This happened to me a couple weeks ago in near freezing temps. Shaking it in the water worked. Thank you for explaining why and how to fix it. Good to know that is normal and how to fix it.
I'm just starting diving again at 73, and your videos are so helpful to me. I originally got certified in the 70s when I was stationed at Homestead AFB in Florida and haven't dived since. Being a recent widow I'm trying to reinvent myself .
Welcome back to the sport, you'll love it again! Guess what? They even have computers that work, colours that don't fade (much) and more toys than a 2 year old gets at Christmas. Hope I can help slide you back in safely and wisely. A
The 1970s in Homestead?? Maybe I trained you. I was working in Key Largo at that time. Now THAT would be a coincidence!! I hope you're having fun. Scuba has changed in the past 50 years but the thrill of being underwater hasn't. Alec
It is what I call fine tuning I habe the tool to perform that fine adjustment and usually, I adjust the octobus notably harder to breath and I can use a different model of second stage for the octopus as long it is in a good condition. very good point. excellent vodeo.
This has happened to me on a couple months old hollis, back in June. It was more than just a hiss though. After back and forth with Hollis and taking it to a dive shop in August, it is finally fixed in January. Just when my Mares started doing the same thing 😂
As always, good info! You should also do one about freezing regs. I dive all year in New England and twice I had FREEZE free-flow reg. 2000 PSI in about 45 seconds (best guess as I wasn’t counting). I was able to sort it out quickly at depth (under 60 feet) but not the same as what most people would experience in free-flow regs. Both times in fresh water. None yet in ocean diving. Had my shop turn down my Reg to see if it helps. So far so good.
My Octopus fell apart with only 4 dives during my AOW Certification Class. Then the 1st Stage blew when the shop tested it before handing it back to me
@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunterI purchased it New. Bought a Spare set exactly like my primary. Same part was loose. The piece that Holds the purge button in place
This sort of highlights another reason why buying a higher-spec regulator can pay dividends. If it has a cracking pressure adjustment knob, turning it in a little should stop the freeflow. Otherwise a field fix is easy with the correct wrench and screwdriver but I'd advise that only if you know what you're doing!
Thank you Alec, excellent video! After my regs were serviced I had an issue with my first stage (ScubaPro), I had a whistle, or noise every time I inhaled, first I thought it was coming from my second stage (ScubaPro), but I discovered it was also coming from my Octo (DiveRite). Took the regs to a different service and was told whoever serviced the first stage put in a flexible or softer o-ring instead of the stiffer type, and that that was causing the noise. Even tho my regs worked ok while diving, the noise was so loud it was annoying to me and my dive buddies. I'm waiting to get my regs back from the new service and am hopeful the problem will be corrected. Any thoughts on this? Thanks, love your videos.
Scubapro MK25??? It's not the only one but it is common for this reg. Other makes & models have had the same issue. Scubapro actually changed the O-Ring set-up on the piston for this reg PLUS they added a spongy ring around the piston to dampen the whistle. It usually helps. What you are experiencing is called sympathetic vibrations - similar to the ring you get by running a damp finger around the rim of a wine glass. In the case of a regulator, there are many parts involved so it's difficult to pin it down to a single cause. This is a good time to clear up a common (almost universal) misconception. Divers generally picture the valve in the 1st stage as a simple door that opens when you inhale to let air through & then closes when you exhale. Nope!!! It's much more complicated (and interesting) than that. The regulator is very sensitive to pressure changes so a very slight drop in pressure will cause the valve to open and admit more air. The diver is taking a breath, usually slowly, so the air in the hose & 2nd stage is flowing out, into his mouth. When the valve opens in the 1st, air under high pressure flows into the 1st stage IP chamber. It fills quickly & almost instantly fills to the proper Intermediate Pressure again - so the valve closes. But, since the diver is still inhaling, the IP drops again & the 1st stage valve opens again - and then closes, again. This happens many times, very rapidly - too rapid to be seen or measured. It's called oscillation. The valve is not opening & closing as you might think. While it is opening & closing, it happens so rapidly that you can't even see it. So, the various parts in there, the soft seat, the seat carrier, the spring, the washer & maybe more, all in touch with each other, are all moving at great speed. Something starts to vibrate & soon they're all vibrating. One part is musically inclined & decides to make the buzzing sound into tune. That last part is a joke! Anyway, you get a whistle. The only way to stop it is to change something so the parts don't vibrate at all or at least do so in unison & cancel each other out. I suppose the good news is that it is not indicative of any problem. The reg is working just fine. Of course it's annoying but all you can do is work with your LDS (hopefully a Scubapro dealer). Try searching for this issue on the internet or contact Scubapro Customer Service. BTW, the Scubapro MK25 regulator is excellent, one of the best ever! Hope this helps. PS: tell your dive buddies that the whistle is the turbo charger - a special feature of your reg!! Alec
@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter Thank you Alec! Yes, I have a MK25 and the new LDS is an authorized Scubapro dealer (so was the previous one); if it's still happening I'll take your suggestion and call Scubapro Customer Service. I'd love to tell my dive buddies the whistle is the turbo charger, but it sounds more like I'm under anesthesia!
