November 2011    Download the Entire Issue (PDF)

Vol. 26, No. 11   What's this?

Nobody Wants a Bursting Scuba Hose

questions arise about Miflex’s high-pressure hoses

from the November, 2011 issue of Undercurrent  

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Miflex, based in the U.K., produces double-braided polyester-high pressure hoses, claiming they are more flexible, durable, stronger and, very important to traveling divers these days, weigh less than other high pressure hoses, shaving ounces off packed dive gear. But there now is a question about how safe its hoses are.

We got our first comments about Miflex's high-pressure (HP) hoses from reader Mike Cavanaugh (Bellaire, TX), who had two of them break within 24 hours during a dive trip to Sipadan-Mabul Resort. "While checking subsequent tanks with my personal regulator after dinner, a Miflex HP hose broke at the gauge console. The resort manager arranged a golf cart to carry us to the dive shop, which promptly changed the hose out. But then another Miflex HP hose also bust at the console the following day on the boat. These Miflex hosess are only two years old, and I am quite anal about taking care of my gear, so the hoses were not abused. I have quit using Miflex for HP hoses."...