February 2020 Safety Message: High Pressure Air Leak

Have you ever witnessed a high pressure air leak while underwater?

There is nothing that will end your dive more rapidly than a high pressure air leak. High-pressure air leaks can occur at:

1. The tank O-ring (most likely source of a high pressure leak)
2. The high pressure hose
3. The tank burst disk (in the valve body)
4. The 1st stage regulator body
5. The high pressure (tank) gauge

A high pressure leak can vent the entire contents of the scuba cylinder in just a minute or 2. During that minute or 2 you will likely be able to breathe normally from your gear despite the rapid air loss.

The event can be very disorienting underwater because of the noise and the huge amount of bubbles that are generated.

There is no underwater fix for this issue. You must ascend (hopefully with the assistance of your dive buddy and his or her air supply). You may be able to reduce the rate of air loss and prolong your ability to breathe from your own gear by partially closing your air valve during the leak event.

The likelihood of an high pressure leak can be reduced by carefully inspecting your tank O-ring before connecting your regulator, and by replacing your high-pressure hose as recommended by the manufacturer.

Safe Diving!
Dave Wills

January 2020 Safety Message: 9 Lies Divers May Tell Themselves

9 Lies Divers May Tell Themselves:
Don’t Get Hurt By One of These

  1. I’m fit enough to dive.

  2. I can have that 3rd beer or cocktail the evening before diving.

  3. I can enter that wreck, cavern or cave.

  4. I’m properly weighted.

  5. I’m streamlined.

  6. Kneeling on or touching the coral is acceptable.

  7. I don’t need to take my gear on a trip… I can rent it when I arrive at the destination.

  8. It’s okay to touch or harass wildlife if you don’t harm them.

  9. I don’t need to practice skills learned during dive certification.

Safe Diving in 2020!

Dave Wills

December 2019 Safety Message: Hand Signals

When was the last time you studied or practiced your diving hand signals????

Please search the web for video(s) that teach diving hand signals. Brush up on your skills, come to the meeting and share! Try these videos or search for others.

Be Safe, Dive Safe, and Communicate!
Dave Wills

November 2019 Safety Message: Winter Weather

Despite the fact that our calendars are about to roll over into November, we have not yet seen a single cold front here in South Florida.   How unusual!  Despite that, some of our winter weather patterns have arrived. The one that I find most notable is the increase in wind.

As our winter weather arrives, winds pick up a bit, and sea conditions build.  The diving can still be quite good, but larger waves frequently result in a generally less pleasant and more strenuous boat ride for most divers.  As a result, divers should be alert to the sea state before they board a boat for a day on the ocean.

Each diver needs to assess his or her ability to enjoy a day on the water under the conditions that are forecasted for that particular day.  Keep in mind that veteran divers and professional boat captains and crew may be more comfortable in rough sea conditions then you are.  If you have major concerns, stay behind and let the boat go without you…even if you still have to pay for the seat on board.

Once you’re out of the ocean and preparing to dive, you need to consider your ability to safely re-board the boat after the dive.  The motions associated with the boat and the boats boarding ladder are magnified during rough conditions.  Don’t hesitate to discuss your concerns with the dive boat crew.  They will tell you how to re-board and what to expect.  If you feel you cannot safely re-board the boat, don’t enter the water…be a bubble watcher that day.

Be Safe, Dive Safe, and Enjoy Our Wonderful Winter!

Dave Wills

October 2019 Safety Message: Tank Valves

A veteran diver experienced a breathing issue after exiting a commercial boat with his dive buddy. All was good until he reached 70 feet of depth where breathing became difficult.  In addition to difficulty breathing, he noticed his pressure gauge was dropping significantly while he inhaled and then recovering to full tank pressure when he stopped inhaling.

He signaled his buddy and they began an orderly ascent to the surface. 

Once safely back aboard the boat, he explored his equipment problems and found that his tank valve was very nearly closed. He was certain he had fully opened his tank valve before diving, so how was it that it was nearly closed during his descent?

The dive buddies began asking some questions aboard the boat. They learned there was a fairly inexperienced mate who admitted that he had manipulated the air valve without advising the diver that he was doing so. The mate had apparently closed (rather than opened) the valve and then when the valve hit the stop he had turned it back a quarter turn. This condition had allowed the diver to begin his dive without apparent issues.

We can learn at least 3 things from this incident:

1. It’s very important to understand that a tank valve closes when turned clockwise and opens when turned anti-clockwise.  You may recall the rhyme: “Righty tighty, lefty loosey” to help you recall how the valve stem functions.

2. You should never manipulated another diver’s tank valve without discussing it with him or her.

3. It might be wise to always turn your tank valve to the full on or full off position, rather than turning it fully on and then backing off a quarter turn as is sometimes recommended.

Be Safe, Dive Safe

Dave Wills

September 2019 Safety Message: Hurricane Dorian

Sept 2019, Hurricane Dorian

I write this September 1, 2019 as Hurricane Dorian is pounding Marsh Harbor and the Abaco Islands of the Bahamas. The storm is unprecedentedly powerful and promises to produce a formidable death count in the islands.

The drubbing the islands are taking from this storm could be a precursor to what Florida and/or the Carolinas has to deal with in a day or 2 or 3. The radar picture looks ominous. The reports from the Bahamas include 180 mile per hour sustained winds and gusts to 225 mph. I have heard that storm surges as high as 20 feet may have hit some locations. None of us have witnessed a storm of this magnitude.

This slow-moving storm has caused us to take week or more off from our diving schedule. It seems that is caused us to take a week or more out of our life schedule for all the preparation before the storm and the cleanup afterwards. I wish you all the best!

Remember that powerful hurricanes can rearrange and relocate some of our shipwreck and other artificial reef dive sites. Don’t be surprised if a shipwreck looks a bit different after a storm. Discuss the possibility before the dive and don’t be surprised if you see some changes.

As with any disaster, this hurricane will provide us with many opportunities to help our neighbors in the Bahamas, in Florida, and likely in Georgia and the Carolinas.

Count your blessings! And enjoy the diving after the storm!

Be safe. Dive safe.

Dave Wills