Posted by tleemay on April 09, 2001 at 14:09:32:
In Reply to: Donations posted by Eins on April 09, 2001 at 13:50:56:
The device you describe is what it commonly
called a 'scumball', the device I reference
in my previous post.
Go beach diving, and then check out the inside
of the 'scumball' afterwards - it will almost
assuradly have sand in it. Once trapped inside
the 'scumball', the sand cannot easily filter
out, nor water exchange flushing the reg mouth-
piece. Sand and other junk can come in contact
with the mushroom valve and it's inner workings.
Most of these contaminants can come through the
reg's exhaust itself, pass through the mouthpiece
and enter the scumball in that fashion.
It's more than just keeping the *octo* where
you would expect it. Most hunters are always
rolling around the bottom wrestling that bug
or un-spearing that fish to put into the bag
or onto the hook. Photo/Videoogs are too busy
adjusting their camera's settings or adjusting
strobes to get that right look-up angle at their
subjects. All that movement and contorting on the
sand or rocks can cause anything to come loose
unless it's properly clipped off. Having the
backup under your chin keeps it out of the gunk
in the first place, unless that's where you like
to have your face - and if that's the case, there's
more wrong to your diving style than where you
like to keep your back-up.