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Scuba Diving/Questions Answered by Expert Henry P. Babcock
| Subject | Date Asked |
| prescription masks | 9/5/2011 |
| Q: My wife and I are both avid divers, each with different problems with our vision. We've just ... A: I hear ya! I have mild myopia, but the astigmatism is even worse. I'm not quite to the point of ... | |
| reg hoses | 6/19/2011 |
| Q: can I legally change my own hoses b/t the first & second stage? A: There are no "laws" that regulate servicing your SCUBA equipment. However, it is always recommended ... | |
| Batteries in Dtigital Dive Timers(DDT) | 9/8/2010 |
| Q: You mentioned in one of your replies that some places have figured out as to how to change a battery ... A: Wil, In that previous answer, regarding a Mares bottom timer, I was referring to some specific ... | |
| co2 vave leaking | 8/24/2010 |
| Q: i have an older model dacor bc and the co2 valve is in the left pocket. it is leaking out the air ... A: Charles, A BCD with a CO2 valve in the pocket is an older model indeed! If the rubber coated stem ... | |
| Dive Equipment | 6/14/2010 |
| Q: Mr. Babcock, I am looking to learn more about the equipment related to scuba diving. I have always ... A: Andrew, I apologize for being slow to respond. There is just not a whole lot of info about SCUBA ... | |
| chain meal | 5/19/2010 |
| Q: this question is a little strange but here it is where can i get a 1ft.sq.piece of chain meal the ... A: Paul, Sorry about your dog's paw. Chainmail can be spelled a few different ways, so it can be ... | |
| diving and dizziness | 4/13/2010 |
| Q: I am a fairly experienced diver with 100+ dives but have always had problems equalizing. I always ... A: Lorna, Post diving dizziness should certainly be checked out. There is a complex interaction ... | |
| Scuba tanks | 1/28/2010 |
| Q: I am a student currently studying in school. I have a question that I can't find an answer to. I ... A: Ali, The proper way to store a SCUBA cylinder is near empty (300-500 psi). The cylinder should be ... | |
| hey | 6/28/2009 |
| Q: hey i have a problem with equalizing on land about 95 percent my right ear pops but under water my ... A: Zak, Difficulty in ear clearing can be a common, but serious, problem while diving. If this is ... | |
| 1st stage | 4/2/2009 |
| Q: I would like to know about possible failures of first stage. What kind of possible failures may ... A: Hakan, Yes, failure of the first stage resulting in free flow is possible. Some of the causes ... | |
| chainmael mesh | 3/9/2009 |
| Q: I am wanting to make an armored suit for my horse for a (Renaissance reenactment)but I haven't been ... A: I did a quick search for "chain maille" and found a couple of sites, but I will direct you to ... | |
| Maximizing underwater time | 11/6/2008 |
| Q: Henry, I would like to know what steps I can take to maximize my underwater time. I'm fairly ... A: Dan, There are several factors that influence air consumption. Most regulators perform within a ... | |
| Air | 10/31/2008 |
| Q: Although I am a diver this question is concerning Breathing apparatus for rescue. I would like to ... A: Norman, The "shelf life" of the air inside a SCBA is really going to be dependent on the material ... | |
| usd older tanks | 8/10/2008 |
| Q: i just had a tank hydroed which failed. some one told me that I could send it back and they would ... A: Jeff, As I recall, the warranty on cylinders requires the original receipt for purchase, proof of ... | |
| snorkel/scuba eq. for breathing impaired | 3/26/2008 |
| Q: I`m looking for someone who could direct me to mainly snorkeling eq. for a person who breathes ... A: Steve, I was able to find a little bit of info. There is something called a Larchel Watertherapy & ... | |
| scuba diving | 3/19/2008 |
| Q: i just ant to know that is swimming necessary for scuba diving ? i will be going to Andaman islands ... A: Amy, Glad you are interested in SCUBA diving. By no means do you need to be an expert swimmer, but ... | |
| Question | 2/1/2008 |