I have a hissing sound coming from all the second-stage regulators. All the O-rings and seals are new. The only thing I can think of is that there might be a small dent on the orifice located on the opposite side of the high-pressure seat inside the first stage. Do you think that could be the issue? It is a diaphragm-balanced first stage. I also tried loosening the diaphragm spring, but that only delayed the hissing for a couple of seconds before it started again. please enlighten me
Sounds like a faulty HP seat. Either the hard seat (part of the body) is damaged or the soft seat is worn. Do not change the soft seat until the hard seat has been inspected. If you do, the instant that you apply pressure, the soft seat is forced tightly against the hard seat & will be permanently damaged. Clean the hard seat ( a job for a technician), replace the soft seat, adjust & I'd bet you're OK.
This happened to me a couple weeks ago in near freezing temps. Shaking it in the water worked. Thank you for explaining why and how to fix it. Good to know that is normal and how to fix it.
Glad the info was helpful.
Just had this problem over the weekend. Like you said, some water stopped it. Thanks for explaining the mechanics of why it happens!
Yep, that's a common problem but easy to fix once you understand how.
I'm just starting diving again at 73, and your videos are so helpful to me. I originally got certified in the 70s when I was stationed at Homestead AFB in Florida and haven't dived since. Being a recent widow I'm trying to reinvent myself .
Welcome back to the sport, you'll love it again! Guess what? They even have computers that work, colours that don't fade (much) and more toys than a 2 year old gets at Christmas. Hope I can help slide you back in safely and wisely.
A
The 1970s in Homestead?? Maybe I trained you. I was working in Key Largo at that time.
Now THAT would be a coincidence!!
I hope you're having fun. Scuba has changed in the past 50 years but the thrill of being underwater hasn't.
Alec
Poor Kevin. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. 😂😅
He did come back from his last trip grumpy. Apparently lots of gear issues or as i call them, ideas for new videos!
A
It is what I call fine tuning
I habe the tool to perform that fine adjustment and usually, I adjust the octobus notably harder to breath and I can use a different model of second stage for the octopus as long it is in a good condition.
very good point.
excellent vodeo.
Thank you. All Kevin's idea!
A
Thank you for the golden information, It was helpful to understand and improve our knowledge. Thanks a lot
Glad it helped you understand better.
This has happened to me on a couple months old hollis, back in June. It was more than just a hiss though. After back and forth with Hollis and taking it to a dive shop in August, it is finally fixed in January. Just when my Mares started doing the same thing 😂
It sounds like you had a double dose of diving woes. I'm sure you're happy to have both back in working order.
As always, good info! You should also do one about freezing regs. I dive all year in New England and twice I had FREEZE free-flow reg. 2000 PSI in about 45 seconds (best guess as I wasn’t counting). I was able to sort it out quickly at depth (under 60 feet) but not the same as what most people would experience in free-flow regs. Both times in fresh water. None yet in ocean diving. Had my shop turn down my Reg to see if it helps. So far so good.
Search my Scuba Tech Tips playlist for 'freezing' as there are 2 or 3 on the subject covering why, how to prevent and optional 1st stage kits.
A
That makes perfect sense.
Thank you, I try to keep it simple so even Kevin understands.
A
My Octopus fell apart with only 4 dives during my AOW Certification Class. Then the 1st Stage blew when the shop tested it before handing it back to me
Sounds like a bad rental gear or poor service. Test it before diving again.
A.
@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunterI purchased it New. Bought a Spare set exactly like my primary. Same part was loose. The piece that Holds the purge button in place
Temu sells dive gear?!? What was the equipment?
