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On Tue, 19 Jul 1994, Terry McCracken wrote: > Hi Folks > While reading todays mail feed I read with regret the posting about > another deep/cave death. This was another very experienced diver and the > poster seemed to indicate that the cause may have been a switch to an > incorrect gas at depth.I have seen several reports about similar deaths. > What methods do people currently use to ensure that this does not > happen and are there any improvements that can be suggested. If extreemly > experienced divers are still making this mistake there must be something > wrong with the current procudures. My Nitrox regulators are ScubaPro (Primary: G-250, Backup: D-350) and come over my right shoulder, and my Trimix regulators are Poseidon Odins (Primary: Black, Backup: Yellow) and come over my left shoulder. All 2nd stages are different shapes (except the 2 trimix regulators) so I can distinguish them without looking at them (not that I ever rely on the brail-method of chosing a regulator - but it's nice to be able to distinguish them if, for some reason, I can't see them). My nitrox regulators are clipped with brass clips (somewhat cumbersome to undo - intentionally) to my right side, and my back-up Trimix reg is fastened with a snorkle-keeper streched around its mouthpiece (so I can yank it off in a hurry) to my left side. Although I have, on a few occasions, been in somewhat stressful situations, I have never even come close to unintentionally sticking the wrong regulator in my mouth at the wrong depth. As for the dreaded Oxygen (the most lethal if breathed too deep), I strap the 2nd stage (a metal SP balaced adjustable - all other 2nd stages are plastic) with surgical tubing directly to my O2 pony (mounted between my twins on my back) where I physically CAN'T grab it accidentally. As an extra precaution, I turn the O2 valve off (after initially pressurizing the reg. prior to the dive). I don't mind making the O2 that difficult to access, because 1) it's only the backup O2 in case I can't get back to the surface-supplied primary O2 at the boat; and 2) unless I have four simultaneous regulator malfunctions in the other gas supplies on the one dive where I happen to miss the boat, I'll have plenty to breathe at 20' while I do what I need to do to get my O2 reg available. No, this system is not perfect, but it substantially reduces the probability of what I call "Gas Mismanagement" problems - at least for me. Concern about such an error is the MAIN reason I have not yet moved to full-facemasks. Aloha, Rich deepreef@bi*.bi*.ha*.or*
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