Comments on: Episode 132: Dumpster Diving

By: Seemab

Seemab — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 10:28:04 +0000

I think they are referring to before the valve was installed, because I’ve asked my scuba instructor and he says that it used to be possible before safety precautions were installed. I guess the valve was the safety precaution.

By: Lance

Lance — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 01:33:11 +0000

Not an expert here, but while the air was being pumped into the suit, it balanced the pressure squeezing on the soft canvas-based?? suit.

With the non-return valve disabled (this was mentioned) – when the air pressure from the surface was stopped and “dumped”, the external – VERY HIGH water pressure could squeeze the softer suit material and even the soft parts of the human inside the suit – in a manner similar to squeezing a toothpaste tube.

The only place for the soft body parts to go would be into the rigid helmet. (Note – even the “rigid” helmet could not fully withstand the DIFFERENCE in pressure – it buckled too!)

I will admit I am NOT familiar with free diving in an ordinary wetsuit – SORRY.

By: gillotte

gillotte — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 17:29:50 +0000

hmm i dont really see why meatman did that as the world record for free diving in just a wetsuit is 109 meters or around 327 feet. anyone explain why meatman went into the helmet while this guy in just a wetsuit is fine? possibly cause the test didnt take into account the air in the divers body?

By: westcoast2

westcoast2 — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 05:42:45 +0000

dumpster diving.

On July 1st, 4 teenagers went on the roof of a 7 storey building. 2 of them leaned against a piece of plywood covering an old elevator shaft. They fell the 7 storeys onto a pile of recycling and lived. One person broke a leg and the other received cuts and bruises. So Jamie and Adam………very plausible. This occurred in Vancouver BC.

By: Mr Know it All

Mr Know it All — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 11:53:54 +0000

There is a technical fault with the phrasing/s of the diving helmet issue.

IF the hose was cut near the helmet, the pressure between the inside and the outside of the suit would be similar. IF the compressor stopped and there was some fault with it’s valving – meaning it leaks backwards, AND OR the hose was cut near the surface on the deep dive; it’s then and only then that the “air running up a straw” effect would occur.

The pressure differential has to be created.

Great episode.

By: Laser

Laser — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:27:01 +0000

And around here, episode titles are sometimes puns.

By: JR

JR — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 03:48:30 +0000

I think someone pulled a fast one on you guys!around here, dumpster diving MEANS, digging through a trash dumpster to find whatever goodys or food you can find!!!!!!

By: Leslie

Leslie — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 04:08:15 +0000

Any ideas of how I could do an even smaller scale test than they did? I’m trying to come up with a Mythbusters birthday party demonstration.

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 08:07:06 +0000

In the episode, they acknowledged the existence of the non-return valve and mentioned that it would be immediately busted if it was working. But a historian on diving said that often divers would neglect the upkeep of their suit and this valve would malfunction. So the Mythbusters just assumed a malfunctioning non-return valve and disabled it.

By: Richard Booth

Richard Booth — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 05:21:19 +0000

Loved the concept of the body in the helmet, but as a former MK V diver, I am here to tell you WRONG. Shortly after the inception of the MK V they soon realized that problem and eliminated it by placing a non-return valve in line with the air supply just at the helmet so accidentally severing the air supply would NOT cause the body to migrate to the helmet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!A response would be greatly appreciated.