@@kulfonbustardo1588 Genesis Prana
This sort of highlights another reason why buying a higher-spec regulator can pay dividends. If it has a cracking pressure adjustment knob, turning it in a little should stop the freeflow. Otherwise a field fix is easy with the correct wrench and screwdriver but I'd advise that only if you know what you're doing!
Good points but we both know how knowledgeable some divers are who believe hammers are the best tool.
A
@ Right on! If at first you don’t succeed, you need a bigger hammer!
Thank you Alec, excellent video! After my regs were serviced I had an issue with my first stage (ScubaPro), I had a whistle, or noise every time I inhaled, first I thought it was coming from my second stage (ScubaPro), but I discovered it was also coming from my Octo (DiveRite). Took the regs to a different service and was told whoever serviced the first stage put in a flexible or softer o-ring instead of the stiffer type, and that that was causing the noise. Even tho my regs worked ok while diving, the noise was so loud it was annoying to me and my dive buddies. I'm waiting to get my regs back from the new service and am hopeful the problem will be corrected. Any thoughts on this? Thanks, love your videos.
Scubapro MK25??? It's not the only one but it is common for this reg. Other makes & models have had the same issue. Scubapro actually changed the O-Ring set-up on the piston for this reg PLUS they added a spongy ring around the piston to dampen the whistle. It usually helps.
What you are experiencing is called sympathetic vibrations - similar to the ring you get by running a damp finger around the rim of a wine glass. In the case of a regulator, there are many parts involved so it's difficult to pin it down to a single cause.
This is a good time to clear up a common (almost universal) misconception. Divers generally picture the valve in the 1st stage as a simple door that opens when you inhale to let air through & then closes when you exhale. Nope!!! It's much more complicated (and interesting) than that. The regulator is very sensitive to pressure changes so a very slight drop in pressure will cause the valve to open and admit more air. The diver is taking a breath, usually slowly, so the air in the hose & 2nd stage is flowing out, into his mouth. When the valve opens in the 1st, air under high pressure flows into the 1st stage IP chamber. It fills quickly & almost instantly fills to the proper Intermediate Pressure again - so the valve closes. But, since the diver is still inhaling, the IP drops again & the 1st stage valve opens again - and then closes, again. This happens many times, very rapidly - too rapid to be seen or measured. It's called oscillation. The valve is not opening & closing as you might think. While it is opening & closing, it happens so rapidly that you can't even see it.
So, the various parts in there, the soft seat, the seat carrier, the spring, the washer & maybe more, all in touch with each other, are all moving at great speed. Something starts to vibrate & soon they're all vibrating. One part is musically inclined & decides to make the buzzing sound into tune. That last part is a joke!
Anyway, you get a whistle. The only way to stop it is to change something so the parts don't vibrate at all or at least do so in unison & cancel each other out.
I suppose the good news is that it is not indicative of any problem. The reg is working just fine. Of course it's annoying but all you can do is work with your LDS (hopefully a Scubapro dealer). Try searching for this issue on the internet or contact Scubapro Customer Service.
BTW, the Scubapro MK25 regulator is excellent, one of the best ever!
Hope this helps.
PS: tell your dive buddies that the whistle is the turbo charger - a special feature of your reg!!
Alec
@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter Thank you Alec! Yes, I have a MK25 and the new LDS is an authorized Scubapro dealer (so was the previous one); if it's still happening I'll take your suggestion and call Scubapro Customer Service. I'd love to tell my dive buddies the whistle is the turbo charger, but it sounds more like I'm under anesthesia!
Only Kevin has them problems. That was hilarious!
Oh he has problems alright, some are scuba related.
A
I have a hissing sound coming from all the second-stage regulators. All the O-rings and seals are new. The only thing I can think of is that there might be a small dent on the orifice located on the opposite side of the high-pressure seat inside the first stage. Do you think that could be the issue? It is a diaphragm-balanced first stage. I also tried loosening the diaphragm spring, but that only delayed the hissing for a couple of seconds before it started again. please enlighten me
Sounds like a faulty HP seat. Either the hard seat (part of the body) is damaged or the soft seat is worn. Do not change the soft seat until the hard seat has been inspected. If you do, the instant that you apply pressure, the soft seat is forced tightly against the hard seat & will be permanently damaged.
Clean the hard seat ( a job for a technician), replace the soft seat, adjust & I'd bet you're OK.