Your BC fails now what??

[Nemrod]

For years and years scuba divers did without a BC. There were no BC in wide use until the 70s. Many people learned to dive completely adequately without any BC and nobody cared because they had not been invented yet. More than that, many divers, outside of the sterile, color coordinated PadI world still dive with no BC. I shore dive with no BC, boat dive with no BC, dive to 150 feet with no BC. With some few exceptions, if your so heavy that the loss of the BC means you cannot leave the bottom then your way, way, way over weighted.

If your negative on the bottom, do not remove weight. This could cause a runaway ascent when you get into shallower water, your wet suit becomes more bouyant, your toward the end of the dive so your tank is already more bouyant so you might not be able to make your safety stop (also a relatively recent invention).

You should be able to swim yourself up. I suggest that you go to the Y pool and dive without a BC, begin in a swimsuit and work up to your wetsuit. Learn to dive without all the crutches. You will be better off when that day comes, if it comes

Not only that, most BC have at least two means of inflation, orally and power inflator and many older horsecollars and some others also had a CO2 cartridge for three methods of inflation. Short of ripping the bag open, which I did once, don't fret so over it to much. N<----- needs no BC

 

[Gary D.]

For years and years scuba divers did without a BC. There were no BC in wide use until the 70s. Many people learned to dive completely adequately without any BC and nobody cared because they had not been invented yet. More than that, many divers, outside of the sterile, color coordinated PadI world still dive with no BC. I shore dive with no BC, boat dive with no BC, dive to 150 feet with no BC. With some few exceptions, if your so heavy that the loss of the BC means you cannot leave the bottom then your way, way, way over weighted.

If your negative on the bottom, do not remove weight. This could cause a runaway ascent when you get into shallower water, your wet suit becomes more bouyant, your toward the end of the dive so your tank is already more bouyant so you might not be able to make your safety stop (also a relatively recent invention).

You should be able to swim yourself up. I suggest that you go to the Y pool and dive without a BC, begin in a swimsuit and work up to your wetsuit. Learn to dive without all the crutches. You will be better off when that day comes, if it comes

Not only that, most BC have at least two means of inflation, orally and power inflator and many older horsecollars and some others also had a CO2 cartridge for three methods of inflation. Short of ripping the bag open, which I did once, don't fret so over it to much. N<----- needs no BC

Hey Nemrod, look familiar?

We were certified to work at 190 just like this and we got back up without a problem. Those twin 90&#8217;s were heavy sob&#8217;s but DuckFeet could raise the Titanic off the bottom.

Did you notice PADI hadn&#8217;t arrived on scene yet.

http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/35319/cat/500/ppuser/2714

Gary D.

 

[Blackwood]

I had a terrible thought, what would happen if your bc failed to inflate? It would not inflate with air via your tank or by your mouth. Let's say your down 100 feet on a deco dive, now what do you do???

finish the dive.

 

[sbrooks]

Proper cleaning, inspection, and regular maintainance.

 

[all4scuba05]

If you're diving deco at 100fsw, and it's a boat dive, bring a sausage or SMB. Can't use the BC? Improvise...better practice first though.

 

[REII]

For years and years scuba divers did without a BC. There were no BC in wide use until the 70s. Many people learned to dive completely adequately without any BC and nobody cared because they had not been invented yet. More than that, many divers, outside of the sterile, color coordinated PadI world still dive with no BC. I shore dive with no BC, boat dive with no BC, dive to 150 feet with no BC. With some few exceptions, if your so heavy that the loss of the BC means you cannot leave the bottom then your way, way, way over weighted.

If your negative on the bottom, do not remove weight. This could cause a runaway ascent when you get into shallower water, your wet suit becomes more bouyant, your toward the end of the dive so your tank is already more bouyant so you might not be able to make your safety stop (also a relatively recent invention).

You should be able to swim yourself up. I suggest that you go to the Y pool and dive without a BC, begin in a swimsuit and work up to your wetsuit. Learn to dive without all the crutches. You will be better off when that day comes, if it comes

Not only that, most BC have at least two means of inflation, orally and power inflator and many older horsecollars and some others also had a CO2 cartridge for three methods of inflation. Short of ripping the bag open, which I did once, don't fret so over it to much. N<----- needs no BC

I received my OW cert from NAUI in 1980. I did not use a BC for years. The only thing available was the horse collar style BC similar to a snorkling vest, just more uncomfortable. And I never had a problem.

TOM

 

[Scuba Duba Doo]

Two weeks ago, I somehow managed to pull my inflator off my wing during a 50' stop on a drift deco dive. I was at the time this happened still pretty negatively weighted since I still had a lot of gas still in my tanks and stages.

Since I already had my small SMB deployed my deco stop (5lbs lift) for the deco I chose not to deploy anther bag since I determined that there was no urgency and closed the dump valve on my drysuit and added air to neutral bouyancy. I worked with my team member to work through the issue.

Once at the surface, I advised the boat that I had an issue and all the divers in waiting to board let me go ahead and climb on the boat 1st.

Work through the problem, don't panic, use your team member (thats what there there for), and always have multiple redundant bouyancy sources that suit your diving style (SMB, lift bag, drysuit, dual bladders).

 

[mrjimboalaska]

If your BC fails to inflate...............do the Warhammer!...

 

[fishb0y]

I'm with you Nemrod...

I routinely dive twin 72's with no BC and heaven forbid... a twin hose regulator with no SPG!!! Yes I know, I am putting my life in my hands...

My point... divers are now WAY too dependant on their equipment. Heaven forbid we dive without that extra 15# of lead, computer that tells us how much air time we have left in our tank, 2 extra D-rings on your BP/W and that BC that will vent no matter what your position.

I'm not saying get rid of your BC & computer, but learn to properly weight yourself and actually learn how to dive... the human body is not a submarine, quit diving like one.

My favorite description of a diver is a Frogman... we have a lot to learn from those diving pioneers.

 

[Steve_Dives]

Swim it up. Worse case you can breathe the tank dry. Drop weight once at the surface.

If it were a pumpkin carving contest (at 100 feet ) I'd invert the pumpkin and catch my exhale - spilling air as needed. (I had to throw something amusing in!)