Diving myths taught for safety?

[kaerius]

While I think the mask on head thing has some validity...I once exited, hauled my butt 50 yards across the beach to the parking area, and flopped on a bench to catch my breath...with my MOH. Someone passing by pointed it out and asked if I was in trouble......sigh.

MOH? Never seen that acronym before(at least not in this context, none of the ones I've seen fit), and can't find it listed... specific brand of reg/second stage?

 

[eponym]

MOH? Never seen that acronym before(at least not in this context, none of the ones I've seen fit), and can't find it listed... specific brand of reg/second stage?

Good catch. Mask on Head is pretty much standard practice around here, too.

But since Bilsant was talking about being in the parking lot it's possible he had a Motor Over-Heating. :blinking:

 

[maniago]

In rescue class this past week, we would turn our masks around on our head (so the glass is facing backward). Clearly a non distress signal, and that way you could do mouth to mouth without it choking you around your neck. Caveat- we couldn't drop anything because the viz was zero - drop it and its gone forever - even in 10' of water. I actually found the damn thing was more comfortable on backwards than front-wards!

 

[eponym]

In rescue class this past week, we would turn our masks around on our head (so the glass is facing backward). Clearly a non distress signal, and that way you could do mouth to mouth without it choking you around your neck. Caveat- we couldn't drop anything because the viz was zero - drop it and its gone forever - even in 10' of water. I actually found the damn thing was more comfortable on backwards than front-wards!

Yes, it's a comfortable and fairly safe setting. If you have to jump in with no warning it serves well. I took this photo of a surface safety diver at one of our affairs some years back.

 

[DevonDiver]

How does one find their limit without hitting it? However, I am not going to do anything I know will kill me.

It's a case of not knowing what you don't know. When that situation applies, it is wise to accept the recommendations of those who do know.

 

[Bob DBF]

Many things which are presented as unsafe to open water divers SHOULD be: Holding your breath, entering overhead environments, going into deco, solo diving. That doesn't mean that those things cannot be done with acceptable risk mitigation. It means an open water diver does not have the skills or knowledge to do so.

[Rant] I spent 29 years as an Open Water Diver, 16 before that diving uncertified, and was doing "technical" (solo, deco, overhead) dives before they were considered anything other than advanced dives. It bothers me that being an Open Water Diver is now a slur and equated with minimal knowledge by the same folks that will have you believe that SCUBA training is as good as it was 20 or more years ago. [\rant]

When the crap hits the fan, I would take my buddy, OW 40+ years, over most any DM I've ever run across.


Bob
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I may be old, but I'm not dead yet.

 

[AfterDark]

Bob, apparentlly divers like us are the exception not the rule these days. When I read stuff like TSand M posted I can only conclude most people wasted their money on OW classes, if after they pass they can't even operate their BCD correctly to control their bouyancy. To me that's like passing drivers ED and not being able to operate the steering wheel!

 

[NAM001]

Unfortunately there are many out there who are like that. Still dont remenmber which way the hole in the tank valve points. To some degree all new divers have some degree of lacking in ability that only time and experience can bring then up to speed where they can be comfortable enough the push their training limits.

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Bob, apparentlly divers like us are the exception not the rule these days. When I read stuff like TSand M posted I can only conclude most people wasted their money on OW classes, if after they pass they can't even operate their BCD correctly to control their bouyancy. To me that's like passing drivers ED and not being able to operate the steering wheel!

 

[DevonDiver]

Gotta commiserate with Bob... but sadly the OW qualification suffered from inflation. It just ain't worth what it used to be worth....

 

[supergaijin]

The reason I (amongst others) discourage too much discussion on issues such as 'glottis control' originates for this very reason. People read it and think 'well, darn... it IS okay to hold my breath'. Those people might then do something dumb enough to kill them.

DD is quite right- attempting to explain the intricacies of various 'rule-breaking' is opening the door to a whole lot of hurt for some people. We teach KISS principles for a very simple reason.

Kinda like a kung fu flick where you're not supposed to learn the '7th chakra death grip' until you have sufficient control to never need it in the first place.