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Robin,
I dive in the UK. I bought the OMS M25 isolation manifold a couple of
years ago & at 1st didn't see how I could turn any of the valves off.
I then moved the cylinders as high as they would go, ie top band just
below where the bottle starts to curve over, bottom band so low I needed a 2"
slot cutting into each rubber boot. I then angled the centre valve forwards
(obviously you have to empty both cylinders to do this) by about 30 degrees to
make it easier to reach. If I threw my head back hard then yes, it would hit
the central valve..but I don't.
I can now turn any one of the valves off or on within 10 seconds (to all
you USA valve-turning experts..is this a good or a poor time ??)
Two other things help #1) Lifting the opposite cylinder with the spare
hand helps. #2) If this doesn't work, rolling forwards in the water so that
gravity pulls the bottles up my back usually does the trick. Combining #1 + #2
always works. I guess this rolling manouver wouldn't work in a tight cave or
wreck. You would just have to try harder with #1.
I find the outer valves can only be turned by using the ends of two
fingers & a thumb..but it works fine. I have to visualise the valve turning
direction carefully before each dive to make sure I turn the correct valve in
the right direction.
Practising during each deco stop gives something to do...as long as you
don't mind getting a wet neck from the contortions...!
Diving with strange gear is a bitch though. I had an o-ring blowout on
hired gear at only 10 metres on a holiday dive. I tried to turn the air off to
save gas before I headed for the surface (right at the start of the dive..) & I
could *not* reach the valve....!
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Regards, Steve M.
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