When turning on your air

[TxHockeyGuy]

I've noticed a few people tend to hold their SPG up against the tank when turning on their air. Why do they do this? Any other little things like this that are not normallly taught that us newbs should know about?

 

[JRRKAR]

The practice should be to hold the front face of the SPG away from you or anyone else when you turn on your air just in case the gage glass shatters when you turn the air on.

Did you learn to wet your BC tank strap before you slide it over the tank? If not, this practice is to let the strap expand before you put it on your tank. Many times if you don't wet the tank strap, then get in the water, the material will expand, and the tank wil float loose.

Feel free to ask whatever questions you like.

Jeff

 

[TxHockeyGuy]

Thanks for the response on the SPG face. I was taught to always wet the bands. I don't remember, although I certainly won't swear I wasn't taught to, being told to point the SPG away from people when turning on the air. Thanks again!

 

[midwayman]

They taught us to put the face against the tank. That way if it shatters, the glass just hits the tank and nothing..... fleshy.

 

[jham2081]

i point it toward the ground...

 

[captndale]

The practice should be to hold the front face of the SPG away from you or anyone else when you turn on your air just in case the gage glass shatters when you turn the air on.

Just don't hold the gauge up with the back pointed at your face (as shown in the PADI training pictures) either. There is usually a small hard rubber plug in the back which is designed to blow out before the face shatters. It would not be good to have that propelled into your face either.

 

[Vayu]

Since the spg is connected to a high pressure port it is possible though unlikely that the glass will shatter and get in your eye. If you hear a loud bang and your spg is fine, check the o-ring on the cylinder (assuming you are on a yoke connection).

A few other useful things to do: After the air has been turned on with the spg facing away (this does not have to be an active procedure, I just put mine on the ground face down), take a breath or two from your second stage while watching the gauge. If the gauge is moving down at a rapid rate turn off the air, release the pressure, and try again.

Another good practice is to try to take a few light breaths from the regulator with the dust cap on or with the air off. If you can breathe from the regulator then the seal is not holding and you may or may not inhale water. It is important the breaths are light since you do not want to dislodge the diaphragm, however even on a light breath the seal should be obvious.

-V

 

[marku]

If your dive buddy's an *****, hold your spg against his ---wherever when turning on your tank.

Play around with how high your BC sits on your tank (I like mine pretty high up on my tank, keeps me from hitting the back of my head against my 1st stage when I go upsidedown). Also, learn how to properly thread your tank band buckle.

enjoy your dives!

-marku

 

[Gonz]

After you've turned your air on and checked your regs and the tank starting pressure, most folks agree (if diving off of a boat) that you should go ahead and turn the tank back off for the ride out to the dive site. Also, you should turn the valve all the way open, then back a half turn. That way if the one of the DM's or boat staff wants to be sure your air's on, they can just give the knob a quick turn either way and they know it's good.

 

[Charlie99]

After you've turned your air on and checked your regs and the tank starting pressure, most folks agree (if diving off of a boat) that you should go ahead and turn the tank back off for the ride out to the dive site.

And note the pressure, wait a few minutes and then check pressure again. That's a very sensitive test for leaks.