Method and apparatus for air transfer between scuba divers

Claim 1

In scuba diving, an underwater method of transferring air from donor to donee tank supplies wherein said donor air supply is normally connected to a donor control valve having at least an air supply port and an air transfer outlet port and said donee tank air supply is normally connected to a donee control valve having at least an air supply port, an air transfer inlet port, and an air bubble signal port, said method comprising the steps of connecting said donor and said donee air supplies to said respective control valve air supply ports so as to allow the monitoring of the contents of said tank air supplies during an underwater dive, arranging in said donee control valve for communication of the air transfer inlet port thereof to said air bubble signal port thereof preparatory to providing an air bubble signal using air exiting from said air bubble signal port, connecting opposite ends of an air transfer hose between said donor control valve air transfer outlet port and said donee control valve air transfer inlet port for establishing air flow communication therebetween, arranging in said donor control valve for communication of the air supply port thereof to said air transfer outlet port thereof to thereby cause air from said donor tank air supply to flow through the previously connected air transfer hose and exit from said donee control valve air bubble signal port to clear said air transfer hose of any water located therein, and then to provide an air bubble signal of completion of said clearing step to said divers, and disconnecting the connection of said donee control valve air transfer inlet port to said air bubble signal valve and in lieu thereof establishing communication of said donee air transfer inlet port to said donee air supply port while maintaining air flow into said transfer hose, whereby said air from said donor tank air supply previously providing said air bubble signal is instead allowed to flow into said donee air supply and thereby replenish said air supply of said tank without the entry of water into said air supply.