1.76 PPO2 anyone?

[Adrian Kelland]

Not really a 'I learned from that', but a reinforcement 'this is why we teach this'.

On Thursday we had the go ahead that a trip out to the Chateaux Yquem was on. Saturday was binned due to forecast 4-5south westerlies. The wreck lies in 48m half way between Torbay and Portland. Sundays forecast was for 2-3 westerly. Could still be some swell though. As I didn't want to spend time around the bottom of the hull, I planned on a max depth of 45m

So Friday night sees me down the club sorting out my gas for the dive. The cylinders were still full of 32% from the aborted Sunday in Weymouth a couple of weeks before. So the plan was to drain down to 120 bar, then air top up for 26%. There were a few other cylinders needing filling, so all were connected up so the filling was slow and cool. There were a few other members wandering to and fro carrying stuff for a fundraising boot sale. The topping up was done and the cylinders put back in the car.

Sunday morning I was putting the rest of the stuff in the car. I though I would just check the mix. It measured just under 32%. Do what?! So I check the gauge and vent it and make sure it was resetting. Put it on again. Just under 32% again! Then it hit me. I had not actually done the draining down prior to topping up. What with the distractions around and connecting the other cylinders I had gone straight into 'fill mode'.

Luckily I had plenty of time to go back to the club, drain down and top up properly this time. The dive was not too bad, vis of 2-3m. Sea almost flat calm. Wave machine had been switched off. And another local wreck visited. Although I'll have to do it a few more times. Hopefully in better vis.

So, not only check your gas before you dive, but check the gas at a point where you can do something about it.

Adrian

[Buoyant Babe]

Originally Posted by Adrian Kelland

So, not only check your gas before you dive, but check the gas at a point where you can do something about it.

Top tip Adrian! I think you should also check the bar in your cylinder as well as the mix. I've seen several divers turn up on a boat with an empty or half full cylinder recently because they had been told it was full by a mate or had been given a short fill.

I always try to get my fills a few days before I dive, and if I haven't seen the cylinder being filled I ask them to check it and top it up if need be before I leave the shop.

If my tanks have been lying around at home for a while with a fill, I still check them at least a day before I dive (or at least in time to get to a compressor if need be).

At the minute, because I'm getting two dives out of a 300 bar fill on my set, I can't afford a short fill. That's one of the reasons I'm going to try bigger tanks

Hxxx

[Finless]

1.76 ppO2? "PAH" I say. A mere shandy!


Who says FFMs aren't a good thing!!

[GLOC]

Good post Adrian.

[Finless]

Originally Posted by Buoyant Babe

If my tanks have been lying around at home for a while with a fill, I still check them at least a day before I dive (or at least in time to get to a compressor if need be).

Hxxx

Don't forget to give them a good jiggle!

[Buoyant Babe]

Originally Posted by Finless

Don't forget to give them a good jiggle!

Whatever might you be referring to?







I've seen Lee B's thread BTW

[Adrian Kelland]

Originally Posted by Finless

Don't forget to give them a good jiggle!

Well that didn't take long

[Odin]

One for the club eNEWS?
how many wally points?

[Adrian Kelland]

Originally Posted by Odin

One for the club eNEWS?
how many wally points?

None - not a club dive.

The points should go to those causing the distraction. Which is a serious point if there is going to be a lot more blending.

[Fiona]

I realise we aren't suppose to be negative in this forum, but people (and I mean in general) really should be checking their mixes before leaving the filling shed.