Close call, lesson learned

[Charlestondivin]

At the risk of sounding like a big dumbass I'm going to fess up about a close call that happened recently.

While diving deep and carrying a 40cu pony full of 40% i attached my pony reg to a holder on my bc and secured it. When we dropped over the side we had a little swim over to the bouy so i turned over on my back and spit out my reg for the short swim. We relaxed at the bouy for a few seconds then put my reg back in my mouth and began the ascent to 170'. I no sooner cleared my ears that i noticed my primary reg dangling below me. I was about to drop down very deep on 40%. I remind my dive partner several times before every dive about oxtox if he breathes the pony at depth. (It is as much to drill it into my head as his). I look at him underwater constantly to make sure he has the right reg in. I know the pony reg should be in a pocket or secured in a way that i have to intentionally and puposefully remove it for use at proper depth. I have read many accounts of divers lost from doing the same thing. The reg holder I was using was not right for this task and my awareness level of this risk needed to be higher.

I have thought about this a lot and had to get it off my chest.

[kitefisherman]

Rob: Thank God you caught that and thanks for sharing.

Somethings that I do to prevent such an accident include using a green or yellow hose wrap so that I can distinguish the wrapped O2 hose from my unwrapped back gas, running my deco mix from a reg coming from my left side (as opposed to my right), bagging the deco reg and clipping the bag to my BC, and using a different looking reg for deco gas than I use with my back gas or bail out bottle. I'd be interested in any other ideas anyone has that could help avoid such an accident.

[Marcus]

That gave me chills, Rob.

Thanks for the dumbass report. ;)

[mhuskey]

I prefer to leave the valve turned off - when required - verify and enjoy!

Matt

[Steel Shootin']

Everyone has a different way of confirming they are breathing the right gas. A lot of tech guys keep it turned off, and won't breath off the bottle until the view it and turn it on underwater.

Personally, I clip my deco reg to the same d-ring everytime, before the dive. As an added measure of safety I use the Oceanic Omega reg for my deco gas, because it both looks and feels unlike the typical second stage reg. I could be in zero vis and know which reg I had. As a third and final measure of safety, my backgas is a DIN, and deco bottle always yoke. Prevent any chance of inadvertantly using the wrong reg on the wrong bottle. Works for me.

http://www.leisurepro.com/Image/Product/Full/OCNO2CDX5.JPG
Omega

[dagodiver]

Agreed it should be left off and pressurized once or twice at depth. When you switch to a deco reg then turn the valve on
to make sure it is the right gas.
I was at the 40 fathom grotto last weekend with a new dive buddy and he noticed me turning on my deep deco mix then turning it back off to check and he thought i had a problem with the second stage and tried to give me his but i told him
on the surface before the dive i check atleast 3 times after i start breathing the deco gasses.
I insert the reg follow the hose read the bottle contents in MOD
check depth then turn the bottle on and breath then turn the bottle off and make sure it shuts off.
Just my way.
Mike.
Dive safe
shoot straight

[ArmorDaveC]

Don't be afraid to look like a "dumb-ass". We've all been "dumb asses" and your thread might save another life by being a reminder to us. As it turns out I'm diving with a pony tomorrow and it made me stop and think about my set-up.
Thanks

[bgbill]

Bag the second stage on your deco mix, that way you will not grab it by mistake.

[WreckDiver]

Off is what works for me, But I usually only have Air in mine.

[Spear One]

You can also put a completely different mouthpiece or one with an uncomfortable fit on the pony regulator so you know immediatly when you grab the wrong one. You are one lucky rascal Rob!

[Charlestondivin]

I have a seacure molded mouthpiece on my main reg and a dinky small one on my bright yellow pony reg. Will NOT make that same mistake again. I only got down to about 20-25' before i realised but it was still a shocker.

Going out deep with Spearboard member Sharkbait and a few other guests tomorrow.

[HeadHunter]

Rob, glad it all worked out. Gas switching is a real serious issue.
That new "awareness" factor that you now possess will really pay off in the future! Still hoping on getting up there in Sept....

[Spear One]

Hey Dan, the weather off SC can get mighty rough after Labor Day so you had better get up there early in the month. No need to get your butt whooped on vacation. Ha!

[Chad Carney]

Rob,

Thanks for relating that. Dan and I know another guy that made the same mistake and also told us later. You both might save somebody's life just by talking about it!

I'm glad you figured it out. Your experience shows just by catching it that quick, and having most of the safety features already in place, except a more secure 2nd holder. The guy I mentioned ran out of gas from his small pony before he got to a critical depth.

Even spearfishermen should go through a systems check right under the boat upon entry; the deeper the dive the longer and more thorough it should be.

IMHO there are many good ways to handle deco gasses and lots of good suggestions have been given here by everyone so far.

Here's a couple more not yet mentioned:

Most 2nd stages with a venturi control, when in the minus position, will push air against the purge which makes it almost impossible to freeflow and reduces breathing very noticbly, until you put it in the possitive position. Zeagle makes all their 2nds this way and all but one of our regulators also have the screw down adjustable resistance control. This works well for those who prefer to have our deco gas or blowout bottle always on and behind us. Zeagle also makes a 2nd stage shutoff switch at the hose connection to the 2nd stage itself, which is yet another option for a stage bottle.

The use of a DIN to yoke converter allows the use of the yoke 1st stage tank valve as Scott suggests, but also allows you to switch the regulators underwater if one failed. Few pony tanks come with a din valve. See photo attached.

Cut down exhaust tees make the regulator fit easier in a deco bag and make it feel different too.

Stage mouthpieces should be different but not too uncomfortable, some deco stops require long usage.

Regardless of your method or gear choices... never take untested gear on a real dive. Just as you would never take an unproven weapon into battle.

Chad