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Scuba Forum / General / August 2005Do they wash the mouthpieces of rented SCUBA gear
I'm new to SCUBA. Sorry. Can someone tell me if I need to buy my own mouthpiece before the trip or the rented ones have some kind of sanitary insert. (I don't feel like ingesting someone elses saliva stuck up the tube.) Thanks Johnny > I'm new to SCUBA. Sorry. > > Can someone tell me if I need to buy my own mouthpiece before the trip > or the rented ones have some kind of sanitary insert. (I don't feel > like ingesting someone elses saliva stuck up the tube.) Saliva usually washes off when they clean the regulators, which they hopefully do in between rentals. Otherwise, if the last customer spit inside the regulator, you might ingest his spit even if you have your own mouthpiece. But if you consider how many people have spit in your food at restaurants, you wouldn't be too concerned. The answer to your question is no, they do not have sanitary inserts. "Johnny Thunders Jr." <johnnythundersjr@yahoo.com> wrote... > I'm new to SCUBA. Sorry. I'm sorry too. > Can someone tell me if I need to buy my own mouthpiece before the trip > or the rented ones have some kind of sanitary insert. (I don't feel > like ingesting someone elses saliva stuck up the tube.) Be sure to bring some alcohol swabs in case you have to grab your buddy's octo at depth. > "Johnny Thunders Jr." <johnnythundersjr@yahoo.com> wrote... >> (I don't feel >>like ingesting someone elses saliva stuck up the tube.) > > Be sure to bring some alcohol swabs in case you have to grab your buddy's > octo at depth. And definitely don't go out to any bars after diving. Sometimes people who go to bars end up swapping spit with total strangers.  SignatureSteve The above can be construed as personal opinion in the absence of a reasonable belief that it was intended as a statement of fact. If you want a reply to reach me, remove the SPAMTRAP from the address. >> "Johnny Thunders Jr." <johnnythundersjr@yahoo.com> wrote... > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >And definitely don't go out to any bars after diving. Sometimes people who go to bars >end up swapping spit with total strangers. But the mutual use of alcohol negates the issue. Signaturedillon Pain is Nature's way of saying "that was stupid" > I'm new to SCUBA. Sorry. > > Can someone tell me if I need to buy my own mouthpiece before the trip > or the rented ones have some kind of sanitary insert. (I don't feel > like ingesting someone elses saliva stuck up the tube.) No on both counts. When I rented gear, I wiped the mouthpieces with a bleach wipe. It made me feel better. There isn't a lot of spit in the gear to begin with. The air enters the regulator via a one-way valve. The incoming air is under pressure. Any saliva would have to enter under at least 500 psi and overcome the valves. That's just not possible unless the equipment has totally failed. In that case, the equipment will be sitting in the coroner's office. There might be some residual spit in the mouthpiece and the other exterior parts. Most of it will be trace to begin with then diluted with ocean / lake / pool water until there's not much left. Back at the shop, it will be rinsed with fresh water. Once it gets rinsed out and dried, it's clean, or clean enough. Stainless steel is a very hostile surface to germs. Rubber / silicon are not. That's why I used bleach wipes. The snorkel is a different story. Rinse it and the mask with warm water and soap and you'll be good. You can probably use the restroom at the shop if you're getting the gear that morning. You could always buy the mask/snorkel if you're that concerned about germs. If all else fails, just assume that the last person to use the gear was hot. SignatureMagnus McElroy Electrical Engineer (EIT) HABIT Research (250) 381-9425 >> I'm new to SCUBA. Sorry. >> [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] >valves. That's just not possible unless the equipment has totally >failed. In that case, the equipment will be sitting in the coroner's office. Intermediate pressure is anywhere between 120 and 140 psi, give or take a little in personal preferences. Supposedly (at least that's what the preachers preach) when a regulator fails, it free flows. I've never heard of a case where it didn't, but I can't prove that it won't. >There might be some residual spit in the mouthpiece and the other >exterior parts. Most of it will be trace to begin with then diluted with >ocean / lake / pool water until there's not much left. Back at the shop, >it will be rinsed with fresh water. It's usually rinsed out when the diver spits out the reg while on the surface. >Once it gets rinsed out and dried, it's clean, or clean enough. >Stainless steel is a very hostile surface to germs. Rubber / silicon are >not. That's why I used bleach wipes. Ugh. >The snorkel is a different story. Rinse it and the mask with warm water >and soap and you'll be good. You can probably use the restroom at the [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >If all else fails, just assume that the last person to use the gear was >hot. Yeah, but his wife will cut his balls off if she finds out he's been swapping spit with a hottie. Signaturedillon Pain is Nature's way of saying "that was stupid" > The air enters the regulator via a one-way valve. The > incoming air is under pressure. Any saliva would have > to enter under at least 500 psi and overcome the valves. 