Tank valve froze open at 60 feet off Newfoundland coast last month

I was doing a hull inspection on a supply vessel near St. John's when my main air supply valve jammed open and started free-flowing. Had to manually override the backup regulator while swimming against a 2-knot current to reach the emergency ladder. Would you have fought the current or tried to surface slowly with a runaway bottle?

2 comments

2 Comments

thomas.parker6d ago

Nailed it until I hit the ladder and smacked my head on the hull. Guess I looked real professional.

sage_ramirez426d ago

Dude I feel your pain. Had a similar thing happen last summer when I was helping my buddy replace his outdrive bellows. Got the whole job done, felt like a champ, then went to step off the transom and caught my foot on the cooler strap. Went straight into the water, phone in my pocket, everything. So yeah, you're not alone in the "looked cool then immediately ate it" club. The boat doesn't care about your pride, it just wants to remind you who's boss.