Breathing Off Valves, Why It Is INSANE!

[diveongas]

Current threads have featured long discussions over "breathing off valves" or breathing off the ends of LP hoses. While there are, no doubt, those that have done it, the practice is extremely dangerous for numerous reasons.

Embolism (lung rupture) typically occurs at only 1.5~2 PSI differential across the tissue. If one were to accidentally crack open a valve while breathing off it, embolism is an almost certainty. Breathing off the end of a LP hose changes none of this. Included is a link that explains this possible cause of fatality.

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/KIDS+W...AYS-a083965141

Basically, a child breathing directly off the valve of a helium tank (for filling ballons) cracked the valve open suddenly and before the valve blew free of his mouth, he experienced a near fatal embolism.

Even if you manage to feather the knob open and closed without something bumping your hand, allowing the cylinder to even slightly bump the cave wall, a buddy, etc. would likely cause broken teeth, laceration to gum tissues, and even possibility of jaw fracture. It's easy to think that a tank weighs "nothing" underwater, but it still possesses all of its substantial mass (a battering ram).

Clearly, the risk is too great to teach this technique in classes. If your dive plan actually included even the remotest possibility of using this "skill?!", I would skip the dive. A better solution is to take along your buddy, AL 80 with reg, or even his identical twin if necessary.

This whole scheme of valve breathing seems to originate in Mexico. Mexico, a third world country (too kind, its a fourth world country), is loaded with poor inhabitants trying to do the cave thing. It is not unheard of in Mexico for safety bottles to be staged sans regulators. Ostensibly, regulators are swapped about or breathing is done directly from valves if the cylinders are needed. The lack of a legal system capable of effective tort settlements, results in no deterence to either doing this or teaching this.

[Line Squirrel]

I find regulators expensive and highly over rated. Do you realize just how many failure points are in a first and second stage!!!

[bletso]

Yeh, its insane. It is very easy to breathe off the wing inflater though. With a little practice one can get very good at it. (Depress the inflate and deflate button at the same time you inhale.) Done correctly you can even maintain bouyancy.


Dale

[stairman]

Id choose breathing out of my wing first. Now James Bond did breathe off the tire valve though, I saw him do it.

[SuPrBuGmAn]

I think if it came down to breathing off a tank valve... you've depleted all other options and you're gonna die anyway. So why not? Die vs maybe not die?

[Luxrok]

This whole scheme of valve breathing seems to originate in Mexico. Mexico, a third world country (too kind, its a fourth world country), is loaded with poor inhabitants trying to do the cave thing. It is not unheard of in Mexico for safety bottles to be staged sans regulators. Ostensibly, regulators are swapped about or breathing is done directly from valves if the cylinders are needed. The lack of a legal system capable of effective tort settlements, results in no deterence to either doing this or teaching this.

This has to be a troll because if it isn't you are an ignorant racist fool! And you clearly have no idea of what you are talking about. I was taught this skill and have a very clear context under which to utilize it. if I break a tooth, tear my gum tissue, break my jaw, or embolize but I don't drown, then I am a happy man. And I can tell you that I regularly dive in places and under condition which may result in the failure of a regulator.

I lived in Mexico and cave dived there 3-4 days a week for the duration of my stay. I have never witnessed a bottle staged without a regulator. That doesn't mean it doesn't happen, it just means it would seem pretty rare.

Wow... that felt good. I got out my 1 "Someone is wrong on the internet post" this month. Go back to your 5 posts a year average. You do not add value to the stream. And sign your posts.

Hans

[stairman]

I didnt even read the last part till Luxrok highlighted it in his post. We have alot of hispanic cave diving brothers on here and your comments on valve breathing is one thing but your hatefull other comments you can keep to yourself.

[Walter Pickel]

This has to be a troll because if it isn't you are an ignorant racist fool!

I agree that the post you referenced was stupid and ignorant.

<RANT>
The rest of my post is off topic...You are simply another of the many people that seem to think it is cool to use the word racist for no reason other than having nothing else to say.

Can you tell me WTF was racist in his post? There was NO mention of race! Seriously, I am at a loss here. Is it just common now to call anyone you disagree with a racist? I have some real issues with some people I know in Mexico and how they conduct their business. Does that make me a racist? The dictionary is full of good words that you could use to actually make your point -- simply stating ignorant fool would have been quiet topical!
</RANT>

[phillip1]

Breathing off the valve is an absolute last resort, I would cut the reg hose, feather the valve and breath of the hose, that would be very easy (I don't have a BC).
But I have done numerous OW dives in the ocean entirely without a reg just for fun and it's really easy to do, and in the one in a million chance I would ever have to do that in a cave, I'll take my chances and breath off the valve, at least I know how to do it, I have done it a lot .
In a real situation in a cave I might break my jaw and a few teeth in the process (although I don't think so) but it might get me out alive, as opposed to drowning for sure, I think it's a good skill to have and should be practiced now and then, it is actually really easy to do.
Hey the more options you have of surviving by simply knowing how to do something is a good thing I think.
It appears you do not really know what you are talking about and are also a bit of racist perhaps?
The Mexican comment, filled with poor people etc.. what's wrong with you?
Mexico has the longest caves in the world and Mexican cave divers are as good or as bad as anywhere else, I never hear of Mexican cave divers doing visuals, is that a Florida thing? I wonder

Try the DR a country of savages who breath off tanks valves OMG! Oh yeah try coming here with that kind of mentality, I guarantee you will be put in your place and come running back to the US with your tail between your legs like a scared little puppy. Unless you stay in an all inclusive resort and never come out.

Deep sea I disagree although it is not really a full on a racist comment it is borderline and can be taken as such, and you can tell the disrespectful elitist frame of mind here (it seems), like this guy feels superior to Mexican cave divers, just for being a US citizen. Very derogatory and unnecessary.
Many US surfers come here (the DR) with that frame of mind like they are above any DR surfer and treat people as inferior, 100% of the time they get forcefully expelled from the surf spots and never come back, although the so called poor third or fourth world locals are some of the absolute nicest people around, show respect to get respect! I bet if he went diving in Mexico that guy would have a big fake smile on his face everywhere he went.

Not to mention he is also dead wrong on the diving stuff too, your buddy cuts your LP hose, come on, what about dormant cave monsters.lol..

[Luxrok]

Can you tell me WTF was racist in his post? There was NO mention of race!

Mexico, a third world country (too kind, its a fourth world country), is loaded with poor inhabitants ...

If it isn't racist, maybe it is presumptive? If it is neither, it is still an idiotic over generalization about a country, its people and its legal system. And appears on the surface to harbor malice and superiority.

And now for the factual side:

rac·ism –noun 1. a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others.

I would say that racism is applicable in this context. And in closing sir, I don't think I am cool I know I am cool.

Hans