... it sounds like you *may* be sepending a lot of your in water time in a verticle heads up position???

Yes, that is not too far off. So far, I am more comfortable hovering over/around objects in a vertical position. But, also, I noticed this problem when I would look around for my dive buddy. He was never far away - always in sight of me, but he tended to swim a foot or two above me. So, I would turn slightly and look up to make sure I was still with him and WOOOSH. Tons o' air in hoodie.

Which is why I also thought technique could be at play. It just seems to me though, that being able to turn your head without flooding your mask or getting a rush of air into your hood woul be a typical diving manuever.

 

[gNats]

1. Make sure the hood fits. For cold water diving you want something with a face seal that clings to your face and trim is as described here. If your hood is puckered out at the temples it's the wrong hood.


Pete

Thank you for the link.

 

[Splitlip]

Deleted.
Sorry wrong forum.