Scuba Sport Magazine is the only scuba magazine that offers diving news, dive travel, scuba gear, diving destinations and underwater photography that caters to the recreational diver.
A tank valve has moving parts. Ask any mechanic, any item that has moving parts needs regular maintenance because parts can wear out from too much use, or stick from lack of use. When a diver opens and closes the valve, water and/or dirt gets in contact with moving parts. You wouldn't leave your car sitting for a year or longer, then expect it to start up and perform at its highest level would you? Then why would you accept less from a component of your life support system?
If you think you are in- haling moisture in the air from your tank, put a dry cloth in front of the valve opening and open the valve slowly.
There is a safety mechanism in each tank valve called a burst disk. This disk is designed to rupture if the tank is ÀOOHG EH\RQG D FHUWDLQ OHYHO ,W VWDUWHG GHWHULRUDWLQJ WKH ÀUVW WLPH WKH WDQN ZDV brought up to pressure. When one blows, the sudden pop and loud hiss will scare even the most bold divers. It will also ruin your day as the tank is now empty, and
you don't get to dive.
Some divers will say "I don't need it serviced because I didn't use it". Well, the air inside is stale, the burst disk has wear, DQG WKH LQWHUQDO R ULQJV DUH ÁDWWHQHG whether the tank was used or not. This includes the o-ring at the connection where the valve meets the tank due to the tightness of the seating.
If a tank is allowed to go completely empty, water, dirt and microbial beasties FDQ JHW LQ , ÀQG PRLVWXUH RU ZDWHU LQ TXLWH a few cylinders that divers bring in. The customer goes into a state of disbelief when I explain to them about the water, RU PRLVWXUH RU PROG WKDW , ÀQG LQVLGH 7KHLU ÀUVW WKRXJKW LV RIWHQ ´+RZ LQ WKH ZRUOG GLG this happen?".
If you think you are inhaling moisture in the air from your tank, put a dry cloth in front of the valve opening and open the valve slowly. You will see moisture on the dry cloth, or notice moisture spitting out RI WKH YDOYH RULÀFH 5HSRUW WKLV WR WKH GLYH FHQWHU ZKR ÀOOHG RU UHQWHG WKH WDQN RU WR your dive leader immediately.
So what can a diver do to avoid problems mentioned above? Through proper care and annual servicing!
Wait! I've changed my mind again. The most neglected piece of diving equipment is...
Find out when you read part two of this article in the May/June edition.
Lloyd "LG: Gerarrard has been a PADI Course Director for three decades. Through his shop, Garrard Dive Educators in Smyrna, GA, he has trained thousands of divers. LG is a skilled equipment technician with recreational scuba gear, as well as rebreathers, and "major league" technical diving.
ScubaSport 49
Low Pressure Hose