15
COLD W
A
T
ER USE
WARNING
COLD WATER USE
Cold water is defined as water at a temperature of 50 degrees F (10°C)
or lower. In cold water there is a risk of the first or second stage freezing.
The risk of freezing is increased as the ambient temperature gets lower,
the air flow increases, and/or the moisture content of the air supply
increases. Regulators for cold water use should have environmentally
sealed first stages to prevent water entry and lower the chance of
freezing. The second stages should have extra heat absorbing features
such as the metal Heat-sink. The F8 and ONYX II include these freeze
resisting features, and are the best Zeagle models for Cold Water. It is not
possible to completely eliminate regulator freezing under all conditions. In
order to reduce the possibility you should:
1.
Start the dive with the regulators as warm as possible.
2.
If an Octopus regulator is put into the mouth underwater (IF safely
possible), try to start the breathing cycle with a long exhalation to get
the interior of the 2nd stage as warm as possible before the first breath is
drawn.