500 psi? Damn, I think you need to get your IP adjusted a bit... > > The air enters the regulator via a one-way valve. The > > incoming air is under pressure. Any saliva would have > > to enter under at least 500 psi and overcome the valves. > > 500 psi? Damn, I think you need to get your IP adjusted a bit... Probably pretty easy to clear your ears... >> > The air enters the regulator via a one-way valve. The >> > incoming air is under pressure. Any saliva would have [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Probably pretty easy to clear your ears... With no eardrum? Talk about a little barotrauma. Signaturedillon Pain is Nature's way of saying "that was stupid" >>>>The air enters the regulator via a one-way valve. The >>>>incoming air is under pressure. Any saliva would have [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Talk about a little barotrauma. WHAT? CAN YOU SPEAK UP? Thanks to everyone for pointing out my error. I'm touched that people actually read my post. SignatureMagnus McElroy Electrical Engineer (EIT) HABIT Research (250) 381-9425 >>>>> The air enters the regulator via a one-way valve. The >>>>> incoming air is under pressure. Any saliva would have [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > Thanks to everyone for pointing out my error. I'm touched that people > actually read my post. slow week >>>>>The air enters the regulator via a one-way valve. The >>>>>incoming air is under pressure. Any saliva would have [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] >Thanks to everyone for pointing out my error. I'm touched that people >actually read my post. It's more fun to rag on a friend than a troll who's long gone. We know you'll be back for more. Signaturedillon Pain is Nature's way of saying "that was stupid" > I'm new to SCUBA. Sorry. > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Thanks > Johnny If you're concerned you can pour some mouthwash into the regulator and then rinse the mouthwash out with water. We used to soak shared clarinet mouthpiece in mouthwash, that's where that idea is from. Adam > I'm new to SCUBA. Sorry. > > Can someone tell me if I need to buy my own mouthpiece before the trip > or the rented ones have some kind of sanitary insert. (I don't feel > like ingesting someone elses saliva stuck up the tube.) Considering the state of some of the stuff I've seen at rental centres I'd be amazed if they even service them, let alone wash them. Still, you can't take your own mouthpiece because they are cable tied onto the regulator and need to be cut off - dive centres don't take kindly to people doing this. > Considering the state of some of the stuff I've seen at rental centres I'd > be amazed if they even service them, let alone wash them. Still, you can't > take your own mouthpiece because they are cable tied onto the regulator > and need to be cut off - dive centres don't take kindly to people doing > this. Can't you just cut the cable tie instead of the mouthpiece? > I'm new to SCUBA. Sorry. > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Thanks > Johnny Stick to stamp collecting, fagboy. -- An American friend of mine - living in Canada - says that in the US, greed is acceptable but envy is a sin. In Canada it is just the opposite. I would suggest that envy is our national sport. And no one inspires more envy in us than our southern neighbor. It is a shame, because any legitimate gripes we may have about America get lost in a sea of childish wolf-crying. Hey dickweed, this was a legit question. Others in NG gave me good info so STFU! I'm sorry if I'm not a manly SCUBA pro like yourself. I just don't have the time or cash to slip into some tigh fitting wetsuit and go: "Ooooooooh look at that pretty yellow fishie...." > Hey dickweed, this was a legit question. Others in NG gave me good info > so STFU! > I'm sorry if I'm not a manly SCUBA pro like yourself. I just don't have > the time or cash to slip into some tigh fitting wetsuit and go: > "Ooooooooh look at that pretty yellow fishie...." Fish on! >> Hey dickweed, this was a legit question. Others in NG gave me good info >> so STFU! [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > >Fish on! Dave, pass the popcorn & beer. Rick Simms > Hey dickweed, this was a legit question. Others in NG gave me good info > so STFU! It wasn't a legit question, it was laughably preposterous. And if the mouth pieces bother you, try not to think about what happens in a rental wetsuit. > I'm sorry if I'm not a manly SCUBA pro like yourself. I just don't have > the time or cash to slip into some tigh fitting wetsuit and go: > "Ooooooooh look at that pretty yellow fishie...." What ever that meant. -- An American friend of mine - living in Canada - says that in the US, greed is acceptable but envy is a sin. In Canada it is just the opposite. I would suggest that envy is our national sport. And no one inspires more envy in us than our southern neighbor. It is a shame, because any legitimate gripes we may have