My dive partner kept telling me to check my bailout valve before each drop...

I brushed it off for weeks, thinking my pre-dive check was good enough. Then last month on a job in Lake Michigan, my main air line got snagged on a piece of rebar at 90 feet. When I went to switch to my bailout, the valve was stuck. I had to buddy breathe with my tender all the way up. That was the longest 90 seconds of my life. Now I test that valve twice before I even get wet. Anyone else have a simple check they used to skip that bit them?

4 comments

4 Comments

seth_nguyen2mo ago

Glad you made it up, that sounds terrifying.

the_ben6d ago

Exactly why I always run through my gear checklist before even stepping onto the boat. A flooded mask at depth will teach you real quick what you forgot.

simon_chen6d ago

90 feet is bad enough, but I hear @seth_nguyen nearly forgot his fins once.

morgan.cameron2mo ago

That "longest 90 seconds of my life" feeling is so real. I got lazy about checking my own mask strap for a while. Then on a cold dive, it popped loose and flooded at about 60 feet. Pure panic, salt water up my nose, the whole bit. I had to abort and make a messy ascent. @seth_nguyen is right, it's terrifying how fast a small skip can turn bad. Now that strap check is my new religion, right after I test my bailout like you do.