Possie Extreme gave up the ghost at 20m - Any ideas?

[Darren A]

Used my new extreme today at Stoney. Breathed beutifully all the way through the dive until I started my ascent from 20m, when it only started giving half a breath (the first "half") the second "half" of the breath seemed to go straight through to the exhaust valve, and not into my gob. It has rather unnerved me to be honest.

Anyone heard of this before, or got any ideas why it happened?

Thanks all in advance.

Darren

[Darren A]

I rang Posidon, and they suggested I brought the kit down to their base at Alton. As I had the day off, I took up their offer and traveled the 1.5 hrs there and 3 hrs back, but I think it was worth it. As far as the Extreme was concerned, they suggested that the cylinder pressure was a little low (60 bar), and as it was in the middle of a separation/mid water ascent, my breathing rate was increased, and my gas demand could have caused it to free flow, which would have explained the difficulty in breathing ie as I breathed out, it was still delivering in. I thought I remembered having trouble breathing in the second half of the breath, but it could be I was just having trouble breathing full stop (narks - don't know).

Thier suggestion was tring to recreate the situation in a controlled environment. Which i will do next time.

He then turned his attention to my Octo (which has always been a little "sticky" even though it was serviced less than 30 dives ago. He stripped it down to the nuts and bolts, cleaned it all, and reassembled it. Luuuverly jubbly, breaths like a dream now.

Just a note to any other extreme users, the chappie said the extreme will not work properly at pressures of 50 odd bar or less. Therefore doing a deep dive on twin 12s and then doing a second shallow dive, you think

(umm 50 bar in twin 12s = 100 bar in a single 12 = loadsa gas)

also may equal - reg might quit!!

Cheers

Darren

PS When I said reg might quit, i mean it won't behave perfectly, as it still delivered gas - albeit in a disconserting manner.