CamG
Contributor
Greetings smellzlikefish this is not what I would call worse dive but more of a challenge. I was on a diving week end starting diving wet with my double 95's. After about 3 dives I was getting my doubles filled up and starting to get cold I chose to dive the night dive in my dry suit. This would come to be a very good choice! I assembled my gear in preparation for the dive before donning my DS. I put it on listened to the briefing and entered the water with my dive group. From the start of the dive I thought I heard a bubbling / rush of air from behind me. I asked a member of the group to look for bubbles he gave me the ok, so off we went. I noticed right away I seamed to be very negative and when I put air in my wing it seemed to leak out slowly. I chose to continue the dive remaining at a shallower depth. It was fine till I reached 33 feet, at that depth I lost all buoyancy from my wing and thumbed the dive. I did not become overly concerned but instead focused on my options. Ditching my gear was last, walking out which was an option next, or use my DS to get to the exit steps. I closed my DS exhaust, inflated my DS while in the horizontal position. It took a few moments to find the right neck position that prevented over inflated gas venting. I then swam to the exit and climbed out.
It was a loose dump valve that allowed the air to escape. A very easy check surface check would have detected it. This was a simple mistake on my part that could have been a major issue had the dive been different. I will not put wing on my doubles without checking all the valves. My pre-dive tests each one as well. My bubble check is more in depth. A lift bag is bungeed to my BP!
The dive taught me that you can not be to anal about gear inspection and never become complacent. It was a little strenuous making the exit but when I removed the gear and detected the issue. I made the proper adjustments, checked everything twice and finished the dive. It turned out to be a lesson for all those involved.
To make this point even more I just purchased a new wing and dove it twice it functioned ok but I thought it should do better. When I reached my home it is my practice to inflate wings and inspect them as I dump any water from the bladder.
I then inflate them to allow them to dry. The next day my wife asked why my new wing was flat! I was very concerned and after taking it completely apart, I discovered it had a un-bonded seam in the inside corner. The reason it barely seeped on the two dives was because of the BP sandwiching it. Lesson learned I do not dive a wing that I have not inspected internally as well. Long post valuable lesson I have learned!
Dive safe everyone and always inspect your gear! Pre-dive buddy check!
CamG Keep diving....keep training....keep learning!
It was a loose dump valve that allowed the air to escape. A very easy check surface check would have detected it. This was a simple mistake on my part that could have been a major issue had the dive been different. I will not put wing on my doubles without checking all the valves. My pre-dive tests each one as well. My bubble check is more in depth. A lift bag is bungeed to my BP!
The dive taught me that you can not be to anal about gear inspection and never become complacent. It was a little strenuous making the exit but when I removed the gear and detected the issue. I made the proper adjustments, checked everything twice and finished the dive. It turned out to be a lesson for all those involved.
To make this point even more I just purchased a new wing and dove it twice it functioned ok but I thought it should do better. When I reached my home it is my practice to inflate wings and inspect them as I dump any water from the bladder.
I then inflate them to allow them to dry. The next day my wife asked why my new wing was flat! I was very concerned and after taking it completely apart, I discovered it had a un-bonded seam in the inside corner. The reason it barely seeped on the two dives was because of the BP sandwiching it. Lesson learned I do not dive a wing that I have not inspected internally as well. Long post valuable lesson I have learned!
Dive safe everyone and always inspect your gear! Pre-dive buddy check!
CamG Keep diving....keep training....keep learning!