I heard this from my intructor back in the 90s, and heard it again on a refresher course last year as well. Just goes to show.... recieved wisdom without thinking is hell of a drug!
Always wondered what was that hole behind my SPG.. never touched it though. Keep those myths epi going Alec. Thanks for the time and effort, informative as always
Watching this I remember being taught this At school at 16 now at 31 I want to dive with my instructor again and let him know about these endless miss understandings these are such high quality tips for any stage diver
I had an oceanic SPG almost exactly like that. When I started GUE training, they said brass and glass. The oceanic SPG was $40, brass and glass was around $100. Never knew that little black thing was a bust disk.
A big price difference for the same function. Check their maximum operating depth to see if they have equal specifications. Sometimes a name just costs more but divers want it anyway. Thanks for sharing John.
Never ceases to amaze me the stuff you get told by someone not because they understand it, but because their instructor told them... because their instructor told them... because their instructor told them! Happy new year, Alec.
OW Instructors are cue card readers. Most have no real dive experience to pass onto novice divers. For them it's about status. I've seen towels thrown over the heads of novice divers while on land to teach them to navigate. Pilots don't fly at night until they know how to plot a course.
Very true in scuba, probably other sports or workplaces too. Thats why it is important for instructors to be current with new practices and not repeat their 1990's training for the next 30 years.
I watch these videos for storyline, theme, content, punch line and self promotion. Weak divers fear criticism. Novice divers are enticed by tidbits of irrelevant information. The idea behind the promo is to gain trust and sell shiny new gadgets which don't actually progress your diving. I learn from good divers and bad. Agencies teach Instructors not to rock the boat. I sink it.
Thanks a lot for clearing this up! I always turned the glass away from me since my instructor told me so. Now that I know about the rubber plug, I can do it the right way. This video might prevent future accidents!
Makes sense if you think about it. To often we take information from "experts" (Instructors, Dive Master , etc.) for granted, "They know what they are talking about after all." Good thing you have the LABOR helping. If not, you would have nothing. LOL Thank you Alec and Kevin!!! Great video...again!
in fact, the pressure required to dislodge the safety plug is very low and the restriction in the high pressure port of the regulator makes that the air blast will be very low. that technology is widely used on liquid filled gauges that are very often exposed to suddent pressure rise or pressure impacts and it is rare that such a gauge fails from a bourdon tube cracking, what I've seen rather often is a failure by bourdon tube permanent deformation caused by an overpressure or water freezing.thus a false reading. popularization is a guarantee of honesty I congratulate you on approaching diving in this way. I wish you a Happy New Year.
Great scuba advice as always. Please write a book about all your stories and put all this good stuff in it as well and I’ll buy one my friend. Like I’ve always said people of your caliber aren’t around to share this advice. We could all use your wisdom. Happy New Year stay safe and healthy
I thought about a book but doing videos (without showing ads, likes or asking for sponsorship), gets my experience out to divers around the world. This is my way of sharing Will and glad you benefit from it.
Hey Alec, happy New Year! Thanks for the advice from a real scuba veteran! Was wondering if you could talk about what conditions to consider before making a dive. Wind, rain, tides etc. thanks for your top tier content
Nice video to show to some instructors. Actually there are different types of 'blow-off plugs'. I got some SPGs made from metal, which don't have a rubber plug at the back. Instead, the glass/plastic cover is just plugged into the casing with an o-ring in a groove. If the tube leaks or bursts, the cover will fly out without breaking. So in view of the second myth (how to hold the SPG when you turn on the pressure) i would say that this depends on the actual SPG.
My Apeks SPGs all came with flow restricters, as did my tank pod. This may now be universal practice. With this, if you suddenly apply 3000psi to the hose the pressure in the gauge/pod itself builds slowly, over a several seconds, and there is no shock load to the system. I still have the gauge away from me when turning on the air but the risk of a dramatic event is practically nil.
I will add diver recall systems (and procedures) to my future ideas list. Can't do it specifically on the DRS as I don't know anyone that has one near me. Thanks for the idea.
