Kicker1866
Contributor
My buddy and I came down to South Florida to do some Lobster diving. So today a solo showed up on the boat and we got “insta-buddied “ with him. No biggie. Nice enough guy. It was his first time hunting bugs and I think Capt figured we were a good option. (Both Rescue cert).
So about 30 min into the first dive, “insta-buddy” pops up in my mask slicing his head off with his hand. (Second time I’ve had this happen to me... first time freaked me out... today I was surprisingly calm) So I get my reg in his mouth and get on my Air2. I get hold of his BC at arms length and get him to make eye contact. He calms down after a few breaths and I signal to him we will ascend slowly.
Once on the surface and inflated he tells me he swears he had just checked his gas and had 1500. Onboard the captain and him talk and they assume he was just over breathing and not keeping a close eye. They set up tank #2 and his gauge reads 3100, so everyone assumes this was not an equipment issue.
I started to tell him to turn tank off and breath through reg while watching his gauge but didn’t. (Should’ve gone with my first instinct but part of me didn’t want to upstage Capt who seemed to take control topside)
So, we splash dive #2..... about 1/3 of the way thru I catch his attention and ask him how much gas he has. He glances at the gauge and his eyes get big as saucers. I’m thinking “Holy Crap... is he OOA again?” He flips the gauge around and it shows 3100.
So, clearly we have a gauge issue. I send him up the line (we were towing a float).
Moral of the story (I suppose) is to thoroughly investigate problems and not assume the cause....assumptions could lead to further problems.
So about 30 min into the first dive, “insta-buddy” pops up in my mask slicing his head off with his hand. (Second time I’ve had this happen to me... first time freaked me out... today I was surprisingly calm) So I get my reg in his mouth and get on my Air2. I get hold of his BC at arms length and get him to make eye contact. He calms down after a few breaths and I signal to him we will ascend slowly.
Once on the surface and inflated he tells me he swears he had just checked his gas and had 1500. Onboard the captain and him talk and they assume he was just over breathing and not keeping a close eye. They set up tank #2 and his gauge reads 3100, so everyone assumes this was not an equipment issue.
I started to tell him to turn tank off and breath through reg while watching his gauge but didn’t. (Should’ve gone with my first instinct but part of me didn’t want to upstage Capt who seemed to take control topside)
So, we splash dive #2..... about 1/3 of the way thru I catch his attention and ask him how much gas he has. He glances at the gauge and his eyes get big as saucers. I’m thinking “Holy Crap... is he OOA again?” He flips the gauge around and it shows 3100.
So, clearly we have a gauge issue. I send him up the line (we were towing a float).
Moral of the story (I suppose) is to thoroughly investigate problems and not assume the cause....assumptions could lead to further problems.