Wookie, you apparently ignore the multiple assertions that undetected CO in Cozumel scuba tanks is the cause of subclinical hits and the drownings of missing divers. Calling Don or anyone else on unsubstantiated allegations is not "anti-rhetoric" or "trolling."
That's one way to twist my words. :silly: What I said may well have been reworded better by a more effective wordsmith, but it still holds...
No one knows how much CO got into Coz tanks overall before Analox produced their affordable & portable analyzers as other testing options were not popular, so they got away with it - with subclinical hits being dismissed as hangovers and typical travelers illnesses and severe hits being diagnosed as drownings. Times have changed, and while some still ridicule those of us who are forcing the improvements, the situation is improving.
And for that I was accused of having a financial interest in Analox.
The key point no one knows how significant it was before testing, and comprehensive testing is still not taking place, but we are making progress in spite of naysayers.
You can read it all however you chose, and I am sure you will chose. If you want to claim that there are no problems to challenge, go for it. If you want to dive untested tanks, that's your call. If you want to make fun of me for testing mine, I don't care - just whatever. Hey, I regularly supply other reasons to ridicule my choices, so have fun. Your approach is incongruent with your sig, but whatever. Blah, blah, blah...
No one answered my question yet. At least Ron Lee educated you on what "trolling" is and it's not asking hard legitimate questions, nor is it questioning questionable assertions.
I've seen lots of posts where someone analyzes a tank only to find it contains a small amount of CO, say 5-7 ppm. Now 5-7 ppm is within safe limits, but these divers refuse to the dive the tanks. Since the boat may already be out at the southern reefs, I'm guessing this means they sit out the dive that they've contracted to pay for. So who eats the cost? You as a dive boat owner, I imagine, would be hard-pressed to want to refund the money in full since that means money out of your pocket, especially if the air tested at safe levels but the diver was individually over-paranoid.
Would it be your policy as a Cozumel dive boat owner, who likely doesn't even pump his or her own air, but purchases the fills from a third-party over which he or she has no control, to refund the money in full, or would you keep the money and tell the diver you're sorry, not my problem? I can imagine the fear of Cozumel dive ops faced with ensuing legions of Dandy Dons who might lose enough revenue to go under if they offered refunds. What should they do? Toss in the towel? I say it's far easier and makes much better business sense to ban CO analyzers.
I doubt that you really want clear answers and are just looking for more opportunities to derail the discussion, but I'll give you my answers anyway: I test my tanks right after pickup, still in town - not after arriving at the southern reefs. Whether or not
"5-7 ppm is within safe limits" is true is a personal call. It may pass US regulations ok, Mexico has none, several countries have set 3 ppm limits, but no one should have to deal with such challenges and whatever else the faulty compressors may be allowing in tanks that we cannot test for, along with toxic CO.
Whether a Coz OP chooses to refund, apologize, and take actions with the air supplier that the diver lacks access, or refuse - will often be described here on these pages. If you can convince any to ban CO testing, that would make interesting posting as well.