about America get lost in a sea of childish wolf-crying. > > Hey dickweed, this was a legit question. Others in NG gave me good info > > so STFU! > > It wasn't a legit question, it was laughably preposterous. Either that, or its indicative of just how poor training has become. > And if the mouth pieces bother you, try not to think about what happens in > a rental wetsuit. Ook! good point. BTW, if you're going to get up this way anytime soon, I'm expecting to get a copy of a public announcement that's going to be in the newspapers before the end of this month. It pays $10/hour...IIRC, minimum 6 hours...and involves both shooting and being shot at...figured you might be interested. I'll send it to 454 when I get the copy. -hh > It pays $10/hour...IIRC, minimum 6 hours...and involves both shooting > and being shot at...figured you might be interested. Absolutely... > I'll send it to 454 when I get the copy. Thanks! > -hh > I'm new to SCUBA. Sorry. > > Can someone tell me if I need to buy my own mouthpiece before the trip > or the rented ones have some kind of sanitary insert. (I don't feel > like ingesting someone elses saliva stuck up the tube.) Yep, you can catch all sorts of diseases from rental regulators... Everything from gingivitis to herpes to even AIDs... There is no way that I would use a rental regulator if I was you... I would strongly suggest that you purchase a Atomic Aquatics T1 or T2 Titanium regulator for your travels -- anything less and everyone will just laugh at you... If you are such a loser that you insist on using rental gear and you want to try to minimize the diseases that are on the mouthpiece, you can try combining 8 oz each of ammonia and chlorine bleach in a non-metalic container and then scrub the regulators with this solution using a toothbrush for at least 30 minutes... Care should be taken to ensure that all areas are thoroughly cleaned since missing a single spot the size of the head of a pin could result in you being exposed to millions of deadly germs... Excessive air circulation can adversely affect this procedure, so it is advised that you perform it in an enclosed area -- the smaller the better... >> I'm new to SCUBA. Sorry. >> [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > affect this procedure, so it is advised that you perform it in an > enclosed area -- the smaller the better... I agree. You need that 1.5 thousand dollar regulator or you may be marked as a newbie. And that's the worst thing ever that can happen to you. :-) Adam >>I'm new to SCUBA. Sorry. >> [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > affect this procedure, so it is advised that you perform it in an > enclosed area -- the smaller the better... Aids would be very difficult if not impossible to contract from a regulator > Aids would be very difficult if not impossible to contract from a regulator Especially after being properly treated with the chlorine bleach and ammonia solution... >>>I'm new to SCUBA. Sorry. >>> [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] >> >Aids would be very difficult if not impossible to contract from a regulator Life is a sexually transmitted disease that is inevitably fatal. Signaturedillon Pain is Nature's way of saying "that was stupid" >>I'm new to SCUBA. Sorry. >> [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > suggest that you purchase a Atomic Aquatics T1 or T2 Titanium regulator > for your travels -- Didn't the Atomic get recalled for hepatitis? > I'm new to SCUBA. Sorry. > > Can someone tell me if I need to buy my own mouthpiece before the trip > or the rented ones have some kind of sanitary insert. (I don't feel > like ingesting someone elses saliva stuck up the tube.) You will definitely want to avoid doing the EFR course then. > I'm new to SCUBA. Sorry. > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Thanks > Johnny Are you aware that the fish f.ck in the ocean? It's like we're rolling around in some honeymooners bedsheets on the morning after. Cam I keep saying.....This was a legit question and I doubt I'm the only one who ever asked this. With all the crap going around, it's not so silly to have reservations about sucking on a rented regulator. I'm not going to spend $1000 dollars on one but will look around ebay and see if I can find some affortable ones for me and my wife. Again, thanks to all with helpful responses, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF CONMEDIANS IN THIS NG :-) > I keep saying.....This was a legit question and I doubt I'm the only > one who ever asked this. With all the crap going around, it's not so [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Again, thanks to all with helpful responses, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF > CONMEDIANS IN THIS NG :-) Look for an Apeks DS4. You can spend more and less, but wont do better. >>I keep saying.....This was a legit question and I doubt I'm the only >>one who ever asked this. With all the crap going around, it's not so [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > You can spend more and less, but wont do better. I wanted to get one of these but they've started making them with plastic locking rings now - why they felt the need to produce a newer, inferior