Working my way thru Sea Hunt videos. Oh man so campy but I luv it! He gave the Orca a bad name LOL, changed to a several different fish several times. Its all classic and gets better and better. They seem to have some trim issues I think always seem to fin chest up which would cause some unnecessary water resistance that would require more physical effort that would be more air consumption. I am currently working on optimum trim and buoyancy with Double 80 AL.
Looking back they do seem like the first Batman series, very over the top. But watching live on a black & white TV (new to us), with NO chance of watching again for months, it was magic. Mike caught the bad guys every time, kissed the girl, dove on strange locations and always saved the day. Take care Joe.
@@davids7550 Do not misunderstand me on this. I agree it is great! But sometimes I get a kick out of some of the footage. I hear the company Ziv was very cheap. They intentionally stayed in BW filming.
Really important first question: was it designed to swivel? Not funny as I get this question on swivel and non-swivel spg's. If supposed to swivel and is hard to twist, get it serviced and the swivel pin o-ring replaced. Not expensive and can be done quick by a competent service pro. Take care Ross.
If you look at the end of a HP hose, you'll see that the diameter of the opening is extremely small. This greatly limits the amount of air that can come out, even if an SPG catastrophically fails. Regulator HP ports do not supply air to the diver to breath; they are used by SPG's or transmitters to show how much air is in the tank. Therefore, they only need to deliver a very small volume of air.
I had a HP hose blow on me. The biggest problem is you will probably have lost a 1/3 of your air by the time you realize it. At least if you are wearing a hood, so you can't hear it leaking. But you have plenty of time to get to the surface.
Inside the 1st stage there is not an actual flow restrictor, but the diameter of the outlet is very small compared to the 2nd stage. To see this watch S06E16 What Happens If A Hose Blows?. I cut the HP and LP hoses under pressure and you can see the hose diameter. Also look at any manufacturers site for close up picture of the HP and LP ports. You can see the size difference. Hope this helps.
Are there any digital SPGs out there that don't use a Bourdon tube? (Yes, I realize there are AI transmitters out there, and entire dive computers that go on the end of your HP hose where your analog SPG is, but is there anything out there that is as small as say a 2.5" SPG but is purely digital?)
Good questions, all the SPG's I sold where dials for simplicity, cost and reliability. Digital displays are in digital devices. Did a quick Google search and no scuba digital SPG's seen. There may be but I don't see what a digital SPG would give over todays tube models. Thanks for asking.
@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter Can you tell me if there is any value in giving your cylinders air release knob a bit of a turn back after fully turning on air. "Turn air all the way on then back just a smidge" is what I was taught whilst taking my Open water. Thank you in advance.
@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter Over 72? seems specific? I guess someone her might be that old? I am not that old but life was sure simpler back then, I remember doing so many dumb stunts as a kid that today's kids would not even think of doing. I do not remember ever using any protective gear while biking or sledding down a snowed over street on a inner tube and then getting occasionally stuck under a car when it veered to the side to much. Even decades later in the 80's you could get away with the later. OK, just once. Anyhow, I'd be afraid some "Karen" would phone the police today. Kids today also spend too much to time on their game machines or phone rather than with humans or just riding around in the real world.
@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter Because if the gauge explode from pressure. If you open valve too quickly the crystal may explode. Never saw it happen but I think it did to someone. I bet you know you are SCUBA Guru :D. I like your channel. It could have been the Bourdon tube gave way and the valve was opened fast so the lens breached violently. Who knows? I guess the depth gauge might be a diaphragm type? I do not know.
These myths may not be relevant, but they are very much repeated today to new divers and older ones who don't know not to do it. Check out the comments for these 'myths' to see how many didn't know tanks will not explode or turning tank valves back 1/2 turn are not needed and can be unsafe. Thanks for watching.
@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter Half-a-turn won't make a difference. Turning the SPG away from you won't make a difference. Tanks may not explode but the burst disk will give.
@@OnePost909 The status quo concerning divers? Charles Darwin wasn't the first person to hypothesize the word evolution. But he was the first to have his book published on the subject. Weak divers cannot accept criticism. Great minds think alike for the very reason that the Solution Is Simple, Safe, Effective. If you have a question about diving, let's hear it. Otherwise, I'm tempted to think you are the troll. I'm not like Alex who is diplomatic or politically correct, not when it comes to criticism.
