Update: A new diver on my crew said he never checks his bailout bottle pressure before a dive

I heard him say it during a pre-dive check last Tuesday in Galveston. He claimed his main supply was always enough and checking the bailout was a waste of time. That's a fast track to a real bad day. I've seen a main umbilical get cut once, and that 5-minute bottle was the only thing that got the diver back to the bell. How many of you have had to actually use your bailout? What's your pre-dive check routine?

4 comments

4 Comments

the_anthony1mo ago

I remember reading about a study that said something like 90 percent of bailout bottles never get used on a dive. I get being cautious but we're talking about a backup to a backup basically. If your main is solid and you check it properly, that bailout is just extra weight. I've never had to use mine in ten years of working and I'm starting to wonder if some of this is just gear paranoia.

the_sam3mo agoMost Upvoted

Man, that's wild. A buddy of mine had his main gas go funny at like 80 feet, just tasted oily and wrong. He switched to bailout so fast. Said that bottle was the best air he ever breathed.

river9523mo ago

My friend Alex had a reg creep on him at 60 feet in Lake Travis. The air started tasting like burnt metal, really sharp. He went to his backup and just hovered for a minute getting his head straight. Said that cold, clean gas from the pony bottle felt like a gift. Makes you really respect the gear check before you jump in.

the_drew3mo ago

Dang, that reminds me of a cave dive where my light flooded at the worst time. Pitch black, just the sound of your own bubbles, and you're feeling along the line. Switched to my backup and that little beam cutting through the dark was pure relief. Makes you double-check every piece of gear, every time.