What to do when regulator free flow in cold water?

[gschaut]

Can you elaborate on how to smack it? And how do I get to the surface(CESA, try to sip air from the free flowing reg) if I abort the dive?

I usually smack the side of the diaphragm. Doesn't really matter, you're just trying to jar loose a chunk of ice in the 2nd stage valve. A free-flowing regulator almost always will breathe normally when you inhale. It just does not shut off when you stop inhaling. Like a dripping faucet. Just head for the surface, make your safety stop, and get positive buoyant before anything else breaks, and your day goes REALLY sideways. Many fatalities START as minor problems that are ignored.

 

[gschaut]

I usually smack the side of the diaphragm. Doesn't really matter, you're just trying to jar loose a chunk of ice in the 2nd stage valve. A free-flowing regulator almost always will breathe normally when you inhale. It just does not shut off when you stop inhaling. Like a dripping faucet. Just head for the surface, make your safety stop, and get positive buoyant before anything else breaks, and your day goes REALLY sideways. Many fatalities START as minor problems that are ignored.

P.S. - if you are going to dive in water under 50 deg F, you should REALLY be using a winterized regulator that is rated for ice diving. Heavy breathing can cause 1st or 2nd stage to ice up in water WELL above freezing. Being in Buffalo, all my regulators are rated for ice, and my 1st stage occasionally has a block of ice on it in 45 deg water.

 

[crofrog]

This is a very good idea. But do you feel like breathing from my buddy is a better idea or should I just perform emergency swimming ascent? As for the redundant source, do you use a pony bottle or doubles?

Increasing the demand on another (your buddies) first stage could lead that one to be more likely to freeze. Breath on the free flowing reg or your secondary and ascend.

Doubles are better than a pony.

 

[lowwall]

But do you feel like breathing from my buddy is a better idea or should I just perform emergency swimming ascent?

Assuming single tank and single valve, keep breathing from your regulator. You can breathe just fine from a free flowing reg. You can try switching to your octo and giving your primary second a smack to dislodge any ice, but keep breathing your regulator. Make a normal ascent. Keep your buddy close in case you run out of gas so can do a standard air share while ascending.

As an aside, an emergency swimming ascent is something that should only be done when you have no gas, no backup gas and no access to someone else's gas. In modern diving - meaning everything after the octo and SPG became standard equipment - a CESA means you have completely screwed up and, assuming you survive the dive, need to examine everything about how you plan and conduct your dives.

 

[Kylebee]

P.S. - if you are going to dive in water under 50 deg F, you should REALLY be using a winterized regulator that is rated for ice diving. Heavy breathing can cause 1st or 2nd stage to ice up in water WELL above freezing. Being in Buffalo, all my regulators are rated for ice, and my 1st stage occasionally has a block of ice on it in 45 deg water.

Oh wow. What regs do you use? And when you breath from free-flowing regulator, do you use the PADI's method by sipping it sideways?

 

[rhwestfall]

First off - have regulators suitable for cold water...

Secondly, you can breathe off a free-flowing regulator, and can make your ascent using it.

Additionally, this is where an auxiliary air source allows you to shut off the offending regulator and see if it thaws. This can be a pony. doubles or a buddy. I'm not a fan of the buddy option as it stresses the regulator, and can lead to the same thing. It does however beat doing a CESA - the last resort.

This is our SOP for here in the Great Lakes where most diving is cold water diving.

YMMV

 

[Kylebee]

Secondly, you can breathe off a free-flowing regulator, and can make your ascent using it.

Do you breath the free flowing regulator using the PADI method--where you tilt your head and sip it?

 

[rhwestfall]

Do you breath the free flowing regulator using the PADI method--where you tilt your head and sip it?

I'm going to my pony if on single tank...

 

[Kylebee]

I'm going to my pony if on single tank...

You prefer pony or doubles? Haha

 

[Kylebee]

When regulator freeze, do they begin to free flow in your mouth all in a sudden? Or is it a more gradual process?