SPGs. An extremely important piece of equipment. You're not much good on a dive if you don't know the pressure of the contents of your tank (we're in the 21st century, so no more J-valves for us!). As a working dive instructor, I've always opted for a mechanical SPG, as opposed to a transducer linked to a dive computer. The reasoning behind this is twofold: mechanical SPGs are not as expensive, but I've also seen far cases of the transducers failing.
Or so I thought, until I replaced my old Sherwood SPG (many years of use) with an Oceanic SWIV. A quick online search shows it retailing for between USD 75 to 106. After the first one flooded after less than 10 dives, I thought I might just have a defective product. I replaced that one with another one on a console I used to use. Another 5 dives, and that one also failed. At this point, I'm not happy. No pressure gauge, no work. I had to replace it with a THIRD one (given to me by a friend, brand new, who was getting rid of her spare parts), until the new one I ordered could be shipped down. When that one failed, I put my other backup old old Dacor, until I could get a new one got delivered (it can take up to two weeks, minimum, to get anything shipped to the island).
Before people start jumping down my throat about dust caps and flooding regulators, that definitely isn't what happened. After the first one failed, I had my regulator (1st stage Scubapro MK2) fully serviced, and had the o-rings on my (new) high pressure hose inspected.
So...moral of the story: three thumbs down (one for each bad SPG).
Next up from me: the successful replacement
Half Moon Bay Weather Report
Overcast, calm, intermittent rain showers.
Recent Sightings
 |
| Flamingo Tongue |
 |
| Pipefish |
 |
| Hamner's Tritonia |
Informative review on dive gear, thanks for sharing with us.
ReplyDeletedive gear