Water in my BC wing?

[a-cut-above]

If you pull your dump valve with little air pressure remaining in your bc as you decend, the remaining air compresses and allows water to enter your bc through the dumpvalve.

It is not a big deal. Post dive, inflate your bc and hold the dump valve at the lowest point to drain as much water out as you can. If diving in salt water, just fill the bc through the inflator hose with freshwater to rinse out the saltwater. Once the majority of the water is out, reinflate your bc to dry.

Keith

I have been doing this also. Does anyone recommend unscrewing the dump valve and letting the bladder dry out completely? Is it OK if there is still some small amount of water in the bladder, which may be there for weeeks or months? Or am I just being a worry wort?
Dave

 

[diver 85]

I have been doing this also. Does anyone recommend unscrewing the dump valve and letting the bladder dry out completely? Is it OK if there is still some small amount of water in the bladder, which may be there for weeeks or months? Or am I just being a worry wort?
Dave

Never have done that ie 'unscrewing the dump valve and letting the bladder dry out completely' & my 1st BC lasted 19 years......

 

[a-cut-above]

Do you use any cleaning solution or just plain water to rinse it out?
Dave

 

[andrethediver]

Same question here - is using cleaning solution (like McNett BC Life) recommended for BCs used in saltwater or fresh water is fine? My BC has Air2 integrated octo and inflating/filling the wing with water through the mouthpiece is a bit tricky (you have to prevent air/water escaping though the ?dump valve? openings in the octo second stage while you hold the dump button pressed)...

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Listerine or Scope diluted works as well. And leaves it minty fresh!

 

[andrethediver]

I guess my question is - is anything other than (warm?) fresh water even required? Thanks.

 

[Bubbletrubble]

I have been doing this also. Does anyone recommend unscrewing the dump valve and letting the bladder dry out completely?
Dave

Don't unscrew the dump valve. By doing so, you increase the odds of drying out the inner bladder completely, but you also increase the probability of cross-threading the dump valve during reinstallation...or reinstalling it improperly. That's a poor trade-off, IMO.

I've only used warm fresh water for post-dive BC rinses. It seems to work. I see no reason for any additives.

 

[andrethediver]

Thanks.

 

[aquaregia]

So, perhaps a little offtopic... Sailing, I've noticed that sails covered in salt water do not mold or mildew, however after freshwater sailing we have to make sure we spread and dry the sails. Intuitively, this makes sense to me. Does this imply that I should not rinse the inside of my bladder with fresh water after a saltwater dive?

 

[stakanak]

You should always rinse out your bladder after a saltwater dive.
I usually use three beers and a shot of Don Julio but that's just me!
Get Wet!