Last weekend we talked about O rings. This is very important to a diver, and we sometimes take them for just a little rubber or latex item that seals the air from escaping the tank or Regulator. Think of it this way. If you have a failure at depth the dive is over and you will have a real problem. I direct this at single tank sports divers. It’s also important to the deep diver as well. However, on a Deco dive you will have the extra tanks for bail out.

It isn’t so with a single tank diver who may only have a pony bottle or spare air. I would recommend that the O rings be changed often since this will get you into the mode to check them. Regulators are a special piece of life support which allows air to pass through it so that it will support you underwater. CAUTION: This equipment needs to be checked by those who have been trained to do so. I watched a friend, Bobby Ray, service my Scuba Pro, first and second and all in between. Let me tell you I was lost after he removed the hoses. 

Never attempt to repair it yourself if you have not been trained. This is very important to your life. If you mess up and the equipment fails, you just don’t get to go home the way you arrived. No second chances here. Also remember there is a high pressure port. Don’t apply low pressure on that port. I say that because it does happen. Look at the ports and the hoses. Never get in the hurry mode. You can get hurt real quick.

Service the equipment once a year. Set a schedule for all your equipment to ensure that you get it done and that each dive will be a safe one.

The regulator comes in many different shapes names and so on.  How you dive will dictate the type of regulator you may choose. You should talk to your instructor and other divers and check out their equipment. It is important to look over new stuff and ask about it. Believe me when I say other divers like to talk about their stuff. 

I dive Din because most all of my stuff is Din right down to the Argon. I started out with a yolk system and then I began to talk to other advanced divers and learned that most of them used the Din system. I asked them for the reason or reasons. They told me that you can’t knock them off at low pressure. And diving high with steel tanks you can blow O rings real easy. It’s simple: No O rings no diving. I was told that the 300 bar is better then the 200 bar since it has one and half more threads. Now I am a Din diver with 300 bar equipment.

Now I am all set up with the 300 bar and want to go to the re-breather. I still can use the din, but it just goes to show that if you continue to dive and continue your education as a diver, you will always want to see what’s a little deeper. It may be just beyond that over hang that you can’t reach with ordinary equipment.

Remember that diving is dangerous. Training is everything and the condition of your equipment is most important. When you dive look around and see how other divers take care of their equipment. You may decide you don’t want to dive with them. 

© 08-01-2005 G. McK.