Noob returning to Diving after DCS

[navi_jen]

Hi...

I am a noob diver that dove too aggressively on air during my 3rd weeklong dive vacation (on rental equipment) and got bent. 4 dives a day with reverse profiles and too much bottom time. I don't think we went into deco, but honestly, it's been 3 years, so I could very possibly be wrong. Luckily, I was in Grand Cayman and was in the chamber within 90 minutes of my symptoms first presenting (balance issues..felt like I was slightly drunk). One go-round and I was cleared to go home. I had a long discussion with the manager of the dive shop (one of GCs most highly respected ops) on what I should have done differently. Understand it was 100% my responsibility, but with noobs, we think DMs are looking out for us...and helping us make sure we are planning correctly. So I just wanted to share this perspective with them.

Minor balance issues remained for a month or so, but they have completely disappeared. Both my GC and local Dive Doc (now retired) both said the same...get tested for PFO, and if that is okay, you can return to diving....BUT with a big caveat...be less aggressive.

I'd like to return to diving (PFO pending within the month), but would like some feedback on how to 're-introduce' myself to diving.

I already want to do the following:
1. Make sure I'm in good physical shape, including all bloodwork (I'm 40s, healthy, no medications)
2. Buy primary and backup computer (and a conservative one like Suunuto). Find my dive table or get another one!
3. Buy BCS, reg, backup air...and get really comfortable with my own gear
4. Get Nitrox Certified
5. Dive Nitrox on air profile
6. Do PADI refresher course
7. Take first vacation somewhere where there is a Deco chamber within an hour or so (I thinking GC, just because I know I'm in good medical hands there)
8. This is the hardest one...what should my dive schedule be? (1 dive only a day? 2 dives one day, next day off?). I know what the tables tell me I can do....I'm just wondering what is prudent.
9. Can I start out slowly, make sure there is no response, then increase my dives to normal recreational schedule? If so, should this be for each subsequent trip (I am a pretty fish diver and generally only dive on vacation to warm weather destinations).
10. Finally, how do you plan your week, if you are diving with an operator and you don't know what dive sites you are going to? Do you just plan as you go (i.e. after the dive briefing and by looking at your computer?) Is there where dive tables come in handy so you can 'plan' your upcoming dive?).

If anyone has firsthand experience with this, I would particularly appreciate hearing from you. Trust me, I know I screwed up. That's why I am trying to really think ahead here. Any constructive feedback is greatly, greatly appreciated...cause I never want this to happening (well, doing everything within my power to prevent it from happening) again!

Thanks...

 

[raftingtigger]

Not an expert on this, but it looks like you are thinking this through. Talk to DAN, get DAN insurance, and also ask Dr. Deco here on SB.

 

[Dhboner]

The main thing is to take personal responsibility for planning and executing your dives. Even if you are on vacation, run the day's itinerary through your tables (as you were taught) and then stick to the plan. If you are using a computer, check it frequently to keep an eye on your NDL's but don't rely on it...you planned the dive so stick to the plan!

You have a good notion of what you did wrong the last time so the lesson is pretty simple...plan you dives and dive your plan!

Good luck and welcome back.

 

[InTheDrink]

I had a bit of an incident 18 months back and it took me a while (and lots of tests and great deal of deliberating) to get back in the water.

My personal, subjective, advice would be to start small. Given that you are pretty new I'd suggest a lot of pool time first. Just get in the water get comfortable, sort your buoyancy, the start adding tasks/stress slowly and gently.

This will make you more relaxed.

The when you get in the real water take it very easy, start shallow and work up. Make sure you have a buddy that will watch you closely and go with your feelings (e.g. wanting to ascend a bit for no good reason).

Your confidence will come back but take it slowly or you risk ruining it. Getting checked out for a PFO also seems like a very good idea.

I get a bit scared pretty much every time I go back on a first dive (as for the moment I'm only doing tropical liveabords rather than my local diving). I think that anxiety in itself can be risky. So I start really small and work up (and after a few days I feel amazing and confident again).

