In the PADI open water course we practice free flow regulator breathing. If this happens in the real world, can’t we simply change to our second stage regulator and start an assent?

I think it is more a case of showing you what it's like when it happens and what you can do when it is happening so that you don't panic and can breath fine while you organise yourself/ buddy..

I agree that it’s comforting to know that we can breathe just the same if we get a free flow. But would it not be better just to switch to the second stage especially since everyone has one.

Is it possible that technically the second stage does not work when the first stage has a free flow?

I think it has to do with the free flow draining the cylinder a lot quicker! It would be a waste of air not to breath off of it. Even if you switch to the octopus it will still carry on free flowing!

I think if I have a free flow I would want to head for the surface anyways. So maybe I would switch to the octopus so I can breathe better and therefore have more control on my situation and then head to the surface, unless I was already low on air.

Thanks for the input.

By the way tropical shark, what are you referring to in your profile when you say “Sea survival”

Komodo wrote:


It was a course i had to carry out as a prerequisite before i could do the professional diver course. It was teaching how to survive at sea if the vessel you are on sinks.

Komodo wrote:


Yes it is possible, however unlikely. The most common cause of freeflow in England is due to regulators "sticking" i.e. freezing open. The unused one should be okay, but I'm sure someone out there has had a double-failure, even though it is incredibly unlikely.

As tropical said, you would be wasting air using the octopus, not to mention the air wouldn't be coming out as quickly because it's being drained by your primary.

You want to be comfortable breathing from a free-flow in any case, you can take some air and chill out while you decide what to do

That Sea survival course seems really cool. I think I’m going to look into it myself.

I suppose the technique taught in the course is the best. I will take both your advice.

Komodo wrote:


I'm not sure its worth the money! Its common sense really, and if you spend anytime on a liveabroad i would imagine its the "this is what to do if we sink".

tropical_shark wrote:


Grab a BCD, snorkel, fins and torch?

if you have a free flow you would have only seconds before your tank empties even if full. they are teaching you basically to stay calm alert your buddy share air return to surface dont forget you will become verry light verry quick

frosty wrote:

That'll depend on depth and regulator type. When teaching we freeflow a reg for 30 seconds, at 6m that is about 30 bar from a 12L with a high performance reg. Do the same at 30m and it'll take 100 bar.

If a low pressure hose blows you won't have much time at all at any depth, 2nd stage high pressure output have restricted flows and will take much longer to empty if you break a hose. Remember you have more low pressure hoses than HP, they do break and unless you check them regularly, they are only checked when your regs are serviced.