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Making a Clean Sweep: The Regulator Retrieval Skill

By Barry & Ruth Guimbellot

Keeping your regulator in place when underwater is a top priority for divers whether novice or advanced. Most of us never expect to have our regulators pulled from our mouth. However, accidents do happen. For example, you and your buddy are swimming side by side when your buddy taps you on the right shoulder. You turn your head in response and your buddy’s hand gets tangled in the regulator hose. In an effort to withdraw their hand, they pull the regulator from your mouth. Or perhaps a diver is swimming in front of you and gets pushed close to you due to a current. In an effort to move away, he accidently kicks you in the face with his fin. Out comes the second stage with a flip of the fin. If it falls in front of you, quickly grab the second stage, place it in your mouth, clear it of water and continue the dive. If the regulator falls out of sight or gets caught on some object behind you, there are two specific ways to perform the regulator retrieval skill — the sweep and the reach methods.

Keeping your regulator in place when underwater is a top priority for divers whether novice or advanced. Most of us never expect to have our regulators pulled from our mouth. However, accidents do happen. For example, you and your buddy are swimming side by side when your buddy taps you on the right shoulder. You turn your head in response and your buddy’s hand gets tangled in the regulator hose. In an effort to withdraw their hand, they pull the regulator from your mouth. Or perhaps a diver is swimming in front of you and gets pushed close to you due to a current. In an effort to move away, he accidently kicks you in the face with his fin. Out comes the second stage with a flip of the fin. If it falls in front of you, quickly grab the second stage, place it in your mouth, clear it of water and continue the dive. If the regulator falls out of sight or gets caught on some object behind you, there are two specific ways to perform the regulator retrieval skill — the sweep and the reach methods.

The sweep method of regulator retrieval consists of several steps. Follow the sequence as listed:

Step 1: When the regulator is dislodged from your mouth, immediately begin to slowly and continuously exhale a stream of small bubbles. This will help prevent overexpansion of the lungs if you unknowingly ascend during the recovery effort.

Step 2: Regardless of your position in the water column, you will be able to use the sweep method for retrieval of the regulator. Whether vertical or horizontal, begin the sweep by leaning with the right shoulder downward, allowing the regulator hose to swing and hang away from your body.  In the horizontal position, it is helpful to have your head and torso slightly lower than your feet. This position allows the hose to swing to the side and slightly forward, making recovery easier.

Step 3: While continuing to slowly exhale and lean to the right, begin a downward sweep with the right arm, fully extending the arm behind you. During the sweep, the arm should maintain contact with the right side of your body. Close contact with the body helps prevent missing the regulator hose if it is located close to the body. With the right arm fully extended behind you, swing the arm up and out until perpendicular to your body. The hose should now be lying across your arm.

As you swing your arm in front of you, the second stage should be close to your right hand .

With either hand, place the regulator in your mouth, immediately clear the regulator of water using the blast or purge methods and begin breathing normally. Remember, when taking the first breath after clearing the regulator, do so cautiously to avoid inhaling a drop or two of water that might remain inside.

Link to article with photos:

Making A Clean Sweep: The Regulator Retrieval Skill - Dive Training Magazine.