Fact or bullship

[ChuckyBob]

I was in dive shop today looking for a part for a regulator.
The owner saw in my bag of tricks that I had a service kit and enquired when I had got it from then proceeded to tell me that it was illegal for a shop to sell service kits.
He said it was because regulators are considered life support equipment and as such was covered under some law. He likened it to buying O2 ( which in fact is a whole different kettle of fish). I likened it to buying brake pads from repco.

So my question is... Is there any such law and if so where is it written?

[NEMES1S]

I was in dive shop today looking for a part for a regulator.
The owner saw in my bag of tricks that I had a service kit and enquired when I had got it from then proceeded to tell me that it was illegal for a shop to sell service kits.
He said it was because regulators are considered life support equipment and as such was covered under some law. He likened it to buying O2 ( which in fact is a whole different kettle of fish). I likened it to buying brake pads from repco.

So my question is... Is there any such law and if so where is it written?

I think for #1 you will find on most Regulator boxes when you buy them they state in clear letters quite the opposite "These are not life support devices" and on BCDs that they are not "Life preservers"

So I would hazard a guess at it being bullshyte...

[ChuckyBob]

Actualy he may not have used the term life support equipment but life sustaining or something. I think the intent was the same though

[binklebonk]

Now I have somewhat incautiously waded in on this sort of discussion many times and put various noses out of joint.. So why stop now?

No it is not illegal. In some situations it may well be ill advised but that's not the same thing.

I believe that some shops may be motivated by a genuine concern that people, ill suited to the requirements of servicing, may injure themselves or others. Your analogy of brake self service is suitable. The risk exposure that incompetent brake servicing causes is much much greater. I can own a 40 tonne truck and legally service my own brakes.

I'll fetch some popcorn and a beer (it's midday so beer is ok now)..

[ChuckyBob]

He did state that if I serviced my own regs with parts supplied by him and died then he could be held liable and charged with man slaughter.
Which begs the question could my instructor also be charged since he should have taught me how to do a CESA?

[ChuckyBob]

I'll fetch some popcorn and a beer (it's midday so beer is ok now)..

What about Scotch? Its Friday so that should be OK too aye.

[NEMES1S]

Which begs the question could my instructor also be charged since he should have taught me how to do a CESA?

Ha ha ha ha...

[dirchas]

He did state that if I serviced my own regs with parts supplied by him and died then he could be held liable and charged with man slaughter.
Which begs the question could my instructor also be charged since he should have taught me how to do a CESA?

So if you bought regs, a bcd, and other gear on various occasions from him then went out diving and failed to assemble them correctly and died would he be liable for that as well?

God I love Fridays !

[gingerninja]

I was in dive shop today looking for a part for a regulator.
The owner saw in my bag of tricks that I had a service kit and enquired when I had got it from then proceeded to tell me that it was illegal for a shop to sell service kits.

I'd like to see his reaction when you show him your home made rebreather!

[Paul]

I'd like to see his reaction when you show him your home made rebreather!

LOL That would be a good one.

[Jason]

Arrggh - No Beer in the fridge! (and another weekend of Cyclone residual conditions ) Only baby bottles

[binklebonk]

Arrggh - No Beer in the fridge! (and another weekend of Cyclone residual conditions ) Only baby bottles

Baby bottles, now that you mention them, actually work very well with beer. Very difficult to spill, holds more liquid and looks considerably more sophisticated than a tommy tippee.

[Jason]

Baby bottles, now that you mention them, actually work very well with beer. Very difficult to spill, holds more liquid and looks considerably more sophisticated than a tommy tippee.

Very tempting ...now that I found out a few hours ago that my Uncle n'law has his home-brew chilled and on tap.

I was in dive shop today looking for a part for a regulator.
The owner saw in my bag of tricks that I had a service kit and enquired when I had got it from then proceeded to tell me that it was illegal for a shop to sell service kits.
He said it was because regulators are considered life support equipment and as such was covered under some law. He likened it to buying O2 ( which in fact is a whole different kettle of fish). I likened it to buying brake pads from repco.

So my question is... Is there any such law and if so where is it written?

No such law, but I'm sure they are working under-the-table (because its a lot safer ) with OH&S to make it law like many Companies do ...keeps the consumerism ticking over. Over here, a guy called Chriso (much like Dive Dr) was gonna teach me and a few others to service our own Regs (for a fee $260 I think? ) but nothing eventuated. I remember a USA Dive magazine (Diver Training) expressed much Diving equipment as 'Life Support' but personally I tend to dissagree with this.
I would tend to think that the more people knew how to service their own equipment, the higher the (deco) bar is raised in general competancy in the Diving community. Maybe LDS's still fear of people becoming 'self-reliant' and not being reliant upon LDS's ( ironically) like a buddy system:?:

[bubbles_no_troubles]

Definately not illegal but probably not advisable as stated by others. Personally, I feel that there are some dive stores out there that charge EXORBITANT fees for services (I had 2 regs done a year ago - $600!!!!) and if they pushed the prices down, more divers would get gear serviced and wouldn't want to do it themselves.

Interestingly, I had a discussion with the dive manager at Hideaway Island in Vanuatu. He also owns a dive facility in Melbourne. The statement about if you service your own gear, then die that the instructor/dive shop owner would be liable is not currently fact in NZ. However, in Australia, he would be liable simply for selling the service kit to you. Their laws are geared completely away from personal responsiblity of the diver and putting all liability onto stores/instructors. There may be a move towards this here at some point.

[ChuckyBob]

. Their laws are geared completely away from personal responsiblity of the diver and putting all liability onto stores/instructors. There may be a move towards this here at some point.

Thats going to be hard for them to do with those of us divers who have very little to do with dive shops.