runaway bc inflation

[Jcsgt]

PADI teaches it along with oral inflation (I remember having to disconnect & either orally inflate to a fin pivot or a hover in OW), but there is not alot of emphasis on the fact that the inflator may be _stuck_ open at depth and what this may mean.

I clearly recall learning this skill at depth. To me, having to orally inflate my BC at depth was the toughest part of OW. I just knew I was going to screw up the timing, maybe blow on the reg and try to breathe off the inflator.

 

[jeckyll]

JCsgt: I've been diving for about a month using oral inflation only, as I've been waiting for a plastic replacment for my Halcyon SS inflator POS

Ok, I dug out my OW manual and found the following for OW Dive 3:
...
-Buoyancy control - neutral buoyancy on bottom, fin pivot oral
...


But that doesn't mean that there is any practice for quickly removing the LP hose in an emergency of course

 

[Green_Manelishi]

Green, you come up with the most clever DIY gear stuff. I'm an abysmal failure at gear innovation. Girls just aren't brought up for this stuff.

Thank you Captain.

It was suggested I could also sell these ....

They are very handy for long-hosers with nae waist pocket or can-light. No need to stuff the hose into the waist band.

 

[BKP]

I clearly recall learning this skill at depth. To me, having to orally inflate my BC at depth was the toughest part of OW. I just knew I was going to screw up the timing, maybe blow on the reg and try to breathe off the inflator.

Just pulled the course book (NAUI), and while we also covered the oral inflation at depth, fin pivot, buddy equipment exchange, OOA simulations, etc. etc., there doesn't seem to be any requirement for disconnect of inflator at depth...

Is this actually listed as a required test in the PADI, or SSI manuals? (My feeling is it should not only be referenced, but tested on -- in *all* the agencies' curriculum...).

 

[Scuba Sean]

When i was first certified i told myself that i was going to be responsible for my own saftey. I did not assume that my BOW would even come close to preparing me for everything that could happen. And it didn't. I only had the basics - go figure. However in the worst possible case i would still have known to exhale a four letter phrase for the ride up in such an event.

Over time as my skills improved and became second nature i took it upon myself to continue adding/improving skills. I feel it is all of our responsibility to do so and am glad to see that other divers take the same approach. A good friend shared his mental approach to diving when i first started scuba. He told me to think of everything that could happen while diving, and then said to have an answer on how to handle it before going in the water. I live by this to this day.

I do use a low profile second air source that is inline on the lpi hose and love it. i know a lot of divers seem to poo-poo such devices, but we all have our own opinions. I do believe no matter what configuration i dive, my buddy should be aware of how it works. For me 1 less piece of gear sticking out to get snagged is 1 less piece of gear sticking out to get snagged. I like my rig to be as streamlined as possible. But that is what my diving commands. If i were diving elsewhere, with different objectives i could see my gear being configured different.

 

[TheRedHead]

Is this actually listed as a required test in the PADI, or SSI manuals? (My feeling is it should not only be referenced, but tested on -- in *all* the agencies' curriculum...).

I don't think it is in the SSI manual either. My OW course was 4 weeks long and we did many skills that were not in the book. I clearly remember we discussed stuck inflator hoses and practiced this skill. I agree that it should be a required skill in OW.

 

[Freds@Aquanauts]

I have question, never having used one or dived with anyone who used one, if you use an Air2 like the OP, and had to disconnect to your LP hose because of OP's said problem, would that then render the Air2 useless in an OOA situation???

Freds

 

[jeckyll]

..........

Is this actually listed as a required test in the PADI, or SSI manuals? (My feeling is it should not only be referenced, but tested on -- in *all* the agencies' curriculum...).

BKP: I can only comment on PADI, but for them it's a required skill, specific to the 3rd OW certification dive.

Bjorn

 

[SteveAD]

I would like to share a technique I teach in the interest of preventing this problem. During the post dive rinse, most people do know to put some fresh water into the BC bladder and swirl it around to get the salt out, but then they usually just dump it all out thru the oral inflate or a dump valve. I make it a point to press the power inflate button to run fresh water thru the LPI nipple for about 10 seconds. since starting this habit I have not had a single sticky inflator.

 

[Scuba Sean]

Freds, From what i know about the Air2... Yes, it would be rendered useless if the LP hose was disconnected. However, i have never handled that product in person. (so take that with a grain of salt.)
With the way my rig is set up the octo would not be rendered useless with the QD unatached. My octo is inline, not part of the power inflation device itself.

Has anyone out there practiced BC breathing? it is my understanding that most scuba shops do not teach this anymore due to the risk of lung infection.