Why you need to be able to reach and turn you single tank valve

often divers cant reach their valve and cant understand why we teach this as a basic skill. Lets have a look.
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[@chrischristofis8501]

As always a very informative and useful video, as a diver for 40 years i find your videos are among the best in the world, I’m sure you have helped many new and some not so new divers. Thank you Achim

[@OrenNoah]

It happened to me. I’m an avid recreational diver and I was diving from a Kona charter boat. I turned my air all the way on, donned my gear and headed to the stern for my giant stride entry. Behind my back and without saying anything, the DM turned my air off and then a 1/4 turn on. Fortunately, my tech diver mentors passed along their ritual of always pre-breathing both regs, while staring at my SPG. When I saw the needle swing wildly, I knew what just had happened. I wasn’t happy, but I didn’t want to make a scene. I pointedly asked the DM to “turn my air back on.” I could tell that he just realized what he’d done. Were I less well-trained, it could have resulted in disaster. I let him save face by saying “You were just testing me. Weren’t you?” I trust that he learned his lesson. I learned too. It made my last second pre-breathe ritual an absolute.

[@laod7192]

That's horrible. My wife once turned my air off thinking she was opening my air, too. Since then I always make sure that I'm the last person touching my valve before descending.

[@Chogogo717]

I love that you teach through real life stories.

[@marcin.j.wasiak]

as always "no nonsence" straight to the point from on basis of logic and experience. I love your videos!

[@edmerritt8610]

Excellent real-world examples!

[@DarrellGrainger]

Another example of the divemaster closing my valve. I have a set of doubles that I broke apart and use as single tanks; one tank is a left hand valve and the other is a right hand valve. This means that one turns forward to open and the other turns backward to open. One day on a dive boat, I open my valve, check the pressure gauge, check the second stage and head for the back of the boat. The divemaster helps me to the back of the boat, checks my valve, thinks it is turned off. He closes the valve, opens it a quarter turn (I hate this practice). I jump in the water and everything seems fine. But as I descend, it becomes harder and harder to breathe. A quarter turn open was enough to give me air at the surface but not as I went deeper. Fortunately, I have always practiced opening and closing my valve while fully kit'd up. So I reached back, check the valve and realized it wasn't fully open.

[@StrangerInAStrange]

On a dive boat in Roatan. Some slower, newer divers were gearing up at the back of the boat for back exit. A diver toward the back of the pack (front of the boat) asked for and received permission to do a back roll off the side, which she did . . . . and immediately realized she had forgotten to turn on her tank. Quick, slightly panicked swim back to the boat to get assistance in turning the tank on.

[@boogerfarmer]

As always, excellent points. Your info makes me want to re-certify with ise

[@PROSTO4Tabal]

It's not just a matter of on/off, but you need the skill on single with H or Y manifold

[@jimmibondi4179]

I had the same Situation you explained in your First example in egypt - one of the boatsmen shut off my valve during waiting for the jump of the boat vor the negative entry and I realized that I was 'out of gas' in depth of 5 to 6 meters, sinking all the time, no air to breath, no air for the bcd... But good knowledge and education, so I was able to open the valve by myself and had at least a wonderful currency Dive...

[@stevecoffey4884]

Thank you for this lesson

[@signalsoldier]

You are das best! Danke from Mississippi, USA.

[@gmussiluz]

I remember a video I've watched here called "feathering the tank" that brings another situation of a breaking hose/regulator and consequent free flowing, that it's related to the freezing situation.

[@CoastalDevelopment]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKepqnesaZt3Z5o

[@kaim4210]

Love this channel did my first dive with wing, all thigh wetsuit opened mid way through the dive and straps were too loose, guess I just gotta watch more of ya videos

[@markusleitner3735]

Can not get any better from the explanation! Interesting, that normally other agancies do not mention that with the beginners....ISE should be used as training agency more often!

[@maxtorque2277]

Being able to close your valve could have a minor role to play in a full-on freeflow or burst hose situation. Yes, on a single you're going to be needing a buddy to air share (unless you are carrying your own non-back-gas back up) but once you have secured a robust alternate air supply then being able to turn off your tank is helpful simply to calm the situation! A burst hose or freeflow is a noisy, disorienting event, bubbles everywhere, so if you can stop that, then this is a good idea. It's also likely to calm any other divers in your group, as it'll be clearer to them that you have got the situation undercontrol and are actively managing the problem. Now of course, your buddy could also turn off your valve, but in general practicing being able to reach your own valve sounds in principal like a useful skill, even if you never actually need to do it :-)

[@mrki83]

There's also the situation where you open the valve just enough to see the SPG needle move. You may get enough air on the surface but not enough at depth.

[@Gary-cy5df]

As a new diver this information and experience is greatly appreciated, thankyou. Regards the plastic model . I'm sure you have better things to do, just bin it .

[@mxaexm]

Very useful video! Thanks for making all of us better divers!

[@electricbadgercollc8146]

Your videos are a gold mine of excellent scuba diving wisdom. A big THANK YOU for taking the time to share your experience with the world. Quick question: would you ever recommend (under certain circumstances) throttling your tank valve ON/OFF to reduce gas loss with a frozen first stage regulator?

