My drysuit inflator valve froze solid on a job in Maine last Tuesday

I was about 40 feet down doing a hull inspection on a fishing boat in Portland harbor, and suddenly my drysuit wouldn't hold air. The inflator valve just seized up completely, ice must've gotten into the mechanism overnight. I had to abort the dive, surface slow, and swim back to the boat with my suit half crushed. Luckily I carry a backup manual inflator hose in my bag now, but has anyone else had this happen with older suits in cold water?

2 comments

2 Comments

julia921mo ago

Wow, I used to think backup hoses were overkill but not anymore.

jamieperez1mo ago

Did you name your hose yet?