| Q: Right now I'm taking a class about Resech methods, and I would like to do an investigation about ... A: German, I understand what you are asking now. You will need to contact the various SCUBA ... | |
| Zipper Problem | 1/22/2008 |
| Q: Henry. I have an old gear bag that I now use for boat dives. It is mesh and has two zippers both of ... A: Asmar, If the zipper is plastic, and if it is just salt, soak the whole thing in some clean, ... | |
| diving masks | 1/10/2008 |
| Q: How long do silicone masks last (i.e., does silicone deteriorate over time)? Thanks. A: Eric, Sorry to take some time to get back to you. Attempting to get a definitive answer for you, I ... | |
| scuba diving atmosphere | 12/26/2007 |
| Q: I have been told an "Atmospere" in scuba diving is 33 feet deep, (2 atmosperes being 66 feet, etc). ... A: Jeff, For ocean water that is correct. In fresh water, one Atmosphere (ATM) of pressure is equal ... | |
| Holding ones breath while scuba diving | 12/8/2007 |
| Q: Hey, hows it going? I am just wondering why one should not hold thier breath under water while ... A: Michael, Holding your breath after breathing compressed air underwater, can cause lung ... | |
| pro sub dcv /bcd | 11/24/2007 |
| Q: i havce a pro sub bcd. there is no serial # just the letters dcv on the bcd. i dove with this bcd ... A: Roy, I tried looking around to locate a source for the ProSub dump valve. Try contacting ProSub ... | |
| ear pain after first sea dive | 10/22/2007 |
| Q: My daughter has just come back from Thailand where she did the start of a scuba course - all the ... A: Marita, I apologize for the untimeliness of my reply. The instructor of her open water dive was ... | |
| yoke valve | 10/5/2007 |
| Q: What is the maximum tank pressure one should use when a yoke style valve is being used for ... A: Mark, Max pressure for a yoke valve is 232 bar (3300 psi). The common SCUBA DIN valve is rated to ... | |
| About the cousteau abs system | 9/4/2007 |
| Q: I have one of these I found at a garage sale a couple years ago, Does anyone know what it is worth, ... A: Rob, Ahh, the ABS system. I've received a few questions about that unit; mostly people who have ... | |
| dacor enduro power inflator | 8/29/2007 |
| Q: I recently had the rubber cover on the inflator perish and luckily the dive shop found a cover that ... A: Val, I do not know of any companies that will sell parts directly to end users. I suspect that you ... | |
| Sudden shortnes of breath @ 70' | 8/2/2007 |
| Q: I was on a recent dive trip and on my last dive of the trip I experienced something strange and ... A: David, Excellent job on staying calm and getting control of your breathing! Bad job on not staying ... | |
| licences | 7/7/2007 |
| Q: how old do you have to be to have a diving licences A: Devon, Thanks for your inquiry. First, I must correct your reference to diving "licenses". It is ... | |
| Scuba Diving Air Requirements | 6/18/2007 |
| Q: I am in the process of developing a new type of SNUBA (Self-contained Not Under Water Breathing ... A: Darin, The air requirements for a diver depend on a multitude of factors. It has been stated that ... | |
| Dacor Enduro BCD | 6/15/2007 |
| Q: I have a Dacor Enduro BCD that has only logged 20 or so dives. It still looks like NEW. On a trip ... A: Eric, I hope you got the Divemaster's contact info for reimbursement of your repair and BCD rental ... | |
| ear problems | 5/12/2007 |
| Q: My son and i have started diving, during the open water course he developed ear related problems. ... A: Adrian, Equalization problem are somewhat common. The can occur to almost anyone at anytime. I ... | |
| Mini tanks with direct bite down mouthpiece | 4/13/2007 |
| Q: I am having trouble finding online where to find the mini tanks, 6cb ft. with the direct, bite down ... A: Gavin, From your description, I believe you are referring to the Spare Air. The company's website ... | |
| Triple dive tank | 4/12/2007 |
| Q: We were lucky to meet Cousteau and his team on French Polynesia some years ago were they were ... A: Paul, It is highly likely that you saw the divers using the Advanced Breathing System (ABS). This ... | |
| Ear pain due to blocked water in middle ear | 12/13/2006 |
