Had a regulator free-flow at 90 feet during a bridge inspection in Mobile last Tuesday.

I shut off the gas, switched to my octopus, and ascended on a controlled emergency line, but what's your go-to move for a sudden free-flow in low visibility?

3 comments

3 Comments

paige_ellis593d ago

Wait, you were doing a bridge inspection at 90 feet? That's some serious deep water for that kind of work. Glad you had a solid backup plan in place.

shane_wilson3d ago

Man, that's a rough spot. My first move is always just to get away from the bubbles. I mean, you can't see anything and that sound is crazy loud, right? I'd probably shove the reg away from me and try to breathe off it in short bursts on the way up. Did you have any trouble with your mask flooding from all the air?

the_pat3d ago

Read somewhere that short bursts can make it worse, like it feeds the free flow. Might be better to just hold the reg loosely and let it blast.