INTERSPIRO Divator Pro User manual

Diving in extreme conditions
34228B01
2022-05
ENGLISH

Copyright © 2022 Interspiro
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Table of Contents
Cold water conditions / Low air temperatures ....................................... 5
Donning ............................................................................................ 7
Entering the water .............................................................................. 8
During dive ........................................................................................ 9
Repeated dives ............................................................................... 10
After dive ........................................................................................ 11
Instructions for specific equipment .................................................... 12
Divator Pro .............................................................................. 12
Divator RS4 ............................................................................. 12
Divator MKII ............................................................................ 13
Divator MKIII ........................................................................... 13
Surface supply ......................................................................... 14
Diving in extreme conditions
3

Cold water conditions / Low air
temperatures
Freezing may result in more or less serious malfunctions. These malfunctions
can be reduced or prevented by the measures described in this document.
Expansion of air causes the inhalation part of the breathing valve to be cooled
to about 15 °C / 59 °F below the ambient temperature. Any moisture in the inlet
section of the breathing valve might freeze to ice with the risk of causing free
flow or that the valve becomes completely blocked.
Moisture can find its way into the breathing valve in the following ways:
1. The breathing valve has been washed in water but not properly dried.
2. The non-return valve of the breathing valve is not watertight.
3. The breathing valve is immersed in water.
4. By moisture from medium pressure hoses.
5. By moist air from the cylinder.
6. By moisture from DP1 surface supply unit.
It is important that the breathing valve and medium pressure hoses are
absolutely dry when starting a dive in cold conditions. The breathing valve
is the most common part of the breathing equipment to freeze during a dive.
The breathing valve may be disassembled to allow all parts to completely dry
or they can be manually dried, before starting a dive in cold conditions. If
the operating procedure at the dive does not allow the breathing valve to be
disassembled, make sure to use a valve that is dry.
To avoid moist from cylinders it is important that the gas used for filling the
cylinders meets the requirements in EN12021 of according maximum water
content.
If surface supply is used, use a completely dry P+ regulator and dry DP1
surface supply hose. The anti freezing cap shall be checked before the dive
and be completely dry. Dry the P+ regulator and hose by using the vent
handle before the dive to remove any moisture from the system. The surface
supply system should be pressurized when using the vent handle to expel any
moisture without allowing new mositure to enter.
Diving in extreme conditions
5

In regulators MKII and MKIII the anti freezing cap/s shall be checked before
dive and to be completely dry.
In regulator RS4 / Divator Pro, when pressurized, press on the diaphragm on
the safety pressure unit to make sure that the diaphragm is inflated and springs
back.
Notice
A properly used Divator Full Face Mask decreases the risk of
freezing and improves the divers comfort in cold water.
Diving in extreme conditions
6

Donning
1. Don the face mask/mouthpiece as late as possible in the procedure.
2. The diver should hold his breath, if possible, until he is under the water
surface.
Diving in extreme conditions
7

Entering the water
1. Submerge directly to avoid breathing from the cylinder above the surface.
2. If possible, the diver should avoid spending a long time at surface water,
since freezing is more likely to occur in surface water than in deep water.
3. When in the water, pre-dive checks shall be made below the water
surface.
Diving in extreme conditions
8

During dive
1. Repeatedly monitor the pressure gauge.
2. Abort the dive at a pre-calculated air pressure.
Make sure to pre-calculate appropriate amount of air for a safe return to
the surface including a safety margin and/or necessary decompression
time.
3. Abort the dive if there are any sign of loss of pressure.
4. Abort the dive if there are any sign of loss of functionality.
5. The diver shall avoid breathing on the water surface, except after the dive
when exiting the water.
Diving in extreme conditions
9

Repeated dives
Repeated dives is when a new dive takes place while the equipment still is wet.
1. On land, as soon as possible after leaving the water: Blow the breathing
valves dry by pushing on the purge button (a few seconds) before you
remove the full face mask (FFM) or mouthpiece/Octopus breathing valves.
This will remove most of the water in the breathing valves.
2. Shake out water from the full face mask and the breathing valve.
3. Place the full face mask on a dry surface with the visor upwards to prevent
snow and water from getting inside the mask.
4. Disconnect necessary quick couplings as quickly as possible to prevent
them from sticking together due to freezing.
5. If possible, exchange the breathing valve(s) to a dry one(s).
6. If possible, store the equipment in a warm environment between dives.
7. It is useful to have access to hot water in a thermos/insulated container at
the dive site.
8. If external ice has formed or parts have frozen together use warm water to
melt the ice.
9. A free flowing or partly blocked breathing valve due to ice in the exhalation
side may be de-iced by:
1. putting it in warm water in a suitable container. Submerge only the
exhalation part until it is fully functional again.
2. if step 1 doesn´t work, remove the exhalation unit (if allowed) and rinse
it in warm water.
3. if step 1 and 2 doesn´t work, replace with a dry breathing valve.
10. If there is a certified service technician available, dismantle the breathing
valve(s) and dry them. Assemble when dry and continue diving.
Diving in extreme conditions
10

