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Regulator PART 2 “DISPELLING THE MYTHS”
Text WOJCIECH A. FILIP
Does the diving world end if I drop my regulator with the connection unsecured into the water (the connection usually is a “screw” that is screwed into the tank valve)? Is puncturing the dry chamber diaphragm dangerous? In the second part of the article on regulators, you will read, amongst other things, why flooding a regulator is not a problem and how puncturing the dry chamber diaphragm may increase your diving safety...
To begin with, let us officially explain the issue of flooding the
Each regulator with the designation EN 250:2014 may be
regulator with water. Why officially? Because this has been
flooded with water. It may actually be thrown into salt
precisely described in the standard applicable for approving
water and left there for 8 hours, which means it would be
regulators for use.
completely flooded. Then, when taken out and left to dry for 16 hours (without rinsing)... the regulator must work properly. Does this mean that I may flood my regulator's interior with salt water without any consequences? Unfortunately not. The regulator will work properly, but it will start to corrode if left with salt water inside for longer – and that is something we don’t like. Conclusion no. 1 A regulator may be flooded with fresh or even salt water and it will continue to work Conclusion no. 2 You need to read the entire article to learn what to do to ensure not only that it will work, but also that it will not corrode
Photo Bartek Trzciński
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