Stage Regs

[DA Aquamaster]

Apeks DST First Stage and XTX50 Second Stage. The turret makes it easier to deploy. I am also using an inline shutoff valve so I don't run the risk of free flowing without knowing it. I use AL40's commonly which are pretty slim so I would probably catch a stage reg free slow pretty quick. However when I use my AL80 stages they are more bulky and I could go a while without realizing I was free flowing.

That's an interesting and overly complex approach. I just close the valve on the stages not currently being used. Breathing the reg down and rolling the valve back on is also part of the gas switch process.

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

Scubapro Mk5/109 adjustable, or Mares MR-12 and whatever spare 2nd stage I have laying around....

Best wishes.

 

[mikecotrone]

Shutoff valves are overly Complex? Wow, please explain. Granted I am a newbie compared to you, but I don't understand the complexity?

I have the valves shut when I start the dive and when I switch gases I turn to on.

 

[lowviz]

Shutoff valves are overly Complex? Wow, please explain. Granted I am a newbie compared to you, but I don't understand the complexity?

I have the valves shut when I start the dive and when I switch gases I turn to on.

-one more thing to freak you in a panic situation.

 

[mikecotrone]

-one more thing to freak you in a panic situation.

Yes however I would prefer to deal with a quick slide as part of my gas switch vs. finding out my 80% O2 leaked to 500psi due to a free flow because I forgot that my venturi was open too much I guess we all have our own threshold for Freak Out panic situations

 

[lowviz]

Yes however I would prefer to deal with a quick slide as part of my gas switch vs. finding out my 80% O2 leaked to 500psi due to a free flow because I forgot that my venturi was open too much I guess we all have our own threshold for Freak Out panic situations

Your choice.

I'm fresh back from a cave cert where I rolled one of my valves for real and neglected to open my sling bottle when I retrieved it. Only one of the three regs I could breathe was working, good chug of water, spent 2 mins coughing 300' from the entrance to my instructor's delight. -didja learn anything???? PM me for my instructor's name and contact if you want to call me on it...

 

[mikecotrone]

Your choice.

I'm fresh back from a cave cert where I rolled one of my valves for real and neglected to open my sling bottle when I retrieved it. Only one of the three regs I could breathe was working, good chug of water, spent 2 mins coughing 300' from the entrance to my instructor's delight. -didja learn anything???? PM me for my instructor's name and contact if you want to call me on it...

That sucks! I did that also on my first two deco dives, but I got used to it. Cave just adds another level of inherent complexity vs. open water anyway so I am sure I would probably drop the shutoffs at that point also. Were you doing Intro?

 

[Levigarrett]

Yes however I would prefer to deal with a quick slide as part of my gas switch vs. finding out my 80% O2 leaked to 500psi due to a free flow because I forgot that my venturi was open too much I guess we all have our own threshold for Freak Out panic situations

Did you just say 80% O2? Oh boy, here we go again.......... I kid.




Regarding your preoccupation with stage reg free flow...are you solo diving? I suspect that if my team members are the calibre that I'd choose to be diving with (conducting the kind of diving where stage bottles are required) they'd notice my reg free flow and take appropriate action. When I dive with a slung bottle of any kind, the valve is opened on the surface, the lines pressurized and then the valve is closed until it's use is required. I could be reading your post wrong and if so I apologize in advance but are you diving with your stage bottles "on?"

 

[lowviz]

That sucks! I did that also on my first two deco dives, but I got used to it. Cave just adds another level of inherent complexity vs. open water anyway so I am sure I would probably drop the shutoffs at that point also. Were you doing Intro?

Yes it sucked.

Here is where age departs from energy and enthusiasm. I am mortal. I am playing the game with the only life I will ever get.

Full cave.

Go for it brother diver, just don't kill yourself...

 

[lowviz]

Did you just say 80% O2? Oh boy, here we go again.......... I kid.




Regarding your preoccupation with stage reg free flow...are you solo diving? I suspect that if my team members are the calibre that I'd choose to be diving with (conducting the kind of diving where stage bottles are required) they'd notice my reg free flow and take appropriate action. When I dive with a slung bottle of any kind, the valve is opened on the surface, the lines pressurized and then the valve is closed until it's use is required. I could be reading your post wrong and if so I apologize in advance but are you diving with your stage bottles "on?"

Pressurize travel bottle, turn off, tie off on gold line (main line in a cave) at first third, recover on exit, OPEN (duh)...