version I don't know. > I wanted to get one of these but they've started making them with > plastic locking rings now - why they felt the need to produce a newer, > inferior version I don't know. Yeah, one would figure that considering the cost of regs, at least they could make them out of stainless steel or chome plated brass... But what the f.ck do I know? Hell, I still dive with Dacor 150s and 360s... >> I wanted to get one of these but they've started making them with >> plastic locking rings now - why they felt the need to produce a newer, [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >could make them out of stainless steel or chome plated brass... But what the >f.ck do I know? Hell, I still dive with Dacor 150s and 360s... I've still got a Dacor Aero octo. And my 960 is still in good shape, although now retired. Signaturedillon Pain is Nature's way of saying "that was stupid" > I keep saying.....This was a legit question and I doubt I'm the only > one who ever asked this. With all the crap going around, it's not so > silly to have reservations about sucking on a rented regulator. So, when/if you choose a buddy, do you only choose one with whom you would be willing to swap spit? If you're not willing to swap spit with them, maybe you should consider rigging your gear in a more redundant manner and diving solo... I never dove before and not sure what you mean. Are you talking about a scenario where I run out of air and need to use my buddy's tank? This would not be a common occurance (I presume). I'm trying to get my wife to go with me as buddy anyway. Again, if I'm just too paranoid and totally off the mark on this (maybe salt water kills all germs) please excuse me for raising this issue. I didn't expect all the hostility. After the trip I'm sure I'll learn a lot more and ask more "advanced" questions. Cheers > I never dove before and not sure what you mean. Never dove before? And exactly how are you going to get a company to rent you some equipment without getting certified? There are some of us here who taught ourselves how to dive and were even able to rent gear on the odd occasion without showing a C-card... But that was many years ago and these days, the shops seem to be concerned from a liability standpoint enough that one might be hard pressed to find a shop that would let you skate by... You do not need a C-card to buy your gear... The shops will gladly sell it to you without ever checking your C-card... They'll even sell you a tank, but they might not fill it without seeing your C-card... On the other hand, after having bought all this gear from them, they might just assume that you have a C-card and fill your tank for you... Kind of depends upon how you present yourself... If it is obvious that you don't know much about diving or are bullshitting them, they're more likely to ask to see your C-card... You could also order your equipment from the internet... I've yet to encounter an online store that required proof of my certification... Another option for getting a tank filled is some of the fire extinguisher companies that also fill the SCBA tanks for the fire departments... With them, you might not even need a tank visual inspection (although your hydro must be in date)... > Are you talking about a scenario where I run out of air and need > to use my buddy's tank? That's one possibility... Regulator malfunction would be another... During your training, you will be required to perform an out-of-air drill and you'll be swapping spit with whoever last used your partner's alternate 2nd stage regulator (aka octopus)... Someone else might be using yours and you can't always guarantee it will be someone with which you would prefer to be swapping spit... If you are overly concerned about germs, but still want to dive, I would suggest that you consider rigging yourself for solo diving... Double redundancy of tanks and regulators at the very least... You don't have to worry about what bacteria might be on your buddy's regulator since you are carrying your own backup air supply and backup regulator... I suspect that most divers are willing to just give their regulators a quick rinsing in whatever body of water they're diving in to remove any germs that might be on them... > Again, if I'm just too paranoid and totally off the mark on this (maybe > salt water kills all germs) please excuse me for raising this issue. I > didn't expect all the hostility. After the trip I'm sure I'll learn a > lot more and ask more "advanced" questions. Nawh, it doesn't kill all the germs, but the chlorine bleach and ammonia technique that I previously mentioned should work... > I never dove before and not sure what you mean. Are you talking about a > scenario where I run out of air and need to use my buddy's tank? This > would not be a common occurance (I presume). I'm trying to get my wife > to go with me as buddy anyway. I'm assuming you mean that you want your wife to take lessons with you and that you hope the two of you will become certified together, yes? I think you should know that more often than not, when one partner is convinced to take up diving against her will, it doesn't work out very well. While you are doing all that hoping, you should also hope that