Interesting Turn Of Events

[hornyheadchub]

plus the fact LEadhill was not following Corp Regs about placing the tank in a water filled container while filling.

Have you reported this incident? I would hope that any seasoned diver would report such behavior to the proper authorities. Too many people die as a result of shortcuts taken in the Dive Industry to turn a blind eye to something like this.

[Divestudy]

A short story about Leadhill Dock.

I burned two tanks of air diving, I had been to 125 Dock earlier that week.

Leadhill ask if I had the tanks filled at 125 anytime, I said yea last week.

Then Leadhill refused to fill them and could not tell me why, or would not tell me why!!

I feel it was just because they wanted ALL THE AIR FILL business!!

Wiht over 450 dives I think I know who has the best air on the lake and who does not, plus the fact LEadhill was not following Corp Regs about placing the tank in a water filled container while filling.

The staff at the Lead Hill Boat Dock, now known as Sugarloaf Harbor Marina, are instructed to smell all tanks that are brought in for filling. If the air has any kind of an odor, they will not fill it. This policy is in place, because there has been a problem with air on the lake, for the past two years. The Corps has been made aware of it. They have smelled the air in question, and the air from Sugarloaf. It is strongly recommended to the customer, that they have their tanks cleaned before further use. If you were overlooked in getting an explaination as to "why" you should not be breathing questionable air, then you are a minority. They are not required to give explaination, it is done only as a courtesy.

As a diver, you should have this knowledge already, expecially one W-I-T-H over "450 dives".. This information is given to all who take an open water course. Divers breathe compressed air, the air should be dry, clean and odorless...

As far as wanting "ALL THE AIR FILL business", you couldn't be more wrong. Being in the industry myself, it is our job to train and encourage divers to dive. 'Clean', compressed air is a necessity for divers, and SHOULD be easily accessable. Otherwise, divers lose interest and look for another hobby. Not too good for the industry, right? I can promise you also, there are no profits in selling air. Compressors are expensive to run, they require annual maintainance, filters are very expensive and have to be replaced often. More often when the weather is hot and humid.

FYI: A tank should be filled at 300 PSI per minute, 600 PSI max, that is what is considered safe. In, or out of water. See Charles' Law...

"Corps regulations regarding placing a tank in water while filling??" They don't exist. I know what the Corps requirements are for marinas that provide air to divers. They require a sizeable insurance policy, they require an Instructor to be on staff, they require an Air Trace Report to be posted and visible to the public, and, they require the facility to provide clean compressed air to divers. They require the facility to check the inspections on the tanks before filling them, and they require the facility to check for C-cards before filling.

Filling a tank in a water bath really does not affect the fill more than ten percent by volume. It does not add to the safety factor. To help educate you, I have included an article posted on the following website: You should read it before commenting publicly on a subject you lack knowledge in.

http://www.fillexpress.com/library/tankfill.pdf

In closing, I would like to say this; The person in charge of air at Sugerloaf Harbor Marina, is more than a "seasoned diver". This person is in no way irresponsible and certainly does not take short cuts when it comes to diver safety, much less "turn a blind eye". This person is an Instructor who believes that divers should continue to educate themselves after they leave the classroom, and dive responsibly.

So, if your tanks were turned away, as many were this season, it was done for three reasons; One, there was something wrong with the remaining air in your tanks. Two, by filling a 'possibly' contaminated tank, they include themselves into the equasion of where the problem lies. Three, they were being "responsible" regarding your safety.

When you take your tanks to be filled, do you look for that air report, check to see if there is indeed an Instructor on staff, do you smell your air? Are you asked to present your C-card?

[wildminnow]

Wow who would have thought it? taxidermist and horny head seemed to have been proven wrong yet again. Great post divestudy

[Divestudy]

Thank you. Sometimes, you gotta let 'em vent. But, this one warranted a response. Misinformed as they both are, I answered with no ill intent.

In their haste to dive 35 to 40 feet and shoot fish, too many times they never think about the quality of the air that is put in their tanks. It's just: how fast can you fill them so I can get back out there? They act offended if you ask for their c-card, or smell the tanks when they're brought in, or check for a current Hydro/VIP on the tanks.

