Would a 1st stage malfunction cause a flood?

[DA Aquamaster]

First stage failures tend to involve either:

1. An o-ring in the first stage failing with a resulting leak of gas out the reg (usually a largish leak out the ambient chamber holes or a msall dribble around on of the port plugs.

2. A failure of the HP seat resulting in IP creep and eventually a freeflow of thr second stage.

Flooding of the second stage is almost always the result of a torn diaphragm or unseated exhaust valve.

One instance of "flooding" that I am aware of where the water came through the first stage involved a rental tank that had a lot of water in it and was also missing the dip tube on the valve. When the diver went head down the water flowed to the top of the tank and the water entered the first and second stages. But that was a situation where the tank was at fault not the regulator.

It's possible something similar may have happened to you with water from the tank entering the first and second stage on the first dive (and you emptying most of it from the tank with the mouthful of water). It would explain the wet filter as well as the deformation of the filter. It would also explain the problem resolving itself on the second dive. (Most regs will breath a little wet inverted as some water does slip past tthe exhaust valve while the air is venting in that position, so your observations on the second dive are normal.)

 

[pakman]

One instance of "flooding" that I am aware of where the water came through the first stage involved a rental tank that had a lot of water in it and was also missing the dip tube on the valve. When the diver went head down the water flowed to the top of the tank and the water entered the first and second stages. But that was a situation where the tank was at fault not the regulator.

It's possible something similar may have happened to you with water from the tank entering the first and second stage on the first dive (and you emptying most of it from the tank with the mouthful of water). It would explain the wet filter as well as the deformation of the filter. It would also explain the problem resolving itself on the second dive. (Most regs will breath a little wet inverted as some water does slip past tthe exhaust valve while the air is venting in that position, so your observations on the second dive are normal.)

DA, that's very interesting. Yeah that's the part that had us all baffled (the wet/ deformed filter). And yes these were rental tanks and I did change tanks for the second dive. I've experience regs breathing wet, but this was a full on mouth full of water that wasn't clearing with a thorough purge. Anyways, will see what the shop says when they get to my reg this Sat.

 

[pakman]

And the prize goes to DA Aquamaster... Got my reg back. Shop did a full inspection and couldn't find anything wrong with the 1st stage or the 2nd stage. They also suspected water in the tank given the deformed/ wet filter and the fact that this happened when inverted (tank tilted). Anyways, did a dive today and didn't have any problems despite trying to put myself in all different positions.