| Q: I found this item on the net. Could you let me have your opinion on its possible efficiancy? The ... A: Eyal, Rendering an opinion on the device you provided the link for is outside my area of expertise. ... | |
| SCUBA repair | 12/3/2006 |
| Q: How much per reg can a repair tech expect to make? A: Barney, While repairs/overhauls of regulators are usually priced per stage of the regulator, repair ... | |
| Repairs | 10/30/2006 |
| Q: I am considering working at or owning a dive shop someday. I am pursuing my instructor training, ... A: Paul, SCUBA repairs is one of the harder areas of the SCUBA industry to get into. For liability ... | |
| gauge setup | 9/23/2006 |
| Q: i have just bought a mares mr12 yoke and a mares rebel 1st stage and mares depth gauge to replace my ... A: Barry, If this gear was purchased new, the dealer should have assembled and tested the regulator ... | |
| Breathing difficulties while diving | 9/20/2006 |
| Q: I recently started Scuba Diving and obtained my Open Water through PADI. I took my open water in ... A: Laurie, Welcome to the world of SCUBA! When underwater, especially in a cold water environment, ... | |
| High Pressure tanks | 8/16/2006 |
| Q: I was just getting informed about DIN vs. Yoke regulators. The answer said use DIN on high pressure ... A: Henry, The cut off for HP tanks is generally 3000 psi. The yoke style regulators are rated up to ... | |
| tanks cleaning | 7/21/2006 |
| Q: A: Adolfo, There are many variables to consider in cleaning SCUBA cylinders. You do not mention the ... | |
| scuba tanks | 7/15/2006 |
| Q: I just saw a cousteau documentary on diving with sharks, and the team used a flat tank that looked ... A: Matt, I had to work hard on this one. I just moved and all my US Divers stuff was buried in the ... | |
| wetsuit insulation values | 6/9/2006 |
| Q: Do you know of any OBJECTIVE evidence relating to the thermal insulation value of 'titanium' coated ... A: Ron, I'll start with the easy one. Yes, it really is Titanium metal used in the wetsuits. It's a ... | |
| Commercial Divers in Massachusetts | 6/1/2006 |
| Q: I own a swimming pool service company 20 miles out of Boston. I need to find a commercial diver to ... A: Laurie, Since the repairs are taking place in a swimming pool, you can probably get away with ... | |
| Gear repair | 4/14/2006 |
| Q: I have an extensive history of repair and maintenance work in havy industry. 20 yrs + repairing and ... A: Jack, I apologize for the delay. OK, this is kind of a tough one. There's kind of a Catch-22 ... | |
| bc | 4/8/2006 |
| Q: are there any bc's that can hold 50lbs of weight. I'm a really big guy .i have one that hold 40lbs ... A: Keith, I have not been staying current on BCD designs and specifications. You might try looking at ... | |
| recreational SCUBA equipment | 4/6/2006 |
| Q: I am CMAS* (bronze) diver and have about 50 logged dives and now I want to buy my own diving ... A: Kevin, Sorry for the delay. I really do not stay current on the latest brands and models of SCUBA ... | |
| aqua lungs | 3/3/2006 |
| Q: First i want to thank you for taking the time out to answer my question. Over the past 7yrs. I been ... A: Mr. Patton, I am assuming you are referring to the use of SCUBA equipment. Aqua Lung is a brand ... | |
| Service Technician | 9/19/2005 |
| Q: Is is possible to be a US Divers Service Technician without being an instructor or a dive shop ... A: Joe, You do not have to be an instructor or a dive shop owner to be an Aqua Lung (they changed the ... | |
| Regulator what to buy | 7/5/2005 |
| Q: I am about to buy a regulator (set, i.e 1-st and 2nd stage, with octopus, gauge, BCD hose). I am in ... A: I'm sorry I took so long to get back to you; it's been a busy summer! Your looking for a good, yet ... | |
| drysuit repairs | 5/24/2005 |
| Q: I am looking for information on how to change wrist and neck seals on my DUI TLS350 drysuit, also ... A: Curt, Dry suits take special training and inspections to be overhauled or repaired properly. My ... | |
| Professional Diving | 5/20/2005 |
| Q: I am looking at becoming a professional diver. What educational outlets should I seek and how ... A: Danny, That's great that you want to get into professional diving. It's a hard but rewarding ... | |
