Actions in a Free Flow

[Wolfy]

Hi all

Anyone care to recount their actions on a free flow ?
ie Tanks off, or return to surface, or , or ?:)

regards

[alan pearson]

Are we talking a free flow from DV or direct from cylinder ??

Either way I have been unfortunate to experience both.

On a cold day in the English Channel I was down at about 15 meters when my main DV started to free flow. To start with I paniced a bit, but then remembered the training and just breathed of the free-flowing DV got my buddy and we surfaced.

As for a cylinder free-flowing, my buddy had an O-Ring fail again about 15 meters and lost his remaining air rapidly, he came over grabbed my dv outmy mouth and attempted to surface.
I grabbed him gave him my pony reg to use and I got mine back. Once he had calmed down it was a simple case of surfacing

Mind you this was all on single tanks, so cant comment on the procedure for twin tanks

[martin]

Twinset:
1. Close the freeflowing side
2. Breath from the non-freeflowing reg from both tanks.

If you dive with a manifold, then the procedure may involve closing the manifold before or after step 1. If in a thinking mood, then if it's a DV free flow, just close the one side. If it's an O-ring at tank, close the manifold first. If not sure, close the manifold.

Some folk will dive with the manifold closed all the time - only opening it every 5mins or so to equalise the tanks, then close it again. This takes the manifold out of the equation a wee bit.

simple.

On singles:
CLose tank, breath from buddies octo for a few mins. wait for life to calm down. Re-open tank, if problem persists, surface on buddies octo. if problem resolved, surface on own air supply.
The first issue is gas conservation - what if buddy's regs develop a free flow also, made even more likely with double demand placed on them. At 20m, even a big tank empties fast.
Second issue is comfort/panic - static AAS use is easy, ascents are a bit harder, especially for the less experienced, so try to avoid them whilst always maintaining the option.

Moral of the story - independant redundancy the order of the day. Sometimes, your buddy might well help you, but sometimes, they just can't. Don't count on them.


Are we talking a free flow from DV or direct from cylinder ??

Either way I have been unfortunate to experience both.

On a cold day in the English Channel I was down at about 15 meters when my main DV started to free flow. To start with I paniced a bit, but then remembered the training and just breathed of the free-flowing DV got my buddy and we surfaced.

As for a cylinder free-flowing, my buddy had an O-Ring fail again about 15 meters and lost his remaining air rapidly, he came over grabbed my dv outmy mouth and attempted to surface.
I grabbed him gave him my pony reg to use and I got mine back. Once he had calmed down it was a simple case of surfacing

Mind you this was all on single tanks, so cant comment on the procedure for twin tanks

[Mike Halligan]

Wolfy,

Singles - from 18m
2nd stage freeflow - Continued using reg but with buddy's octo in reach/sight; buddy deployed DSMB; made controlled ascent to stop depth; switched to buddy's octo and shut down; re-opened cylinder at end of precautionary stop; ascended to surface on own regs, thankful for buddy system and good training.

With ponies - also from 18m
burst direct feed - Agreed that buddy took control as he could see much more and much better; continued on own primaries in close company; kept guage in clear view of buddy; ascended to check depth; checked both ponies; under direction, placed hand on pony reg and didn't let go; continued ascent; stabilised at surface; shut down with <20 bar remnant, thankful for buddy system and own training of buddy 12 months earlier to point of his taking command and leading us out.

I would draw one crucial conclusion. When your kit fails, your buddy becomes significantly more able than earlier in that dive and might usefully override your 'higher' qualification and/or greater experience. Do not hold onto the lead for form's sake.

Hope this helps,

Mike

[matt]

Hi all

Anyone care to recount their actions on a free flow ?
ie Tanks off, or return to surface, or , or ?:)

Two pairs diving together on singles. One diver had a freeflow at 20m, he signalled OOA and continued to breathe off the FF regulator. His buddy provided an octo and I turned the valve off. Once things settled down I re-opened the valve, the diver went back on his main and we all aborted.

Me in a pair on manifolded twinset at 42m. Secondary went into freeflow. Isolated, turned it off, turned it on, freeflowed again, turned it off, gave it a belt, turned it on, it behaved, aborted.

HTH

HTH

[Mike Firth]

[Sorry - message seems to have been lost due to forum problems]

[james parrott]

Buddy pair, single 15l + pony(side slung 7l in my case). Main dv freeflows at 52m(very cold quarry). turn to buddy, give up signal and abort, breathing off free flowing reg. At 30m shut down cylinder bail out to side mount, which was 31%Eanx. No dramas, even suunto was not upset.Bad points, froze tounge, which took over a week to regain sensitivity and stripped the skin off my gums on the front teeth. Got reg serviced!

[Mike_Firth]

Trying again as this forum LOSt my previous.

This is simple as it gets I tend to fall for it each winter at Capen Wray with anyone who doesnt have a Jetstream

Setup (mine) 15l + jetstream with poney + jetstream and 2m extension.

Buddy freeflows. Comes over in fairly agitated state. Recovers AAS as per training from me. I pull extension from bungees on 15L and remove myself to a safe distance returning quickly to turn off buddies main air source when he/shes settled.

Abort dive and surface.

Upon surfacing turn on buddies air and immediately inflate his ABLJ or BCD.

cup of tea and do it all again

Simple

Mike



Hi all

Anyone care to recount their actions on a free flow ?
ie Tanks off, or return to surface, or , or ?:)

regards

[Mike_Firth]

Trying again as this forum LOSt my previous.

This is simple as it gets I tend to fall for it each winter at Capen Wray with anyone who doesnt have a Jetstream

Setup (mine) 15l + jetstream with poney + jetstream and 2m extension.

Buddy freeflows. Comes over in fairly agitated state. Recovers AAS as per training from me. I pull extension from bungees on 15L and remove myself to a safe distance returning quickly to turn off buddies main air source when he/shes settled.

Abort dive and surface.

Upon surfacing turn on buddies air and immediately inflate his ABLJ or BCD.

cup of tea and do it all again

Simple

Hi all

Anyone care to recount their actions on a free flow ?
ie Tanks off, or return to surface, or , or ?:)

regards