Kirby Morgan neck dam seal finally gave out at 90 feet last Thursday

I always thought those silicone neck dams were overpriced at $45 a pop. But after mine split open during a hull inspection in Norfolk harbor and I had to surface with a face full of 45 degree water, I changed my mind. Anyone else carry a spare seal in their gear bag now?

2 comments

2 Comments

patkelly1mo ago

Three years is generous if you're not rinsing after every saltwater dive, but yeah, I get the logic. I just figure if you're already carrying a backup O-ring kit and a spare light, tossing a $45 neck dam in the bottom of the bag isn't gonna kill me. Worst case you loan it to the guy who forgot his and he owes you a beer.

anna_carter531mo ago

That's exactly why I don't bother with backups. Those neck dams fail so rarely that carrying a spare is just wasting space in your bag. I've been diving for 8 years, done hundreds of commercial dives, and I've only seen two fail total. One was on a guy who'd had his for 4 years and never even rinsed it after saltwater. Your hull inspection in Norfolk sounds rough, but odds are you'll never need another spare again. Plus, if you take care of the one you have, rinsing it with freshwater and keeping it out of direct sun, that $45 seal will last you 2-3 years easy.