| Best Scuba Tanks | 3/3/2005 |
| Q: Hey There, I am a new diver and am in the process of buying my gear and have almost everything I ... A: Russ-- Sorry for the delay in responding to your question. There's alot to consider on the subject ... | |
| SCUBA diving | 1/7/2005 |
| Q: im developing a software prototype for my final year project. my question relates to a question you ... A: Anthony-- I apologize for taking so long to reply. I am not sure I understand the question you are ... | |
| scuba equipment | 8/4/2004 |
| Q: what is the best explaination you can give me for "what is a DIN Valve? Thanx A: Chas-- DIN valves are used in high pressure applications above 3500psi (240 BAR). The name comes ... | |
| Diving Watch | 7/15/2004 |
| Q: He is an absolute novice diver, but as we are currently living in Australia he has hope of taking it ... A: Melissa-- That's a very nice gift! I want to help you with your quest, but judging something as ... | |
| Oxygen | 6/20/2004 |
| Q: How do people isolate oxygen to put in oxygen tanks? Is there a special machine and are they ... A: Babak-- Pure oxygen used in commercial applications comes from a process known as air separation. ... | |
| Equipment storage | 3/1/2004 |
| Q: What's the best way to store scuba gear when not in use? A: Kim-- The best way to store SCUBA gear is thouroughly cleaned and dried. Keep out of sunlight and ... | |
| Scuba diving and ear problems | 6/25/2003 |
| Q: I would like to know if there may be a concern regarding ear problems when diving. Can diving be ... A: Nahum-- Yes, there is concern regarding ear problems when diving. The ear drum is subject to alot ... | |
| dog hair on wetsuit | 4/8/2003 |
| Q: Someone gave me a wetsuit (cool!) but it's covered in white dog hair and smells (more like dog than ... A: Scott-- You definitely don't want to put the wetsuit in a machine. It's too rough on the neoprene. ... | |
| Mares Bottom Timer | 6/4/2002 |
| Q: I want to use my old Mares digital bottom timer as a backup to my computer. The timer works but the ... A: John-- I'm afraid I have bad news. I'm 99.99% sure that the unit cannot be recharged. I am not ... | |
| Equipment Technician | 5/28/2002 |
| Q: Are there equipment technician training schools? What type of income can one make in this field? A: Peter-- There are not equipment technician training schools, per se. You will find equipment ... | |
| Snorkeling for Children | 2/7/2002 |
| Q: Greetings, Our kids love to swim. We often go to Presque Isle. That is on Lake Erie. They ... A: Magdalene-- Any gear that carries a reliable brand name, purchased at a reputable dive facility ... | |
| masks | 8/6/2001 |
| Q: we have recentlly bought for us a couple of technosub silicon based masks ( the family dives). The ... A: Soph-- This is a common problem, but the solution is easy. Get some regular toothpaste (not gel) ... | |
| Scuba masks | 7/22/2001 |
| Q: What is the reason for that scuba masks made of silicon caoutchouc lead to undesirable foggy vision ... A: There is a slight coating of the silicone on the glass when the masks are first made. This can be ... | |
| capacity of air tanks | 4/4/2001 |
| Q: I am a 4th yr student studying Industrial design. For my major project I chose to redesign Altitude ... A: Dominic-- Please accept my sincere apology for taking so long to reply to your inquiry. I was ill ... | |
| Regulator - Din or Yoke? | 2/12/2001 |
| Q: While I have done about a 100 dives I am only just about to buy my first set of gear - I have pretty ... A: Simon, First, I should state that you should beware of buying SCUBA equipment online. All of the ... | |
Scuba Diving
Answers by Expert:
Henry P. Babcock
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
Technical and repair expert in many different types of equipment and diving physics and physiology. Associate In Science Degree in Recreational SCUBA diving from SBCC Marine Diving Technology program. Several years diving experience. Repair technician for Aqua Lung America (U.S. Divers)
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