[@joerocket1977]

I had a helpful dive master give my tank a quarter turn closed except he almost closed it completely. I got about 10-15 feet down then felt a huge breathing resistance. I checked my SPG and saw it going up and down with each breath. I surfaced got back on the boat and found charters rental tank had a rough spot on the valve that made it feels like it was open fully but it wasn't. I agree I don't think dive masters should be playing with people's valves

[@helioxheo2586]

So let me get this right? All those divers turned their bottles on, done all their predive checks, turned their bottles OFF,,,,,then allowed someone else (DM) turn them on for them just before they jump off boat? sounds like a boat full of inexperienced noobs. Including the DMs. If that's their SOP then all of them shouldn't be in the water and the boat needs to be tied up on the dock whilst they all go for pool training! And I'd know for sure if someone was hanging off my valve fiddling about.

[@rednissan001]

@@helioxheo2586 exactly. I’d be telling the dm on the boat stay away from my equipment. Myself and my buddy have checked our own kit and we are ready.

[@optimustrond]

Some very good points! Great job!

[@robertdiaz4303]

Thank you for sharing your experience

[@KAREPLAND]

of course it makes a lot of sense! reopening! thank You for sharing stories 🤙

[@barnymenia]

That 's the reason why I don't want anybody to touch my valves (specially not dive masters and instructors). - Had a dive master on her first day of service and she closed my valve in my back when jumping from the boat. - I was diving with 2 biddies (CMAS *** and instructor) and the instructor performed a buddy check at the *** and closed the valve (which I saw and fixed).

[@Violaodabossa]

Thanx Achim 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼 Well done and great explanation

[@scmsean]

GUE requires this, and it is why I haven't past my fundamentals rec pass. Even worse they require the top band to be at the top of the tank meaning the tank is lower on your back. I'm just not flexible enough to do this especially in a dry suit. If I could put my tank how I normally would, I would be able to reach it. When I was originally certified with Naui, we had to remove the BCD in the water and put it back on. I think I could remove my BCD, and turn back on my air almost as fast.

[@DivingDutchman]

Clearly explained, good points, as always. Thanks!! Maybe do a follow up on this with tips on setting up your tank, stretch your shoulders, to reach the single tank valve? (It’s position is ever so slightly different from a double tank set.)

[@scmsean]

Doubles is easier since the knobs are higher up and further out. You can make doing it on a single tank easier by putting the band lower on the tank, but GUE won't allow me to do that.

[@LarsDennert]

Turn the tank valve 45 degrees toward your body instead of parallel to your body. Depending on your reg, no turret, you might need to change hose positions. In that position you should easily be able to reach it sitting on deck. In the water you can also help locate it by placing the back of your hand against the back of your head and tilting your head back to push your hand towards to valve.

[@shanks0108]

wow, that is a very good point. thank you for the tip and your experiences. :)

[@fotismanolopoulos4354]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge 😊

[@MultiHunterOne]

I think this is even more true if you have a single tank with a double valve. You can resolve a free flow by yourself the same way as if you had a twinset.

[@remusmariandragan635]

Always keep the single tank valve on reach. Test at the pool all the imaginary scenarios, in case it happens you won't freak out. I had a colleague at the club once closing my tank without notice. But since i had it planned (running out of air scenario) my brain kicked in automatically when noticed the pressure difference and adjusted the breading giving enough time to assess the situation and save precious air, spg pressure check ok, then went straight for the valve and opened. The 3rd step would have been buddy reserve😅😂 not ideal but since had the time. Stay calm and you'll achieve more. Is quite hard to find buddies, even wors instructors willing to test different scenarios. Most of the time i feel like begging, or have to go behind their back which increase the risks. I'll grab what experience i can. Remember if have any doubts, either reevaluate or split the exercise till master don't add any unnecessary risks, you only have one life. Hopping someone will save you, it's another risk taken😅

[@patrickhaller669]

very informative and educational video. Thanks a lot

[@martinfoden5064]

Very interesting thanks.

[@kylegrimm8808]

We really need to clean up our industry. The dive agencies have made so many people lazy and sloppy. And many of the dive professionals and charter operators have contempt for divers because they all think they are stupid. I have been diving for over 20 years and it gets worse every year.

[@mustanggun]

Another reason to be able to reach your single valve knob is what if an individual had a free flow, reach back and feather the knob to make the gas last.

[@djsalose]

agree 110% i would never go underwater if i could not reach all my equipment..

[@XhanzX2626]

Always do a buddy check before you start your dive and when you get entangled stop think and act. When you run out of air signal your buddy and give the out of air signal, share air make buddy contact and make a control ascent. These are the basic skills you learn in your open water course and what you should apply in situations you mention.

[@roboppers]

I never let anyone touch my valve on the boat! Not ever!!

[@johannmattis4842]

Extremely obvious reasons. 1 ton of other possibilities of self-closing valves come to my mind.

[@darylbalmer6618]

Lots of comments about DM touching your valves... maybe tell him because I’ve turned lots on that were OFF!!

[@francisbevacqua8014]

Off subject, but still can’t find ISE training materials. Any suggestions?

[@appliedtechnicaldiving6198]

Hi Francis, if you're looking for a recreational book, try this. www.bookdepository.com/author/Achim-R-Schl%C3%B6ffel

[@francisbevacqua8014]

@@appliedtechnicaldiving6198 yes thank you ! I just completed the order.

[@ke78487]

Awful music.