Removing and refitting a 1st stage underwater

[PeeBee]

Following on from the inverted twins thread, Clare made a point about having removed and reseated a 1st stage whilst bored on deco. This raised a question that has been in my head for a while. Maybe I'm displaying my ignorance here but I was taught that water in the 1st stage was an absolute NoNo yet I have heard of people swapping first stages from cylinder to cylinder underwater. I would certainly do it if brown stuff and whirly thing were colliding but how dangerous is it? Is there a technique whereby you try to keep the 1st stage inverted or what?

[Woz]

Freshwater- you would probably get away with it. Saltwater- no way. Insides would turn green and your reg dies.

[StuartC]

Originally Posted by Woz

Freshwater- you would probably get away with it. Saltwater- no way. Insides would turn green and your reg dies.

yeah, but how quickly would that happen, and would it give you enough time to deco/get out if it's brown stuff+whirly thing time?

[G man]

Ive done it in salt water, the 1st stage was blown through after and flushed with fresh water and dried and cleaned, I had the reg serviced after the trip.

I action of flushing and drying saved the 1st stage, saying that it cant be good but it will get you out of the poo,

Regards Grant.

[A. Berk]

Originally Posted by PeeBee

Following on from the inverted twins thread, Clare made a point about having removed and reseated a 1st stage whilst bored on deco. This raised a question that has been in my head for a while. Maybe I'm displaying my ignorance here but I was taught that water in the 1st stage was an absolute NoNo yet I have heard of people swapping first stages from cylinder to cylinder underwater.

In the 70's we did a cart-load of scuba in the southern sector of the North Sea gas fields. We would often stow a spare twinset in our dive basket to keep us going at shallow depths. Changing regs over to a fresh set was the norm; swim back to the basket, take a deep breath and swap. We had DIN fit Spiro-technique sets with Posiedon regs. No dramas, though in hindsight there must have been a build-up off salt and stuff in the works by the end of the season.

I wonder if this practice had any bearing on me getting shot up the arse with a 1st stage? I was working for a French company called Comex and getting ready for a dive. As I bent over to fit my reg someone opened their manifold valve and with a loud pshwang their 1st stage sheared off at the shaft and whacked me square on the cocyx from at least 2 metres away. I've often thought how much that would sting if it occured behind one's head!

Berko

[nickb]

I would have thought that a quick purge would drive any water out, especially with a piston reg.

I wouldn't have any problem doing this although I'd probably strip it down and give it a quick clean-up when I got home

[David]

Originally Posted by PeeBee

I was taught that water in the 1st stage was an absolute NoNo

Trying to breath water is much more of a NoNo... unscrewing regs underwater is not a good plan but if it keeps you alive without a trip to the pot. I would do it

what happens to the reg afterwards is not a problem. Your still alive :-)

David

[stevechesh]

I've done it once......rinsed through with fresh water and purged dry afterwards......When i got back home i took it in for a service, although there was nothing wrong with it apparently.

Servicing costs didn't really enter my mind at the time i swapped over. Getting to the surface safely, focused my attention a bit more

[Mal Bridgeman]

Originally Posted by PeeBee

Following on from the inverted twins thread, Clare made a point about having removed and reseated a 1st stage whilst bored on deco.

I don't think Clare actually said that....she depressurised and tightened the 1st stage that had a minor leak......not quite removal which would have the issues described above.

HTH
Mal

[Scuby]

Originally Posted by Mal Bridgeman

I don't think Clare actually said that....she depressurised and tightened the 1st stage that had a minor leak......not quite removal which would have the issues described above.

Ahhh, makes sense now! Seemed like a very expensive thing to practice just because you're bored!

David