PSA: Check your drysuit inflator valve before a deep dive

I spent last Saturday fixing a buddy's drysuit leak at 80 feet off Fort Lauderdale. His inflator valve had salt creep that made it stick open, so he was dumping air every 30 seconds trying to stay neutral. It took me 15 minutes at the dock to clean it with vinegar and a toothbrush, and he said the difference was night and day for his next dive. Has anyone else had a valve fail on them mid-job?

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3 Comments

logan7053mo ago

Wait, isn't salt creep more of a first stage issue than a valve one?

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jennifer9653mo ago

Haven't you seen salt creep form on second stage valves before? It happens when moisture gets past the seat and dries out around the adjustment knob. The first stage usually leaks in other ways, like freeflow or IP creep.

7

sam173mo ago

Nah @logan705, I've seen salt creep gum up second stage valves way more often than first stages.

3