Why do we dive with the valve up?

[Cthippo]

I've always wondered why SCUBA runs valve up but SCBAs run valve down? I can see the advantage of being able to turn your tank on and off without removing it with a valve down configuration, but what are the advantages of valve up?

 

[rhwestfall]

enjoy... Why can't scuba tanks be set up like a firefighter's scba?

 

[Gareth J]

A lot of Navy diving operations involve divers diving with inverted twin cylinders.

There are at least half a dozen members of my club that dive inverted twinsets.
There's a few in pictures in this article.

 

[rhwestfall]

Navel

We talking belly buttons or oranges?

 

[Gareth J]

We talking belly buttons or oranges?

Great ..... Not sure if that was auto correct or me, or a combination of the two.

 

[Angelo Farina]

I can answer why we dive traditionally with valve(s) up.
It comes from the old single-stage (double hose) regulator.
As the diaphragm was close to the valve, the reg had to stay as close as possible to the center of lungs. So the tank has to be placed much lower on your back, with the reg in the center of your back.
As the first single-hose regs were developed, some divers switched to valves in down position.
But most others maintained the same configuration they were used to with double hose regs.

 

[lowwall]

Ease of putting on rig in limited spaces like every dive boat ever. Can you imagine the carnage from a bunch of divers doing an overhead don on a boat?

Firefighters have more room and smaller tanks.

 

[Subcooled]

I've always wondered why SCUBA runs valve up but SCBAs run valve down? I can see the advantage of being able to turn your tank on and off without removing it with a valve down configuration, but what are the advantages of valve up?

It is easier to operate the valves down there...
but if you sit on a aboat then the valves are a bit exposed.

OK, I do not understand it.

 

[Jcp2]

Ease of putting on rig in limited spaces like every dive boat ever. Can you imagine the carnage from a bunch of divers doing an overhead don on a boat?

Firefighters have more room and smaller tanks.

CUSTOM DIVERS VALVE PROTECTORS

Diving Courses & Equipment in Perth, Western Australia

divetub.com.au

Had anybody tried out these?

 

[Cthippo]

Ease of putting on rig in limited spaces like every dive boat ever. Can you imagine the carnage from a bunch of divers doing an overhead don on a boat?

Firefighters have more room and smaller tanks.

Usually these days we have them built into our seats and just sit down, strap in, and walk away on arrival, but i take your point.