All of these things reflect responsibility; and that is what you get if you go to Sugarloaf Harbor Marina to get your tanks filled, period. I appreciate that.

The comment about "wanting all the air fill business" still makes me chuckle. If your looking to make money selling air, give it up, you won't.

[Phil Lilley]

wildminnow- in hornyheadchub's defense, he was asking a good question, referring to a potential dangerous situation at a marina.

taxidermist was "venting" about one experience he had a shop. All of us have had bad experiences at places- right? We've been on both ends of it- have a bad day at work and rub a customer wrong and your place is marked.. not that it's a bad place just not perfect. I can attest to this fact at my shop. I have bad days and am not the most friendly person and those I "help" walk away with a bad impression of Lilleys' Landing. Guess what I'm trying to say is that both taxidermist and divestudy have the right to defend their positions and I thank divestudy for entering into the conversation... I hope the thread continues in a constructive manner.

We may have to consider adding a new topic - diving.

[Divestudy]

Lilley, you sound like a nice person, and next time I am up your way I would like to stop in to meet you and check out your shop.

Your right, hornyheadchub was just asking a question. I hope he is in no way, offended by my post.

We get a lot of spearfishermen on Bull Shoals lake, because AGF allows them to shoot walleye, crappie, white bass and cats. I know it's aggravating to take your tanks to be filled and someone turns them away. It's even more aggravating to be told you shouldn't dive on them anymore without them being checked out and possibly cleaned first. It's time consuming and an expense. I've dealt with it all season and people either leave their tanks for cleaning, or leave with their tanks, frustrated. Depending on the attitude of the customer, usually tanks are offered to those who come in with a problem, at no charge, so they may continue their diving day.

Whatever happens to SLH Marina in the future, I will not let it be said that diver safety was jeapordized during it's existance.

Good fishing to all, and however you do it, do it safely.

[hornyheadchub]

Wow who would have thought it? taxidermist and horny head seemed to have been proven wrong yet again. Great post divestudy

Uhh yeah, exactly how/what was I "proven wrong" about? I simply asked a question.

[taxidermist]

I have had the tak Annualed at the shop on south Campbell, the name slips me at this time. I do know the price of compressor and filters and certainly agree with the answer you posted. But that's all in relation to "if" the smell bad. Since there is no bad smell to the tanks, no oil smell nothing I decided to have the tank Annualed again by a shop in Little Rock. Well Lead Hell refused to fill them again.

I know the shop in LR is up to snuff, they dive a lot and don't take short cuts, heck my ex-wife used to be one of their instructors and I have been one of the non insturctor on Gulf Spear fishing trips.

So I do have the experience and yes I have filed a complaint especially after the 2nd annual and a fill from the LR shop, and Lead hells 2nd refusal.

A few days later I pulled the net off one tank and the boot, then sent another diver over to LH and they filled the tank along with a steel tank that had no annaul, matter of fact no hydro in 11 years.

But since the freind was a regular customer of LH they filled tha steel tank and after the diver told them i was a 2200 psi tank they ran the psi up 2500 for a "Good Fill"

We have taken pics and sent them to the proper authorities.

Since the owenr group has not paid the taxes and required guess the docks will be up for sale. Its not the first time the owner group has failed to pay thier part.

[Mike Worley]

As a diver of 30years + with about 25 years on Bull Shoals. I must say this is the first time I have seen the BS laid on so thick. Nothing wrong with Hwy 125 marinas air. Looks like Hwy 125 Marina will be around long after Sugarloaf Marina is history for not paying the rent and other infractions. Probally due to the fact they have PO'ed at least the divers by selectively not filling tanks because the customer did bussiness with the "the other" Marina. Guess I know where not to do "any" bussiness intill the new owners take over.

btw: The not filling in water 10 percent loss is 300 psi on a 3000 psi air fill which means you pay for 3000 psi and only reicive 2700 psi after the tank cools, which most divers I know would call a short fill(also a good way to run off your customers)

[Phil Lilley]

Benn watching this discussion... nothing in this topic that's positive or informative to anglers. I would ask that personal grudges and complaints to handled personally and not on a public forum where names are not used.... or take it to another forum that allows this type of conversation. I'm not taking sides nor do I have any opinion or dealings with anyone involved, just ending this before it gets even more ugly.