Yep, instructor taught this to me, and I hear it all the time. Thanks for the video!
You bet!
I heard this from my intructor back in the 90s, and heard it again on a refresher course last year as well. Just goes to show.... recieved wisdom without thinking is hell of a drug!
Now you can share this with them to bring them up to date. Thanks for watching.
Thank you for all you do to support SCUBA!
Always!
Always wondered what was that hole behind my SPG.. never touched it though.
Keep those myths epi going Alec.
Thanks for the time and effort, informative as always
Will do! More vids coming to make you the smartest diver around.
Watching this I remember being taught this At school at 16 now at 31 I want to dive with my instructor again and let him know about these endless miss understandings these are such high quality tips for any stage diver
Many were just passed on without questioning the original situation. Today there are so many of these 'myths' I did a few videos on them.
Heck I just bought a Cressi SPG and it had the same safety recommendations training has of facing the SPG away from anybody when you open the tank.
another great vid ...
I appreciate that
I always look forward to your videos, informative and fun. Great work.
Thank you very much!
Great video Alec, thank you! And happy New year! Looking forward to many more videos in 2021
More to come!
I had an oceanic SPG almost exactly like that. When I started GUE training, they said brass and glass. The oceanic SPG was $40, brass and glass was around $100.
Never knew that little black thing was a bust disk.
A big price difference for the same function. Check their maximum operating depth to see if they have equal specifications. Sometimes a name just costs more but divers want it anyway. Thanks for sharing John.
Never ceases to amaze me the stuff you get told by someone not because they understand it, but because their instructor told them... because their instructor told them... because their instructor told them! Happy new year, Alec.
OW Instructors are cue card readers. Most have no real dive experience to pass onto novice divers. For them it's about status. I've seen towels thrown over the heads of novice divers while on land to teach them to navigate. Pilots don't fly at night until they know how to plot a course.
Very true in scuba, probably other sports or workplaces too. Thats why it is important for instructors to be current with new practices and not repeat their 1990's training for the next 30 years.
I watch these videos for storyline, theme, content, punch line and self promotion. Weak divers fear criticism. Novice divers are enticed by tidbits of irrelevant information. The idea behind the promo is to gain trust and sell shiny new gadgets which don't actually progress your diving. I learn from good divers and bad. Agencies teach Instructors not to rock the boat. I sink it.
Am I the only one that hears a little Norm Macdonald in his speech patterns? Must be the Canadian DNA :)
It must be! Norm was a funny Canadian. I'm OK with folks thinking I sound like him.
A
Thanks a lot for clearing this up! I always turned the glass away from me since my instructor told me so. Now that I know about the rubber plug, I can do it the right way. This video might prevent future accidents!
Hope so Joshua. There are still things taught to new divers that they don't know the reasons behind it, so the myths continue.
Makes sense if you think about it. To often we take information from "experts" (Instructors, Dive Master , etc.) for granted, "They know what they are talking about after all."
Good thing you have the LABOR helping. If not, you would have nothing. LOL
Thank you Alec and Kevin!!! Great video...again!
Here in Canada we have LABOUR, ha ha.
in fact, the pressure required to dislodge the safety plug is very low and the restriction in the high pressure port of the regulator makes that the air blast will be very low.
that technology is widely used on liquid filled gauges that are very often exposed to suddent pressure rise or pressure impacts and it is rare that such a gauge fails from a bourdon tube cracking, what I've seen rather often is a failure by bourdon tube permanent deformation caused by an overpressure or water freezing.thus a false reading.
popularization is a guarantee of honesty
I congratulate you on approaching diving in this way.
I wish you a Happy New Year.
Thank you for the watching and sharing the information with others. Happy New Year to all.
When i was younger that was one of my fears when scube diving haha. And thanks for the extra info :)
No worries!
I love the myth episodes. Great work 👍🏼
Glad you enjoy it! Someday I may even say it right!
