tropicaltrader
Registered
I received my basic training in 1974. Our class had two instructors, both former Navy salvage divers.
Of course they peppered the class work with tales of derring do and we ate it up.
In pool sessions they stressed practicing skills with eyes closed since visibility might not be perfect every dive. Interestingly, this is a
great tool for getting stress under control. Most uncontrolled issues lead to hyperventilating so relax and close your eyes. Focus on the breathing first, everything will follow.
But it was in the classroom where my story begins.
Picture this; just married, out on the river with my beautiful wife and family water skiing. It was a jet boat so of course it sucked up a bunch of river grass that needed cleaning out.
Macho man jumps in the water and starts pulling grass from the intake. Time for a breath but it was too far to the surface with my hand still in the intake. No problem, just remove hand right?
That is when I discovered my shiny new wedding band was hung up on the intake grill.
My nose was under by three or four inches. I could see my wife sitting on the transom. I knew I was going to drown so of course I panicked.
I began jerking my arm violently but couldn't free my hand.
I took a final look at my wife of several weeks. This was it, I wasn't going to make it.
Then something I heard in class from the instructors entered my mind. "If your hand ever gets caught, push it back in, rotate it and try again."
To this day I know that that simple comment saved my life. So in my mind the prior experiences of your instructor can save your life...if you pay attention and listen in class.
To quote the world's oldest diver, "Diving is not dangerous, it's hazardous."
So do your part...listen up, train up, know when to abort, don't become a statistic.
Of course they peppered the class work with tales of derring do and we ate it up.
In pool sessions they stressed practicing skills with eyes closed since visibility might not be perfect every dive. Interestingly, this is a
great tool for getting stress under control. Most uncontrolled issues lead to hyperventilating so relax and close your eyes. Focus on the breathing first, everything will follow.
But it was in the classroom where my story begins.
Picture this; just married, out on the river with my beautiful wife and family water skiing. It was a jet boat so of course it sucked up a bunch of river grass that needed cleaning out.
Macho man jumps in the water and starts pulling grass from the intake. Time for a breath but it was too far to the surface with my hand still in the intake. No problem, just remove hand right?
That is when I discovered my shiny new wedding band was hung up on the intake grill.
My nose was under by three or four inches. I could see my wife sitting on the transom. I knew I was going to drown so of course I panicked.
I began jerking my arm violently but couldn't free my hand.
I took a final look at my wife of several weeks. This was it, I wasn't going to make it.
Then something I heard in class from the instructors entered my mind. "If your hand ever gets caught, push it back in, rotate it and try again."
To this day I know that that simple comment saved my life. So in my mind the prior experiences of your instructor can save your life...if you pay attention and listen in class.
To quote the world's oldest diver, "Diving is not dangerous, it's hazardous."
So do your part...listen up, train up, know when to abort, don't become a statistic.