Swapping regs

[JamieZ]

A dip tube getting plugged in a tank I would think would be more common......Especially if its a resort or rental tank, being they dont seem to be maintained as well. I just read somewhere about this happening on two consecutive dives,,,must of been DAN's Mag.

[FW]

Well, enough people have tried this, that I don't have to. Like Larry said, regs normally fail open anyway. I have had to valve a reg a couple of times. You tend to hold your breath too long, and end up with a headache.

[sea2summit]

Didn't Jill H. talk about the thought process in her last adventure?

[MichaelAngelo]

I have done the feathering on off a few times and in fact I do it sometimes during deco to practice it. I have never swapped out full regulators (never 1 st stage) but have switch out my second stages. I dive the same regs on deco bottles (I have many regs now and group them by type). In the great lakes for awhile we only hand tightened the hose onto the 2 nd stage, we'd turn off the gas purge the reg and swith 2 nd stages. ( now just carry a c-wrench in my OH Sh-t pocket). Feathering works better but during real long decos switch 2nd stages is easier. FYI if I swicth 2 nd stages I have reg overhauled and dried. Should be noted I dive 90% in fresh water and never done this in sea water.

[aainslie]

This is from another thread:

"... independent backmounted twins. If you lose one regulator, you can't get at the gas in that tank, like you could in sidemount..."

Has anyone ever actually done this? I mean, remove a reg from one sidemounted cylinder, hold your breath, remove the other reg, and install it on the first cylinder.

I'm not asking if you think you can do it. I'm asking if you ever did, either in an actual reg-failure situation or in a pool as an exercise.

(I realize the possibility exists where there is a reg "failure" such that the second stage freeflows and a sidemount diver can "feather" the valve open and closed, but this is not what I'm talking about.)

I did it in the pool. It's doable, but even the smallest mistake will leave you SOL. I'd hate to depend on it but would consider it if there were no other options.

[jlillest]

You can even breathe directly off the tank valve, if it meant saving your life.

I learned this skill from watching Sanctum! The movie website refuses to issue C-Cards though.......

-Jon

[phillip1]

This is from another thread:

"... independent backmounted twins. If you lose one regulator, you can't get at the gas in that tank, like you could in sidemount..."

Has anyone ever actually done this? I mean, remove a reg from one sidemounted cylinder, hold your breath, remove the other reg, and install it on the first cylinder.

I'm not asking if you think you can do it. I'm asking if you ever did, either in an actual reg-failure situation or in a pool as an exercise.

(I realize the possibility exists where there is a reg "failure" such that the second stage freeflows and a sidemount diver can "feather" the valve open and closed, but this is not what I'm talking about.)

I did it a few times in training, it is very easy to do and if need be and it takes more time than a single Berwyn hold you can breeth of the valve and continue with the reg swap.
Most probably you will never have to actually do this but why not practice it just in case? I find it important no matter how remote the chances are and these two skills do not involve any extra gear but an extra way to use the gas you have in case of a failure.

[rongoodman]

Steve Bogaerts has his students practice it in his Advanced Sidemount class.Here is an account by a student, toward the end of the article.

[OFG-1]

Swapping regs? I am all for it. I have 6 Calpyso IV's that I would gladly swap for Dive Rites, Scubapros, or Apex.

[Sludge]

Is that quote from Flipper?