Near miss at Port of Seattle taught me to triple-check my air

Was working a salvage job in Elliot Bay two weeks ago, 45 feet down on a piling. Felt my reg start to freeze up, realized my tank valve was only half open. Could have been real bad if I didn't catch it quick. Anyone else had equipment fail on them in cold water like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

oscarm242mo ago

Wait, you said your tank valve was only half open? That's wild - I can't believe you were 45 feet down and didn't realize until your reg started freezing up. That's one of those things that makes me want to double check everything before I even break the surface.

nina8342mo ago

Wait, does your tank valve not have a visual indicator or a pressure gauge right on the first stage? I always give mine a quick turn to make sure it's fully open before I even put the reg in my mouth. Freeze-ups are a real pain, but a half-closed valve is something you can catch with a two-second check. Guys skip that step way too often.

jamesblack6d ago

You ever have a buddy hand you a reg that was barely cracked open on the surface? That one taught me to always give the valve a full twist back the other way before dropping in.