Why do BCs take on water?

[BigTuna]

BC bladders seem to take on water, at least sometimes. Anybody know why or how to minimize the amount they ship? Is it poor technique?

 

[Rick Murchison]

BC bladders seem to take on water, at least sometimes. Anybody know why or how to minimize the amount they ship? Is it poor technique?

To keep water intrusion into the BC/wing at a minimum...
(1) make sure that before you vent the BC there is air underneath the valve, whichever one it is.
(2) make sure you release the dump promptly when the air quits coming out.
Rick

 

[cool_hardware52]

What Rick said is exactly right. I'll add that dumping via the inflator (hold the hose up and dump) will introduce more water than correct use of the rear OPV.

Why? Look at a typical inflator, there is space inside the mouth piece that will be filled with water. This water is sitting right on top of the inner valve that button on the end of the inflator operates. When you hold up the hose and depress the button, most of this water trickles down in to the hose, as the air slowly bubbles out.


The opv does not have this "water storage". It's just a poppet valve that is barely lifted off it's seat.

All in all you will find as you practice more, you will get much better at anticipating changes in buoyancy, and will adding and venting gas much less. Use any of valves less, and you will have less water in the bag at the end of the day.


Tobin

 

[Walter]

If you don't inflate your BC prior to entering the water, you'll eliminate most of the problem.

I never undertood that concept anyway - you want to get in the water and descend below it, inflating your BC forces you to not do what you want to do. Check your gear on the boat and don't get in the water before you're ready.

 

[cool_hardware52]

If you don't inflate your BC prior to entering the water, you'll eliminate most of the problem.

I never undertood that concept anyway - you want to get in the water and descend below it, inflating your BC forces you to not do what you want to do. Check your gear on the boat and don't get in the water before you're ready.

Walter,

How does venting the gas in your BC at the surface, i.e. holding up the hose out of the water, lead to water being introduced into the BC?

I like to do bubble checks, Mod-s etc. at the surface. Kinda hard to do bubble checks on the boat.


Tobin

 

[redacted]

OTOH, if you are not getting some water in your BC, you either have exceptional technique or too much weight. It's pretty damn hard to dump the last bit of gas from your BC without having a little water get in. But if you are dumping cups of water at the end of a dive, you either need to work on technique or add a pound or 2.

 

[Walter]

You hold your hose up? Don't you have a regular dump valve?

 

[BigWhiteSquare]

If you don't inflate your BC prior to entering the water, you'll eliminate most of the problem.

I never undertood that concept anyway - you want to get in the water and descend below it, inflating your BC forces you to not do what you want to do. Check your gear on the boat and don't get in the water before you're ready.

One dive charter that I use asks that we establish buoyancy on the surface and signal ok before we descend. It's a little bit of a hassle, but I appreciate their commitment to safety.

___

 

[Walter]

In that case, I establish positive buoyancy with my fins, signal and descend, it takes 2 seconds (or less).

 

[Fish_Whisperer]

Good suggestion, Walter. Thank you.