Made my first real Bonehead mistake.

[IrishSquid]

I'll keep this short and not bore everyone with the fluff.
Did a quarry dive last weekend. Set my gear up during SI after first dive, turned air on , checked everything, all OK and shut valve down. About an hour later we're all getting in water, half are doing shore entries, me and the other half are doing strides off the dock. Orally inflated my wing and stepped off.
Hell yeah, 2-1/2 draws on my reg and lock up! Luckily I could reach my valve and turn it on since that was one of my definite "To-dos" when I got my DSS bp/w: be able to operate the valve when rigged.
Didn't really freak or anything, but..... had I decided to go negative off the dock, not be able to reach my valve, etc......
I was just plain ol' complacent and had one major brain fart. Nice wake up for me. Gotta pay attention!

[Splitlip]

Good post.
I am one of those who always shuts the valve down after changing out during the SI.
But, I learned always inflate with the LP/inflator and pop the OPV's to remind myself. Then when getting ready to splash, I suck hard on the reg and watch the needle of the SPG.
Just got in the habit.
Good to be able to reach the valve(s).
A Florida DM died a few years ago because he could not reach his valves. Did a neg entry and was overweighted and could not reach his valve.

(a good thing about a BPW, easy to keep the valve within reach)

[Sansho]

Then when getting ready to splash, I suck hard on the reg and watch the needle of the SPG.

I do the same thing ... if the air isn't all the way on, this will drop the needle.

[ianr33]

Another thing I have just started doing after a friend had an interesting incident:

Try and suck air in through the reg with the valve off. You should not get anything. If you do the diaphragm is probably cracked/split and will breathe very wet.
Alternatively breathe from the reg with it in the water at the start of a dive.

[tonka97]

Originally Posted by IrishSquid

I'll keep this short and not bore everyone with the fluff.
Did a quarry dive last weekend. Set my gear up during SI after first dive, turned air on , checked everything, all OK and shut valve down. About an hour later we're all getting in water, half are doing shore entries, me and the other half are doing strides off the dock. Orally inflated my wing and stepped off.
Hell yeah, 2-1/2 draws on my reg and lock up! Luckily I could reach my valve and turn it on since that was one of my definite "To-dos" when I got my DSS bp/w: be able to operate the valve when rigged.
Didn't really freak or anything, but..... had I decided to go negative off the dock, not be able to reach my valve, etc......
I was just plain ol' complacent and had one major brain fart. Nice wake up for me. Gotta pay attention!

Thanks for sharing; the best thing about these brain farts is that the odds of doing the same thing again is minimized.

[emcbride81]

Good to see it turned out ok! I have survived a few brain farts myself! I was at Lake Rawlings in VA this week and I was helping some new divers get geared and in the water, as I was about to jump in I took a breath on the reg and WHOOPS...no air...some nice dude turned it on for me!

[navyhmc]

There are three types of divers when it comes to forgetting to turn the air on. Those who have done it, those who will do it and those who lie and say they haven't. Don't worry about the memory loss and go dive.

[SlvrDragon50]

Originally Posted by emcbride81

Good to see it turned out ok! I have survived a few brain farts myself! I was at Lake Rawlings in VA this week and I was helping some new divers get geared and in the water, as I was about to jump in I took a breath on the reg and WHOOPS...no air...some nice dude turned it on for me!

Hah same for me

Sad part was my mask wasn't secure enough so my mask flewnoff duriga stride... Then my inflator hose wasn't fully connected so buoyancy control sucked

[IrishSquid]

Thanks everyone! I will definitely start using the LP inflator. That'll clue me in fast if my valve is off. I usually check my needle, except that time. I've dived this quarry often, and had just gotten too relaxed with it. I can assure you I'll never do it again. Familiarity with a location doesn't mean it can't eff you up! Lesson definitely learned.

[Rileybri]

its not about never making mistakes, its about what you learn from them. Thats what the Judge said to me any way!!!