your wife is one of those rare people that find they love the whole experience, despite initial misgivings. > Again, if I'm just too paranoid and totally off the mark on this (maybe > salt water kills all germs) please excuse me for raising this issue. I > didn't expect all the hostility. We aren't being hostile . . .teasing you a bit, sure. Just consider it all "tough love". >After the trip I'm sure I'll learn a > lot more and ask more "advanced" questions. We'll be here to welcome those questions, and be informative and derisive in equal measure. :^) By the way, I have a bag of mouthpieces I've never used. Do you want to buy them from me? I bought them when I first started diving, before I bought my own regs. > I'm assuming you mean that you want your wife to take lessons with you and > that you hope the two of you will become certified together, yes? I think [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > initial > misgivings. They get over it with time. Janna was resistant at first. Now she has well over 100 dives under her belt and will probably hit 200 by the end of next year. "Never Let Them Quit" by SSI's Bob Clarke is mandatory reading for SSI Instructors. > I keep saying.....This was a legit question and I doubt I'm the only > one who ever asked this. You aren't. >With all the crap going around, it's not so > silly to have reservations about sucking on a rented regulator. It isn't, but if you aren't sure that you are going to keep diving enough to warrant buying your own regs, then you should just satisfy yourself with some way of cleaning up the mouthpiece before you put it in your own mouth. >I'm not > going to spend $1000 dollars on one but will look around ebay and see > if I can find some affortable ones for me and my wife. LOL, that's hilarious. You must be a troll after all. You are afraid of the minuscule potential to contract a germ off of a mouthpiece but are willing to buy your regs off of ebay. ahahahhahaha > Again, thanks to all with helpful responses, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF > CONMEDIANS IN THIS NG :-) There certainly are and now you are one of them. > LOL, that's hilarious. You must be a troll after all. You are afraid of > the minuscule potential to contract a germ off of a mouthpiece but are > willing to buy your regs off of ebay. ahahahhahaha Maybe he's going to use the chlorine bleach and ammonia cleaning solution that I suggested... > > LOL, that's hilarious. You must be a troll after all. You are afraid of > > the minuscule potential to contract a germ off of a mouthpiece but are > > willing to buy your regs off of ebay. ahahahhahaha > > Maybe he's going to use the chlorine bleach and ammonia cleaning > solution that I suggested... Maybe he already did use it. ;^) There has to be some explanation. >> > LOL, that's hilarious. You must be a troll after all. You are afraid >of [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >Maybe he already did use it. ;^) There has to be some explanation. Maybe he's been breathing pure helium. Signaturedillon Pain is Nature's way of saying "that was stupid" > >Maybe he already did use it. ;^) There has to be some explanation. > > Maybe he's been breathing pure helium. LOL >> I keep saying.....This was a legit question and I doubt I'm the only >> one who ever asked this. [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > >There certainly are and now you are one of them. I lost track of the responses here but has anyone suggested borrowing or renting from a local shop and having them put a new mouthpiece on the seconds, or change 'em yourself before you leave. If the shop doesn't like them put the old ones back when you return them. If you talk nicely to the shop guy I'll bet they'll refund the rental on a new purchase later. JF "What embitters the world is not excess of criticism, but an absence of self-criticism." - G.K.Chesterton > I lost track of the responses here but has anyone suggested borrowing > or renting from a local shop and having them put a new mouthpiece on > the seconds, or change 'em yourself before you leave. That's YA possibility. Of course, the fallacy to all of this is how much mouthpiece sanitizing takes place after you own your own :-) FWIW, there was quite a big scare about spit-swapping during the early days of AIDS/HIV awareness. Might even go as far as to suggest that the big "AIDS Scare" for infection via a shared scuba mouthpiece was why PADI lead the way to stop teaching buddy breathing. It was much later that it was learned that the transmission of AIDS in diving was transmitted solely through Force Fins and Spare Air cannisters :-) -hh > It was much later that it was learned that the transmission of AIDS in > diving was transmitted solely through Force Fins and Spare Air > cannisters :-) :^) What did the OP say? "There's a lot of comedians here". > > It was much later that it was learned that the transmission of AIDS in > > diving was transmitted solely through Force Fins and Spare Air [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > What did the OP say? "There's a lot of comedians here". Maybe even a couple of chickenhawks too; http://tinyurl.com/cv9uo -hh |
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