reg out of mouth

[Quarrior]

Please reread my posts.

Quarrior, are you worried about getting lung overexpansion? The reg must be in ur mouth before u purge as otherwise water will enter through the mouthpeice when u stop purging and u are back to square one with a flooded reg. I havn't heard of ppl getting a lung overexpansion from pushing the purge button with the reg in their mouth.

cmcarver was spot on with his desciption:


I have used both methods numerous times, as Im sure 99.9% of the rest of the board has and had no problems.

-Jack

 

[SquattingRadishDM]

Please reread my posts.

Yeah, I was writing my message whilst you posted ur message explaining why u were told not to purge with the reg in ur mouth. I did not see that post before I had submitted my post (check the timestamps on the posts). Anyway thats beside the point.

Purging the reg outside ur mouth will not clear it, water will just re-enter. I have never heard (from an instructor or otherwise) of a diver getting lung over-expansion from clearing the reg with it in their mouth. I am not aware this warning is being pushed by any training agency.

With the wealth of experience on ScubaBoard.com we must be able to clear this up. Anyone every heard of getting lung overexpansion from clearing a reg this way?

 

[Quarrior]

Purging the reg outside ur mouth will not clear it, water will just re-enter. I have never heard (from an instructor or otherwise) of a diver getting lung over-expansion from clearing the reg with it in their mouth. I am not aware this warning is being pushed by any training agency.

With the wealth of experience on ScubaBoard.com we must be able to clear this up. Anyone every heard of getting lung overexpansion from clearing a reg this way?

Your first point is mine too, clearing it outside your mouth does no good. I also do not believe you will get lung over expansion, just what I was told as a newbie, which I'm not anymore. Either way, both methods work, I just the method of blowing through the reg, rather than using the purge valve.

 

[RonDawg]

Yes you are correct if you block the opening with your tongue, but, I was also taught to never push the purge with the reg in your mouth, thus the exhale method I use works best for me.

When I went through OW I had to demonstrate to my instructor BOTH ways to clear a reg, by exhaling and by using the purge button.

I also do not believe you will get lung over expansion, just what I was told as a newbie, which I'm not anymore.

The person who told you this...how long was he/she holding down that purge button?

 

[scubatim77]

Normally they teach you in class to push the purge button to clear a reg. Next tiem rather than doing that, as soon as you get it in your mouth, blow out through it. When you use the purge button method, you get water right back in the reg no matter how quick you get it into your mouth.

When you purge the regulator, it is supposed to be in your mouth before you hit the purge button! Who told you to purge it before it is in your mouth? As long as you put your tongue in front of the opening on the mouthpiece while you purge your regulator, you won't get any water blasted into your mouth.

 

[jbd]

Not my words, "you can overexpand your lungs".

Quarrior,

Lets work through this. As you know, the regulator system reduces the high pressure air in the tank to ambient pressure at depth so you can breathe. When you inhale you have created a low pressure area(lungs and airway) relative to the second stage so air flows into your airway. When you exhale, you are creating a high pressure area(lungs and airway) and the air flows back into the chamber of the second stage. There is a one way valve that allows this exhaled air to escape into the water i.e the bubbles we see.

This same exhaust valve will allow the purging air to escape and not cause a lung over expansion injury.

If you need to recover a regulator and don't have sufficient air to clear it by exhaling use the purge method. Place the regulator back in your mouth, place your tongue against the roof of your mouth and then tap the purge button. Inhale slowly and gently to insure you don't inhale some small amount of water that may be in your mouth.

The key to the purge method is to understand that you don't need to push and hold it----a simple short tap will do. After all the air space is only about 1/4 to 1/3 of a cup in volume and the low pressure hose has about 130-135 psi in it.

Have you instructor or the shop owner show you what the insides of the second stage and explain to you how it works. It will all make much more sense to you.

I hope this helps.

jbd

 

[cmcarver]

Now after rereading this I also remember being told to give a quick purge before you put the reg in your mouth in case some solid matter gets into the reg(IE. Sand, Mud, Muck). How many times have you seen a dangling octopus on a diver.

 

[jbd]

Now after rereading this I also remember being told to give a quick purge before you put the reg in your mouth in case some solid matter gets into the reg(IE. Sand, Mud, Muck). How many times have you seen a dangling octopus on a diver.

While it does happen far too frequently, this is the result of poor training. People should be taught from the beginning to not have anything dangling. This removes the need for one more thing to do when faced with with a problem.

 

[DandyDon]

Now after rereading this I also remember being told to give a quick purge before you put the reg in your mouth in case some solid matter gets into the reg(IE. Sand, Mud, Muck). How many times have you seen a dangling octopus on a diver.

Way too often! Suggest the instrucotr may have been right to do so, but I hope he's also teaching the importance of not letting it drag. I'll make the diver an aux reg holder from rubber hose and cable tie.