Great scuba advice as always. Please write a book about all your stories and put all this good stuff in it as well and I’ll buy one my friend. Like I’ve always said people of your caliber aren’t around to share this advice. We could all use your wisdom.
Happy New Year stay safe and healthy
I thought about a book but doing videos (without showing ads, likes or asking for sponsorship), gets my experience out to divers around the world. This is my way of sharing Will and glad you benefit from it.
Awesome tips. Thanks Alec. Happy new year!
My pleasure!
Happy New Year. Hope to see a lot more of the ever entertaining and educational videos
Happy new year!
Learned to point the SPG away from me and into a safe direction when I got certified. Good times.
Good times indeed. Thanks for watching sir.
Hey Alec, happy New Year! Thanks for the advice from a real scuba veteran! Was wondering if you could talk about what conditions to consider before making a dive. Wind, rain, tides etc. thanks for your top tier content
Interesting topic. I'll add it to my ideas list for a future video. Thanks Mike.
Nice video to show to some instructors.
Actually there are different types of 'blow-off plugs'. I got some SPGs made from metal, which don't have a rubber plug at the back. Instead, the glass/plastic cover is just plugged into the casing with an o-ring in a groove. If the tube leaks or bursts, the cover will fly out without breaking. So in view of the second myth (how to hold the SPG when you turn on the pressure) i would say that this depends on the actual SPG.
Thanks for the info!
Thanks Alec! Happy new year!
Thank you too!
My Apeks SPGs all came with flow restricters, as did my tank pod. This may now be universal practice. With this, if you suddenly apply 3000psi to the hose the pressure in the gauge/pod itself builds slowly, over a several seconds, and there is no shock load to the system. I still have the gauge away from me when turning on the air but the risk of a dramatic event is practically nil.
So does opening the tank valve slowly which is not always easy given how hard some divers force it closed. Safe diving Tim.
@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter too true.
hey Alec can you make a video on the DRS-100B Diver Recall System speaker
I will add diver recall systems (and procedures) to my future ideas list. Can't do it specifically on the DRS as I don't know anyone that has one near me. Thanks for the idea.
Can you please make a video about possible equipment failure underwater and how to handle them? Thanks alot
Good idea. Will add it to my ideas list.
Working my way thru Sea Hunt videos. Oh man so campy but I luv it! He gave the Orca a bad name LOL, changed to a several different fish several times. Its all classic and gets better and better. They seem to have some trim issues I think always seem to fin chest up which would cause some unnecessary water resistance that would require more physical effort that would be more air consumption. I am currently working on optimum trim and buoyancy with Double 80 AL.
Looking back they do seem like the first Batman series, very over the top. But watching live on a black & white TV (new to us), with NO chance of watching again for months, it was magic. Mike caught the bad guys every time, kissed the girl, dove on strange locations and always saved the day. Take care Joe.
Even so, Sea Hunt is still great.
@@davids7550 Do not misunderstand me on this. I agree it is great! But sometimes I get a kick out of some of the footage. I hear the company Ziv was very cheap. They intentionally stayed in BW filming.
amazing video !
Glad you liked it!
Happy new year
Happy new year
I had one blow on me in 10 th grade, the metal pointer arrow went right past my face!
We were taught to turn your head not the gauge.
There are so many things taught today that don't make 100% sense. Glad you survived to dive more.
A.
Great content thanks. Question, when tank is delivering air to my regulator, my spg does not swivel, is this normal or does it need attention?
Really important first question: was it designed to swivel? Not funny as I get this question on swivel and non-swivel spg's. If supposed to swivel and is hard to twist, get it serviced and the swivel pin o-ring replaced. Not expensive and can be done quick by a competent service pro. Take care Ross.
Is there a flow restrictor on the HP port so if there is a failure one wouldn't lose air too quickly?
Yes
@@mariner156 I wonder how fast. Fast enough to soil ones pants I'm sure.
If you look at the end of a HP hose, you'll see that the diameter of the opening is extremely small. This greatly limits the amount of air that can come out, even if an SPG catastrophically fails. Regulator HP ports do not supply air to the diver to breath; they are used by SPG's or transmitters to show how much air is in the tank. Therefore, they only need to deliver a very small volume of air.
