Gold Diving Accessories & some Necessary Precautions

An important accessory hose item a diver needs is a short length of hose for routing the air output from the compressor to the input of the reserve tank. The type of hose that you will require of depends on the compressor you are using. There are diaphragm models that work in the 30 to 50 p.s.i. range and these use a simple hose connector that is made of hookah air hose.

The high pressure and high volume piston compressors that is able to deliver a pressure of 100 p.s.i. have to have a connector that is made out of a type of steam hose since these models let out air at higher temperatures.

If you are going to be setting up a Hookah air system you almost always need a good amount of metal fittings. If you are going to be using it around water, you should get the stainless steel ones or brass fitting ones and especially if you are going to be diving in salt water. If the fitting is made out of ferrous metal it will simply corrode or rust when it is used in or near an environment with water.

If the Hookah compressor is worked by a gasoline engine, try to make sure the engine exhaust is always positioned downwards from the compressor (this is because it has carbon monoxide gas which can be fatal). This will avoid it from being accidentally pulled into the air inlet of the compressor.

Make sure to never use gasoline powered compressor in a closed area such as in a close, narrow grottos etc. This will not allow the exhaust to dissipate correctly. Make sure also to be very careful when you are diving in areas where the air is exceptionally still because this will cause the exhaust gases to remain in the immediate area of the engine and compressor unit. Be very careful about placing a long extension on the compressor exhaust system to prevent the possibility of contamination of Carbon Monoxide Gas. Breathing in this gas can cause headaches and can make you sick. If you breathe it in large amounts it can kill you so make sure to be very careful about this.

Whenever you are going to be using Hookah equipment around salt water, make sure you rinse off the components with fresh water after having used them. Everything should get rinsed off such as the diving mask, regulator, harness, metal fittings, and air hose. Areas that have salt water can ruin and corrode aluminum parts very quickly so make sure you rinse them out well. You should also keep all the metal parts freshly painted and clean.

Whenever using a compressor that is gasoline powered in areas with choppy water, make sure you do not try to refill the engine’s gas tank while the engine is still on because this could cause the gasoline to spill onto the hot engine and this could cause a fire or explosion. The diver should make sure to come out and turn off the engine before refilling the engine with gas. Make sure to always use a funnel when you are refilling the gas tank so that it does not spill.

It is very important to be aware of how the basic essentials of engines and compressor maintenance work and should be well aware of how to keep all the equipment in the best condition as possible. If you are responsible with keeping your equipment in good condition, it will last you lots of years with no trouble.

It is additionally very convenient to know how to upkeep your own equipment because if you do run into any mechanical problems on your trip, you will be able to fix it yourself and not spoil your outing. You should also make sure to carry some extra parts for the air compressor and the tools you will be needing in case something breaks down.

Important Tip:
Never dive alone! You should always, always have a partner with you and each of you should have your own harness, regulator and air hose. All of the equipment that is taken should be attached to the air system all the time. Remember that if some problems were to occur while one of you is under the water, the other partner could immediately dive in to aid you.

It is not obligatory to take courses on how to use Hookah equipment but it is highly recommended to take a certified SCUBA course. You can take a certified SCUBA course at a local SCUBA shop. Make sure to also study up on all the information you will need about underwater diving and study them very thoroughly.