"Bad" Air. Do you take precautions ?

[Laurie]

Following a recent incident involving several divers in Asia, which looks like may have been caused by bad air, are there any measures that you think we or the operators should take to ensure safe breathing air. On a recent thread on a well known U.S site, there were people who take there own CO testers abroad. Does anyone here take such precautions or feel that CO testers should be available by the operator.

(This thread is not posted to discuss the actual incident, as far as I know it has not been proven that the cause was bad air related.)

[SoggyFox]

I remember something in my training, which went along the lines of breathing from the reg during buddy checks and 'tasting' it, if it was in anyway suspect i'd be happy to bin it and ask for another cylinder. Don't know if tasting the air would give any indication of certain gases, CO or CO2? though i assume if the contamination came from a poorly placed inlet to a compressor there would be a taste from the other gases and source in the cylinder.

[Laurie]

I think that sometimes the trouble with the "taste test" on a boat is that where you are kitting up the air is often filled with diesel fumes from the boats engines and could this affect your judgement regarding the "taste test".

[SoggyFox]

Originally Posted by Laurie

I think that sometimes the trouble with the "taste test" on a boat is that where you are kitting up the air is often filled with diesel fumes from the boats engines and could this affect your judgement regarding the "taste test".

that would depend i suppose if you didn't have the option to check beforehand on shore, even so if your sat on a boat breathing from a reg how would you be taking in fumes from the engines at the same time as air from your cylinder. I guess it would be just better safe than sorry, turn down a cylinder or 2 or keep your will upto date, simple choice.

[ray]

Hi.

I remember once when erindoors and me was bimbling around on a night dive the air tasted very metalic!.












Oh we were at 71 meters, and still could see the moon above Hmmm. tin hat on!.

[RogerViking]

oil in cyls once when i was diving in the red sea.