28
Nearly froze my regs solid on a job in Port Alberni last winter
I was doing a deep inspection on a dam intake at about 90 feet, and my drysuit inflator valve started free-flowing like crazy. Took me a minute to realize my first stage was icing up bad because the water temp was around 3°C. Never had that issue before since I usually work warmer sites. Has anyone else dealt with first stage freezing in cold water, and do you run a different gas setup for winter dives?
2 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In2 Comments
miles79816d ago
3°C is brutal." Yeah, first stage icing is real. Switch to a dry gas mix or grab a cold water kit.
1
the_lisa16d ago
Yeah @miles798 the dry gas mix is a game changer for sure. I read somewhere that some guys out in Alberta swear by a 70/30 helium and oxygen blend when it gets below freezing, stops the reg from locking up completely. Popped a cold water kit on my setup last winter after a buddy had his first stage freeze solid on a -5°C dive, and it's been smooth sailing since. Just make sure you test it before you go deep, that ice can sneak up fast.
8