Have you ever had 'bad air' from a boat or shop? How did you know it?

+3 votes
asked Jun 18, 2017 in Scuba Diving by hurfish (3,024 points)

6 Answers

+3 votes
answered Jun 19, 2017 by George1224 (5,147 points)
I havent, lucky I guess. I always cup my hand at the valve and smell it before hooking up. Bad air usually has an odor. If you smell anything dont use it.
+3 votes
answered Jun 19, 2017 by cquade7 (3,269 points)
edited Jun 20, 2017 by cquade7
YES, and was it awful, I luckily had a back up on the beach, but it tasted like stale and just was disgusting, I hope to never experience that again. I usually check my air, but I was in a hurry and well, I will always check my air before I leave the shop now!
+3 votes
answered Jun 19, 2017 by Cvet (3,369 points)
I've had bad air three times once in California with a brand new tank. When we open it up it had an oil streak top to bottom. It was nasty. While in Belize I had the Dive operation give me two tanks on different days,  that had bad air.
commented Jun 20, 2017 by hurfish (3,024 points)
where in CA was it? what did you do to clean the tank
commented Jun 20, 2017 by Cvet (3,369 points)
We were diving Point Lobos.. It was a brand new tank that I had bought in San Jose. Wings in Santa Cruz took care of the tank.
commented Jun 21, 2017 by hurfish (3,024 points)
glad you got it worked out
+3 votes
answered Jun 19, 2017 by alwaysdiving (780 points)
I've gotten some strange tasting air a few times - if it doesn't seem right, I switch tanks. Not worth the risk!
+2 votes
answered Jun 20, 2017 by scubagirlie (613 points)
I have not had this issue. I do try to always get my tanks filled from a shop that I know well or a dive operation that I am familiar with.

Some of the responses on this page have raised my awareness and I will pay more attention to air and air sources in the future.
+1 vote
answered Jun 27, 2017 by scubaman7 (165 points)
Not that I can recall I hope I never do and if so I will catch it before hand.
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