What Should I (Or My Buddy) Do ???

[Erik Il Rosso]

Let's figure this situation...

I am underwater with the standard 2 regs and 2 1st stages (no octopus)...

Suddenly the reg I am breathing with start to free flow...

What shoud I do in this case ???

Should I take the reg off my mouth, take the other one and wait for my buddy to reach me and close the valve connected to the reg which is free flowing ???

As far as I remember no instructors told me anything about this situation...

I just want to be prepared to face such a case...

I want to dive safe...

Ciao Erik Il Rosso

 

[fgray1]

Whats your configuration.
You using a H valve or a Y valve I assume.
In that case you should have taken a cavern or wreck training to show you how to do valve drills. Just for such a case.
I'm sure someone in here wiil tell you what to do it's not going to be me.:wacko:
SORRY
If your running a more complicated gear configuration you need to see a professional to as to how to use the gear.
Fred

 

[MikeFerrara]

The reason for a dual out put valve is so you can sut down the side with the leak.

I you're unable to manipulate the valves it just gives you twice as much to go wrong.

Unfortunately valve manipulation skills often aren't taught in entry level training.

 

[Erik Il Rosso]

Nobody told me anything when I bought the two regs instead of an octopus...

I did not know that I needed valve manipulation skills...

This morning I woke up and thought :"What if.. ???" and I posted a message...

Let's say I was lucky but even the DM at the diving center did not say anything he saw my configuration...

BTW, I had only one dive with this configuration and there will not a be a second one unless I will be able and confidend to solve a problem to the valve...

Thanks a lot...

Ciao Erik Il Rosso

 

[chrisch]

Just for you guys there in the US it is now standard in many European countries to have H valves - notably on bigger tanks.

I find it scary that this person has not been trained in shut down drills but is using this configuration.

Erik - you should be able to shut down either of the two valves by reaching behind you and turning them off (and back on if needed). If you find this difficult experiment with tank positioning.

If you cannot do this you should be using an octopus configuration.

If I were you I would go back to the dive school I learned with and ask for my money back.

Ciao ciao,
Chris

 

[clearwtr]

Erik,
Go to your instructor or someone knowledgeable in your area to get hands on instruction. It is important that you are familiar with handling your equipment. Suggestions on valve manipulation via posts are not what you need. You need to practice, practice, practice!
John

 

[ssdiver2003]

first off, you should go back to your instructor and ask why he neglected to introduce this common problem while you were on your open water - pool session...second, you should know your equipment, if you have and adjuster knob on the reg for ease of breathing, close it a bit...third, when that happens, dont panik you can still breath- just remove the reg a bit out of your mouth bout half way and breath while on a safe asscent...fourth, you can switch to your alternate air source and just shake or cover the mouthpiece completely..that should stop the freeflow...maybe have your gear serviced properly....
I also wonder...why do you use 4 regs ????

 

[fgray1]

I think you miss read the question.
He's running 2 first stages on a H or Y valve. Therefore you don't have an octo. None needed. He has a second stage attached to each first stage. He was asking what to do if one free flowed.
It's a good set up but he needs to be trained on how to use it and what to do in case of a problem.
Your response tells me you shouldn't be giving advice. It's obvious you didn't understand the question.

 

[Erik Il Rosso]

This is what I will do tomorrow...

I will call my local diving center and I will ask for a FREE poll practice session...

The diving center in Sharm El Sheik where I was certified OW & AOW is owned by them and this is a good news...

My Euros were good so it must be their training...

Is it true that having two first strages is safer (if someone know how to hadle them safely ) than an octopus ?

Thanks a lot for everything...

Ciao Erik Il Rosso

 

[MikeFerrara]

I don't know what agency you were certified with but I don't know any recreational agencies that require valve drills to be taught in an entry level class and there are some that just plain won't allow it.