JT, yes, we have had a big problem with the pressure guages sticking.
Some stick off completely ( stages) , others stick someplace in the
middle, like about 2500 psi. We found it to be certain glass faced ones
that did it. We try to use plastic on the stages to reduce weight, and
metal on the back gas . The metals were the stickers.

   The isolator you mentioned is a big target of the stray DM . That is
a real cluster if you do not notice the pressure staying the same. This
probably should be added to the long list of reasons why not to put the
primary reg on the left post - some fools think they need to "have the
prssure guage on the reg they are breathing" _ I love that one. I
usually ask them if I can make long distance phone calls from their
house if I bring my own phone.

   Let me ask you - in the other post - do you guys use the dry suit
hose with the flared fitting, and can you get that one on and off with
gloves?  I use it just to be able to get it off faster in a runaway.


Capt JT wrote:
> 
> At 03:53 PM 12/26/99 -0500, kirvine@sa*.ne* wrote:
> >JT, the biggie in your list is "nobody touches my valves but me". Also
> >in that one was the pressure guage check. If you breath the reg while
> >watching it, you will notice it waver if you are not turned all the way
> >on . This will alert you to a problem when you get to depth, which is
> >that the reg will not develop enough intermediate pressure to breathe,
> >and you will think you lost your gas since you just checked and it
> >worked on the way down . Actaully , the only real way to get tho that
> >screwup is to violate the "only I touch the valves " rule. The DM's tend
> >to like to turn them off and then back on a 1/4 turn, thinking they are
> >doing the opposite. The 1/4 turn thing is right up there with the word
> >"octopus" applied to a regulator.
> 
> I have not had that happen to me yet, with the valve not being open all the
> way.You are dead right about the DM turning the valves the wrong way. Had
> one shut my isolator valve once and I caught him.You can bet your ass he'll
> never do that again.Also with the gauges, the deeper dives causes to much
> pressure on the cheap ones, I believe the face will press in and the needle
> will not move, had that happen to a diver on a deep dive last year.He
> noticed the pressure gauge had not gone down at all during the decent to
> 300ft.Have you guys had this problem, I am wondering as I saw you post that
> you did not ck your pressure once into the dive or did I miss read that.
> 
> >Capt JT wrote:
> > >
> > > As I read this, the memory of Tony Smith came to mind.Just when we began
to
> > > think we are so good, the basics will kill us.The entry, decent ,ascent,
> > > are the parts of the dive that  will most likely kill you, the bottom part
> > > of the dive is really the safe part to me.Below is list of things I do.I
am
> > > open for comments that can help, I am always willing  to listen.
> > >
> > > 1) DO NOT be in a hurry gearing up
> > > 2)once seated in full gear just set and relax a second
> > > 3) take a breath off of each reg do not keep it in your mouth if it is a
> > > hypoxic mix
> > > 4)Check pressure gauge, if lower than at start the valve is not open
> > > (I like to open my valves while seated and geared up, proves to myself
that
> > > I can do it)
> > > NO ONE touches my valves but ME
> > > 5)Drink water and relax a second
> > > 6)check everything before you stand
> > > 7)If there is a current use a travel mix( when using a hypoxic mix)
> > > 8)if not a hypoxic mix use back gas, avoid using travel mix when possible,
> > > it will just give you something else you have to deal with and can do
wrong
> > > 9)Put the reg. in your mouth just before you jump in
> > > 10) make it to the down line and stop -relax a second
> > > 11)look at the safety diver or buddy exchange OK
> > > 12) when you make it to the bottom pause for a moment and collect yourself
> > > , look at your surroundings and make assessments.
> > >
> > >   At 08:22 AM 12/26/99 -0500, kirvine@sa*.ne* wrote:
> > > >Marcin, whatever the case, you have to be able to get to those valves,
> > > >or to get the tanks lose enough to get to them. This is not so much in
> > > >the case of a failure, but in the case where you fail to turn them on
> > > >and get into the water.
> > > >
> > > >I got so distracted the other day that I almost jumped in the ocean with
> > > >my backup reg behind me, and my primary reg jammed under my waistbelt. I
> > > >would not have been able to get to any gas other than my "third reg"
> > > >which is my inflator hose. If the valves were off, and I never checked,
> > > >it might have been a real trick figuring that one out before my eardrums
> > > >broke.
> > > >
> > > >I do not mind drowning, but I would have hated to screw up in front of
> > > >an audience. The only reason I even noticed that I had no regs is that I
> > > >sat on one of them and it went off.
> > > >
> > > >To top it off, none of the people on the boat even noticed any of this.
> > > >I would have had to drop down, flip my tanks off and put them back on
> > > >out of sight to save face, but my dive partner would have freaked, even
> > > >assuming that I did not try every other solution first and then not be
> > > >able to do it .
> > > >
> > > >It just reminded me of how close we can get to as screwup with the wrong
> > > >gear.
> > > >
> > > >Work out that insulation and knob thing with the minimunm solution.
> > > >
> > > >Marcin Piekarski wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > Healthy critics is not the thing that can kill me but stupidity is the
> > > > > one. So thanks for straightening me up, on this. While writing to this
> > > > > group I knew that there might be flames and someone might say "no man,
> > > > > it's really stupid", and OK, if so. If something is stupid then I want
> > > > > to learn new better ways on doing it and stand with my head high while
> > > > > admitting that this stupidity comes from my lack of knowledge, for
now.
> > > > >
> > > > > nforcer1 wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > > (Note to Marcin: please don't take any of this as criticism of
> > > > you.  For all
> > > > > > any of us know, you might be in great shape, configured well and can
> > > > reach the
> > > > > > knobs with room to spare. Just asking the question makes you a great
> > > > candidate
> > > > > > for avoiding being the bad guy under Rules 1 and 2.  Follow steps
> > > > 1-4, above,
> > > > > > and it will all fall in place for you.)
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Jim
> > > > > >
> > > > > > PAlexakos@ao*.co* wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > > In a message dated 12/23/1999 6:30:24 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> > > > > > > nforcer1@ix*.ne*.co* writes:
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > << I'm not sure it matters, but I'll be glad to when I have
a
> > > > little more
> > > > > > > time.  I
> > > > > > >  didn't know a resume was required to state the obvious on a point
> > > > I think
> > > > > > > most
> > > > > > >  of us agree upon. >>
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Sure,
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >     But when you are a tough guy, ready to suggest who is ready to
> > > > dive or
> > > > > > > not, we are all interested what your qualifications are.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Panos
> > > > > >
> > > > > > --
> > > > > > Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to
> > `techdiver@aquanaut.com'.
> > > > > > Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to
> > `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
> > > > >
> > > > > --
> > > > > Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to
`techdiver@aquanaut.com'.
> > > > > Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to
> > `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >--
> > > >Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'.
> > > >Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.


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