OPV & Sand

[w ripley]

I asked a question about this on RBW but never got a good answer, so hoping someone here has a solution.

First with my MEG and now with my HH, which have their OPVs on the face of their CLs, I get so much sand in them when crawling thru restrictions, like at Cow, that they do not operate.

I dive with my valve open. I really don't like "forcing" them to clear/operate during a dive and hearing all of that grit grinding with the internal mechanisms of the valve, yet don't feel comfortable continuing a RB dive with something not operating the way it should.

Have been using a piece of light-weight plastic wrap held in place with a rubber band. It works OK, while not hindering the valve's operation, but isn't ideal. Closing the valve before a restriction doesn't seem to help either.

Any ideas?

Bill

[amphipod06]

I asked a question about this on RBW but never got a good answer, so hoping someone here has a solution.

First with my MEG and now with my HH, which have their OPVs on the face of their CLs, I get so much sand in them when crawling thru restrictions, like at Cow, that they do not operate.

I dive with my valve open. I really don't like "forcing" them to clear/operate during a dive and hearing all of that grit grinding with the internal mechanisms of the valve, yet don't feel comfortable continuing a RB dive with something not operating the way it should.

Have been using a piece of light-weight plastic wrap held in place with a rubber band. It works OK, while not hindering the valve's operation, but isn't ideal. Closing the valve before a restriction doesn't seem to help either.

Any ideas?

Bill

I guess I have not been crawling low onto the sand/silt enough..... :-)

I have neoprene CLs and their position may be different but we (Scott's neither) have not had any issues with the OPV's.

We do like to purge the valves while in the water column to burb the goo that accumulates at the ottom of the CL but that's about it.

Maybe experimenting with some sort of fine mesh over it?

Dive safe,

Celia

[jason]

try putting a section of pantyhose over the OPV face and screwing it on....

[Luxrok]

Bill,

The following suggestion is worth the paper it is printed on. Maybe you could change the position of the counter lungs. I had read about some people attaching the bottoms behind them, as if they were following the harness, instead of the middle like the standard OTS CL lower attachment. This might create interference between the CL and the sidemount tanks. However, it may also get the CL out of the way a little. The top attachment is in the same spot. I think I read this on RBW like a year or two.

I haven't tried it, so your mileage might vary.

BTW, have you been following our diving here in Mexico? We are finally using the Megs for what they are intended for.

Hans

[w ripley]

try putting a section of pantyhose over the OPV face and screwing it on....

Pantyhose? I may have to get a new buddy. He had an awefully hard time when I started using KY jelly for my wrist and arm seals. Good buddies are hard to come by.

Seriously, I will try this. If it works then I can use it in caves and wrecks.

Thanks.

Bill

[w ripley]

Bill,

BTW, have you been following our diving here in Mexico? We are finally using the Megs for what they are intended for.

Hans

Hey Hans,

I figured it was only a matter of time before you did. Maybe next year we'll get down your way again. My buddy just ordered his HH so we should be ready as a team about then.

Regards,

Bill

[Slüdge]

He had an awefully hard time when I started using KY jelly for my wrist and arm seals.

Can you blame him? Try using a spray bottle with five parts water, one part baby shampoo.