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Shoutout to an old diver named Mike who saved me from a bad decision
I was about to buy a used Kirby Morgan mask I found on Craigslist for $400. Mike, a diver I met on a job in Port Arthur, told me to check the exhaust valve seals first. Turns out they were cracked and would have flooded on my first deep dive. He showed me how to test them with just your breath and a little water. Anyone else have a gear trick an older diver passed on?
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wesleybutler4mo ago
That thing about checking the exhaust valve seals with your breath and a little water is solid, but I gotta say the way Mike showed you might be a little off. You don't actually want water inside the mask when you're testing the seal like that, you just need to blow into the exhaust valve with the mask dry. Water can get into the outer seal and mess with the test. The real trick is to put a little spit on the valve seat first, then blow hard and watch for bubbles. That old timer stuff is gold though, just gotta do it right or you'll end up with a soggy face.
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laura_lane4mo ago
Yeah you ever run into seals that look fine but are actually dried out and cracked? I've had a few close calls with old gear where a quick spit test saved me from a bad day underwater.
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patel.leo3mo ago
Ngl, that whole thing reminds me how most problems in life start small and just need a little spit and attention before they blow up.
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