I had a HP hose blow on me. The biggest problem is you will probably have lost a 1/3 of your air by the time you realize it. At least if you are wearing a hood, so you can't hear it leaking. But you have plenty of time to get to the surface.
Inside the 1st stage there is not an actual flow restrictor, but the diameter of the outlet is very small compared to the 2nd stage. To see this watch S06E16 What Happens If A Hose Blows?. I cut the HP and LP hoses under pressure and you can see the hose diameter. Also look at any manufacturers site for close up picture of the HP and LP ports. You can see the size difference. Hope this helps.
PADI still teaches to turn the gauge face away in their elearning.
It is ok to turn it away but not to have the burst plug pointed at your (it's OK to point at your dive buddy).
i had one that did just that brand new from the shop
I grabbed this off the Dive Kawartha shelf to ensure it worked!
Are there any digital SPGs out there that don't use a Bourdon tube?
(Yes, I realize there are AI transmitters out there, and entire dive computers that go on the end of your HP hose where your analog SPG is, but is there anything out there that is as small as say a 2.5" SPG but is purely digital?)
Good questions, all the SPG's I sold where dials for simplicity, cost and reliability. Digital displays are in digital devices. Did a quick Google search and no scuba digital SPG's seen. There may be but I don't see what a digital SPG would give over todays tube models. Thanks for asking.
I was given that bad information.
Point the gauge away from you...🤦🏻♂️
Most older divers were told the same thing until we learned about the over-pressure button in back!
A
Are you Norm McDonald's dad?
I get asked that a lot but no, Norm is a funny guy but he does not dive.
Clap clap clap
Thanks Don.
@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter Can you tell me if there is any value in giving your cylinders air release knob a bit of a turn back after fully turning on air. "Turn air all the way on then back just a smidge" is what I was taught whilst taking my Open water. Thank you in advance.
It was 1974…
Thanks Joseph.
A.
If you remember the 60's you were not in them.
Unless you're over 72 and absorbed any and all scuba new/magazines/TV. Remember we had very little distractions as kids, school, chores, play, repeat.
@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter Over 72? seems specific? I guess someone her might be that old? I am not that old but life was sure simpler back then, I remember doing so many dumb stunts as a kid that today's kids would not even think of doing. I do not remember ever using any protective gear while biking or sledding down a snowed over street on a inner tube and then getting occasionally stuck under a car when it veered to the side to much. Even decades later in the 80's you could get away with the later. OK, just once. Anyhow, I'd be afraid some "Karen" would phone the police today. Kids today also spend too much to time on their game machines or phone rather than with humans or just riding around in the real world.
For sure was taught to turn the face away. How about that.
It's funny there are so many variations of 'look away' but few know the real reason why. Thanks for watching Chris.
@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter Because if the gauge explode from pressure. If you open valve too quickly the crystal may explode. Never saw it happen but I think it did to someone. I bet you know you are SCUBA Guru :D. I like your channel. It could have been the Bourdon tube gave way and the valve was opened fast so the lens breached violently. Who knows? I guess the depth gauge might be a diaphragm type? I do not know.
These are old myths are no longer relevant. Surely, with your experience and knowledge, you can come up with something more relevant.
These myths may not be relevant, but they are very much repeated today to new divers and older ones who don't know not to do it. Check out the comments for these 'myths' to see how many didn't know tanks will not explode or turning tank valves back 1/2 turn are not needed and can be unsafe. Thanks for watching.
@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter Half-a-turn won't make a difference. Turning the SPG away from you won't make a difference. Tanks may not explode but the burst disk will give.
@@OnePost909 The status quo concerning divers? Charles Darwin wasn't the first person to hypothesize the word evolution. But he was the first to have his book published on the subject. Weak divers cannot accept criticism. Great minds think alike for the very reason that the Solution Is Simple, Safe, Effective. If you have a question about diving, let's hear it. Otherwise, I'm tempted to think you are the troll. I'm not like Alex who is diplomatic or politically correct, not when it comes to criticism.