Specifically with regard to DCS I can't really give you any advice. But as for getting back into diving I know how scary this can be but if you take it slow it will all be fine.

Best of luck! Let us know how it goes!

 

[meagicano]

I agree with raftingtiger. I returned to diving this summer after a long break due to medical issues and I was incredibly cautious. Go with your gut and if you miss a dive then so be it. There will always be another.

 

[redacted]

What does your doctor advise?

 

[InTheDrink]

What does your doctor advise?

The OP said "Both my GC and local Dive Doc (now retired) both said the same...get tested for PFO, and if that is okay, you can return to diving....BUT with a big caveat...be less aggressive."

 

[redacted]

The OP said "Both my GC and local Dive Doc (now retired) both said the same...get tested for PFO, and if that is okay, you can return to diving....BUT with a big caveat...be less aggressive."

I would have expected the dive docs recommendations to be more specific. I suggest the OP find a new dive doc and seek more specific instructions on how to proceed.

 

[GrimSleeper]

Having returned to diving after a reasonably serious bend, I'd agree with those above who've said start small while you get your confidence back, and accept that you'll be a little scared - and probably over-analytical about every single physical sensation - for a good while.

You've already acknowledged the most important thing, which is that you need to take responsibility for your own dive planning and dive conservatively. Diving nitrox on air profiles will help - I do all my no-deco diving on 30% to air profiles, unless it's absolutely unavoidable. I'd also limit the number of ascents (and therefore the number of dives) you do in a day - four dives is a lot. When I was working in the Philippines I'd often do five dives a day, but I generally don't like to do more than two dives a day now, unless there's a really long SI before a third dive, and you couldn't pay me to do four. I also try to get a dry day at least once every four or five days, but I own a dive shop and dive all the time - if I was just doing a week's holiday diving every now and then I'd probably happily do six or seven days on the trot, as long as I wasn't doing a lot of dives every day and could dive nitrox.

Some of your suggestions, while not unreasonable, are probably overkill. For no-stop sport diving, one computer and a set of tables is enough, although I can't think of a set of tables that will mesh especially well with Suunto computers. And, as you acknowledge, it wasn't rental equipment that bent you - going overboard and buying everything in the shop isn't going to resolve the underlying problem, which is that you were doing essentially unplanned dives and assuming that the presence of a DM would make it ok. I've lost count of the number of times a customer has insisted they were diving the same profile as me when they were actually five to ten metres deeper and ignoring my efforts to get them shallower.

I'd hope a dive operator who offered guided dives was planning the day so that you came out of it with reasonably safe profiles, so the key really is to either plan with tables and monitor your depth and time properly, or get a computer and use it properly - use a table to give yourself an advance idea of what's possible, keep an eye on NDLs, don't push your bottom times to the limits, avoid sawtooth profiles. Take it easy, err on the side of caution, don't be afraid to miss a dive because you just don't feel like it, and the chances are you'll be fine.

 

[navi_jen]

I think the GC doc gave me some specifics, but I don't think I wrote them down. I just googled again, and found a Dive Doc (ENT doc, board certified in Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine by the American Board of Preventitive Medicine) at Mass General, I think I will go see her

I was thinking about getting my own gear, just so it's one less thing to worry about on a regular basis (especially after reading the accidents section of this board...there is so much more that could go wrong than a noobie even would dream about!!). My challenge is going to be excitement and the fact that I've been a competitive swimmer all my life...Even now, I can spend 8 hours underwater in a day and feel perfectly comfortable. The only 2 dives per day, I think, is going to be toughest part...I love them fish and like to be active. Guess I'm going to have to seek out destinations that also have good snorkeling. I think I also need a 'it's the DCS, stupid' tatoo right next to my computer .

I'm a big planner, so even if I could run some simulations before the trip and daily, I would help keep my excitement in check in the moment. Is there a software (or excel) version of the tables? That would also help me have a conversation with the dive operator before the week even begins.

Thanks for the specific recommendations. It really does help!