So how does analyzing tanks work with valet diving?

[Juardis]

Did a forum search, didn't find the answer although I'm sure it's buried here somewhere. Regardless, thinking of going to LCBR and all the reviews of both the resort and the dive sites sound wonderful. But having never experienced valet diving, not sure whether I'll like it or not. In theory, it sounds good, but how does one analyze their tank (nitrox of course) if you never touch it? Also, how does one inspect the O-rings (or perhaps that's not an issue at LCBR)? Having experienced o-ring problems at another, non-Cayman AI, I'm a little leary about them and make it a point to inspect them for cuts and fit before putting my reg on.

And finally, although not tank related, what do you do with your weights? Like probably most people, I have integrated weights in my BC. Do we remove them before we get our BCs and take them out when we get out of the water? Do they stay in your BC all week (i.e., do I need to inspect I have the same weight each morning/afternoon)? I should, but I could see getting complacent and relying on the "valet" service when I should be relying on myself.

Thanks. Niggling little things I know, but curious nonetheless.

 

[tbone1004]

can't answer all of your questions, but if you own your own analyzer, highly recommended btw, have one that can connect to the inflator fitting on your regulator, then you can analyze once everything is hooked up.

 

[lv2dive]

When I dove at a resort in Indonesia, the group leader actually told me I was wasting time bc I was analyzing my gas before each dive, since it was banked gas. !!!!! The resort didn't have a problem with although it was clear I was in a very small minority of people who actually analyzed gas themselves. Valet diving or not, I analyze my own gas, every time.

 

[tursiops]

Typically your gear is set up and carried for you, but that doesn't mean you can't check things, including the gas.
Often they have watched me set up my gear the first time, so they can repeat it.
In the Philippines, they set out our tanks for us to analyze and write our names on, then they carried everything to the boat.
It would be easy to be complacent and trusting; that would not be the best strategy.

 

[boulderjohn]

I have no idea how this particular operation works, but I can give you some generic descriptions of how it works in other locations.

1. You don't have to have them do everything for you. You can tell them what you would like to do yourself. If you elect to have them do the whole setup, you need to check everything anyway. I was recently in a place in the Philippines where we got on the boat for each dive with our gear set up. I let them do mine because I wanted to see if they ever got it right. They never did. Not once. There as always some little thing off. Seeing what they would screw up each time was a source of amusement for the entire group. I never complained about it because I was going to check it anyway, and it was fun to see what would be wrong each time. (They evidently don't see a lot of back plate and wing setups there, especially with weight pockets on the cam bands.)

2. Nitrox can be handled in a couple of ways. In the case of the Philippines mentioned above, between dives we would go to the tank room, do the customary analysis, and mark our tanks clearly. The one thning they did always get right was putting the correct gear on the correct tanks. I have seen it also where you analyze your tanks on the dock before the tank is loaded. Mostly, though, I have seen analyzers brought on board for you to use on your tanks.

3. Weights are usually handled before each dive. You are asked how much weight you need, and you put it wherever it needs to go, although some operations will even put it in the right places for you--your choice. If you are getting onto a boat like a small dinghy where your scuba unit is passed up before you get on board, you will pull out your weight pockets and hand them up first.

4. If you want to inspect 0-rings or anything else, then go and inspect them. It's not like you are forbidden to touch your equipment before you get in the water. Usually you will see your gear mounted on a tank on the side of a boat, and you can go and do whatever you feel like doing after you board.

 

[dmoore19]

Every boat I have been on had an analyzer and you were expected to double check it yourself. (as is the procedure that I learned)

If you want to check your gas, you can easily just remove the reg and check your gas and your O ring at the same time.

As for weight. The valet trips I have been on, I took the weights out at the end of the day and put them back in prior to the first dive of the day.

I don't know about LCBR but I doubt it's much different anywhere. Except on live aboards where the the weights stay in you bc all week. When you finish a dive you remove your reg, that is the signal that your tank needs filled. Then before you gear up you put the reg back on and turn the gas on.

 

[AdivingBel]

At LCBR they have a nitrox room setup with multiple stations with clip boards already filled in with your name and boat. You get on the clip board by signing up for nitrox in the dive shop. There are rows of nitrox tanks already in the room. You analyze and mark your tanks (with tape provided) for the next day with your name and boat (and MOD, if you like) as well as filling out the entry next to your name of the clip board. The tanks are on the boat ready for you the next day.

Valet diving works like this: You place your BC & regs in a mesh bag (if you don't have one, they will provide one) outside your room prior to breakfast on the 1st day of diving. They will be on the boat when you board. You get your weights and set your gear up yourself before boat leaves on the first morning. After that, if you choose, the crew handles it from there. When you get to the site, you go to a small bench in front of the dive platform. You put on your fins, mask, etc., and the crew brings you your rig. They help you put it on and turn on/check your air. You buckle in, take a breath off your reg (while looking at your gauge), stand up and fall in. At the end of the dive, you hand up your fins, climb the ladder, and sit on the little bench. The crew helps you off with your rig and switch your tank for your next dive. You take your mask and fins and find a place to hang out for your SI. Repeat. Back at the dock you leave your BC and reg on the boat and take the rest of your gear to the rinse tank area and hang your stuff up in the drying room after rinsing. The crew takes care of your BC and reg (and weights) and has them ready for your next boat trip.

The crew will do as much or little as you desire. Several folks handled their own gear & geared up themselves and walked back to the dive platform. It's all about your preference. I find it pretty easy and bit of a guilty pleasure. YMMV.

 

[PatW]

At LCBR, you go to the room just north of the dive shop. The tanks filled with nitrox are there. You pick a tank. You check the pressure. You use a provided O2 analyzer to check the O2 concentration. You record the results on your log sheet. Your log sheet will be on a clip board for your boat. You take a piece of tape. You put your boat's name on the tape, your name on the tape and the O2 concentration. You put your labelled tank over with the other labelled tanks. The dive master will tote the tank down to the boat. You will usually do this the dat before you dive.

 

[Damselfish]

What they said about LCBR. You analyze and label your own tanks at the fill area, and the gear elves take care of the rest. Everyplace has their own routine, whatever works for their location.

As far as o-rings, obviously for the Nitrox tanks you can just give them a look when you're analyzing tanks for the next dives. Anytime a tank is set up for me anywhere I'm going to make sure it's right, and turn it on and listen. If there's a problem I'm pretty sure they have orings on board to replace. I'd expect their stuff to be in pretty good shape though. (Not like some places where you're getting more than your share of shredded o-rings - do people never check or say anything at those places?)

As far as weights, your BC and weights are going to sit on the same dive boat all week without change, no worries. No removing weights from belts or pouches. It's a little liveaboard-like. If stuff needs to move, like if they're only taking one of the boats out for a night dive, the elves will take care of it. They're very good at the valet service thing.

 

[Dhboner]

Even in a "valet dive" environment, always analyse your gas yourself and assemble your gear to prepare to dive. This is your life support system we are talking about.