After dive
1. Shake out water from the full face mask and the breathing valve.
2. Disconnect necessary quick couplings as quickly as possible to prevent
them from sticking together due to freezing.
3. Put the wet and icy equipment in a heated environment to melt the ice.
4. Remove anti freeze caps (MKII/MKIII) and allow any moisture inside to dry
completely. If there is water inside the anti freeze cap on the MKII/MKIII
regulator unit it should be serviced.
5. Follow the after use and cleaning instructions in the equipments user
manuals.
Notice
An air gun (31844-01) can be used to quicker remove
water and moisture.
Diving in extreme conditions
11

Instructions for specific equipment
Divator Pro
During extreme conditions (water temp lower than 0 °C / 32 °F and current
waters) an outer ice layer could cover the reserve warning so that operation of
the reserve air is not possible.
Ice may form on quick couplings so that they are impossible to disconnect/
connect during a dive.
Pre dive
• The Divator Pro has a built-in anti freeze function that does not need to be
disassembled before each dive in cold water.
Follow the manual to check that the anti freeze function works before each
dive.
Recommendations during the dive
1. Repeatedly check the function of the reserve air valve by moving the lever,
checking that it is still possible to move.
2. Use a Divator DP1 surface supply together with the regulator for extra
safety.
3. Use a higher "abort dive" pressure than 55 bar (level for reserve air
warning).
Divator RS4
During extreme conditions (water temp lower than 0 °C / 32 °F and current
waters) an outer ice layer could cover parts of the equipment so that operation
of couplings may not be possible.
Ice may form on quick couplings so that they are impossible to disconnect/
connect during a dive.
Pre dive
• The Divator RS4 has a built-in anti freeze function that does not need to be
disassembled before each dive in cold water.
Follow the manual to check that the anti freeze function works before each
dive.
Diving in extreme conditions
12

Recommendations during the dive
1. Use a Divator DP1 surface supply together with the regulator for extra
safety.
2. Use a sufficiently "high" air pressure to end the dive safely.
Divator MKII
During extreme conditions (water temp lower than 0 °C / 32 °F and current
waters) an outer ice layer could cover the reserve warning so that operation of
the reserve air is not possible.
Ice may form on quick couplings so that they are impossible to disconnect/
connect during a dive.
Pre dive
1. Check that the anti freezing cap is completely dry before the dive.
2. Perform the function test of the reserve valve described in the manual
before each dive.
Recommendations during the dive
1. Repeatedly check the function of the reserve air valve by moving the lever,
checking that it is still possible to move.
2. Use a Divator DP1 surface supply together with the regulator for extra
safety.
3. Use a higher "abort dive" pressure than 55 bar (level for reserve air
warning).
Divator MKIII
During extreme conditions (water temp lower than 0 °C / 32 °F and current
waters) an outer ice layer could cover the reserve warning so that operation of
the reserve air is not possible.
Ice may form on quick couplings so that they are impossible to disconnect/
connect during a dive.
Pre dive
1. Check that the anti freezing caps are completely dry before the dive.
2. Perform the function test of the reserve air handle described in the manual
before each dive.
Diving in extreme conditions
13

3. Add the “Ice-dive Kit” (31724-51) for the MK III regulator reserve air
handle.
Recommendations during the dive
1. Repeatedly check the function of the reserve air handle by pushing and
pulling the handle, checking that it is still possible to move from D to C
position and back to D.
(Some reserve valves have a locking ring so they cannot switch to C .)
2. Use a Divator DP1 surface supply together with the regulator for extra
safety.
3. Use a higher "abort dive" pressure than 55 bar (level for reserve air
warning).
Surface supply
Pre dive
1. Dry the P+ regulator and hose by using the vent handle before the dive to
remove any moisture from the system.
2. Perform the function test of the reserve valve described in the manual
before each dive.
3. Check that the whistle warning is working.
Recommendations during the dive
1. Surface: Repeatedly monitor the pressure gauge as the whistle warning
on the Surface supply might not work if it is wet and frozen.
2. Diver: Repeatedly monitor the pressure to make sure that the "Bail out" air
pressure is not falling (changing).
Diving in extreme conditions
14