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>This is for you northern and ice divers.. What kind of 
>additional steps to you take for your regulators to 
>prevent them from freezing? Any tips?
>
>Jason Richards
>NSS/CDS 41539
>rchrds@ho*.co*.ed*

There are many regulators that are ready for use in cold water.  Among them,
the Sherwood Blizzard, the US Diver Artic, Scubapro has a model and Mares
has a model, etc.

You can also convert most other models by purchasing an environmental kit.
Generally, the part of the regulator which contain water is filled with
silicone and a cap is put in place to retain that silicon.  The cap is
flexible so the pressure of the water is directly applied on the cap which
applies the pressure on the diaphragm or piston.

But, all of that is not the most important thing.  I dove successfully with
non-converted or adapted regulators and I had failures with special regulators.

The main factor is air quality.  CGA Grade E requires a dew point of -40C.
In Canada, the CSA (Canadian Standard Association), specifies a dew point of
-53C or -57C (can't remember for sure).  Few places have compressors capable
of delivering air which is that dry. 

If the dew point is -53C at 1ATM, at 200 atm (3000psi), the dew point
becomes 0C.  If you prefer, should you have 0.5% humidity in air at 1atm,
you'll have 100% humidity at 200atm.  Air condenses and that condensation
freezes easilly in the regulator (generally the first stage).

Other concerns are not to breathe the regulator outside the water prior to
the dive, for winter dives.

I hope this helps.

Michel Therrien
m.therrien@ne*.qc*.ca*

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