FFM failure

[SlugLife]

They'll have a death at some point and the lawyers will argue the deceased is worth 10s of millions...

That's my worry about Adventures with purpose. They'll have a bad accident at some point, which then results in their seemingly noble cause being shut down.

They have to be making some money form it at this point, given the number of views they get. Enough that it would be worth the investment in some additional scuba-classes for every person who does any diving. And I say that as someone who thinks the whole "you need a certification for peeing in a wetsuit" insistence by the scuba-industry is overrated.

 

[John C. Ratliff]

I just reviewed the video after having read the comments. Here’s my ”take” on this situation.

—First, the FFM was leaking from the outset. This probably had to do with trying to seal it over his cold water hood.

—Second, that was not an Controlled Emergency Swimming Ascent. It was the equivalent of a buoyant ascent, going up very quickly; it was not “controlled.” These can be done from depth without injury, and indeed the U.S. Navy taught us this type of ascent from 30 feet (used for escape from a submerged submarine). But I don’t think any agency now teaches it. Obviously, the need is to exhale upon these swift ascents.

—I trained myself on a full-face mask when I got a U.S. Divers Company FFM with an attachment for the hoses of a double hose regulator. I dove in the Siletz River to about 12 feet just to get used to it. In this case, the diver was diving first time to 60 feet (he says), and never did a “qualifying dive” (my terminology) for the new equipment. When I dove cold water with this mask to depth, I wore a second mask on my upper left arm in case I had to ditch it. There was no backup mask available to this diver.

—Note also he was taking this mask off in cold water, which will definitely lead to a shock to the system.

—When I used the USD FFM, I glued 1/4 inch foam neoprene around the skirt to further warm my face in extremely cold water. This worked well.

—I noted that this diver’s breathing rate, just picking up the crabs, was already extremely high. So there was a lot anxiety already before he doffed the FFM.

This guy did not learn the correct lessons from his experience. I hope he reads our information, takes time and really familiarizes himself with the FFM before getting it wet for a working dive again.

SeaRat

 

[Scraps]

I'm less concerned by the rate of his ascent than by the rapidity with which he chose to begin an ascent at all.

When I teach regulator skills to OW students, I emphasize that losing one's reg is not a problem they must solve within two or three seconds. It's a problem they can take ten or even twenty seconds to solve. They need to solve it reasonably promptly, but they have enough time not to be frantic if they don't find their primary right away. Understanding the time available gives students the mental discipline to go through the proper procedure without the hurrying that leads to clumsiness, which increases stress, which can make them forget their readily available octo, and lead to panic.

Similarly, when I teach mask skills to OW students, I tell them that a dislodged mask is not an emergency at all. It won't kill them. It's merely an inconvenience and an annoyance. They can take as much time as they need to solve it without being in any hurry at all.

My intention is to ingrain the mental discipline to solve underwater problems under water in a methodical manner at a pace appropriate to the urgency of the situation.

When this diver lost his FFM, he faced the equivalent of losing a reg (i.e., a problem he could take a little bit of time to solve) and having his mask dislodged (i.e., an inconvenience and an annoyance).

Properly perceived, this situation should not have led to an emergency ascent at all. From the video, it appears that he gave up on solving the problem under water and started heading for the surface within about five seconds.

I also teach students that an emergency ascent is the right answer only when they have screwed up twice: by running out of air and by not staying with the buddy who is their redundant air source. A diver with ample breathing gas and two functional regulators should never think an emergency ascent is called for.

In the video he acknowledged his lack of FFM training. However, even without that training, his OW training should have equipped him to handle the situation better.

 

[waterone]

When this diver lost his FFM, he faced the equivalent of losing a reg (i.e., a problem he could take a little bit of time to solve) and having his mask dislodged (i.e., an inconvenience and an annoyance).

He absolutely could have but having not practiced a FFM flood, then add depth...he obviously freaked. It can be quite unnerving to have it flood when you don't know what to do. To the untrained it is not remotely the same as simply losing a mask, a reg (or both) or a reg that stops working.

You have to be ready and well versed to remove the FFM and switch to your other reg and then put on your standard mask. I keep spare mask in a thigh pocket. As John said above, he most likely didn't even have a spare mask and probably never gave a thought about what if..

From the video, it appears that he gave up on solving the problem under water and started heading for the surface within about five seconds.

From my clock it was around 10, but that was from flood on. He was already panicked and done when he tried sipping from the free flow.

 

[Searcaigh]

However, even without that training, his OW training should have equipped him to handle the situation better.

We are assuming that he has had some formal OW training

 

[Scraps]

He absolutely could have but having not practiced a FFM flood, then add depth...he obviously freaked. It can be quite unnerving to have it flood when you don't know what to do.

Well, yeah. Everything about scuba can unnerve someone and lead to freaking out.

We all understand how it happens. My point was that skills and attitudes he should have learned in his OW class could have prevented it, even without FFM training.

With or without specific training, if you just strap on a new piece of gear and jump in the water without doing any homework or thinking, pretty much any unplanned event can freak you out. Doing so without understanding the skills taught in OW almost guarantees it.

 

[waterone]

Well, yeah. Everything about scuba can unnerve someone and lead to freaking out.

True, there is someone for which everything under the sun might freak them out. Just as well as others that do not attain/retain the skills or have consideration when they should, OW trained or not.

We all understand how it happens. My point was that skills and attitudes he should have learned in his OW class could have prevented it, even without FFM training.

Unfortunately, a VERY large number do not have the skills/attitude or mindset. In my travels I have seen tons of OW divers that should have never passed but they are out there swimming around until they are helped or figure things out. This guy has seemed to have had that classic attitude, well it's just a new mask, can I try it?.

 

[Cthippo]

This is how the diver in the video described it:

What went wrong? My regulator popped out of the mask causing my mask to fill with water due to it not being properly clipped in. I then decided to take off the mask and breathe directly off of the regulator. In doing so I got a face full of bubbles causing me to be even more disoriented. I then reach for my back up, which is not in it’s normal spot and was hindered by being clipped down. With no air and needing to breathe I went up. Why not use your buddy? I had just signaled to him to look around and check out the area. I had no visual and thought that he was looking around and would not be able to help in time. I also forgot to have a back up mask in my pocket which is a mandatory thing! Had I taken a class prior to this I would of known how to avoid theses situations all together, and how to deal with them in the event that something goes sideways. Ego? After twelve years of dive experience on a traditional mask and regulator set up I thought that having a conversation with another untrained diver on how to use them mixed with my experience would be enough… Well as you see her I was very wrong! This was definitely a wake up call for me and has caused me to self evaluate not only diving practices but also other aspects of my life. I am grateful to still be here. And when it comes to diving I have re-dedicated myself to training and safe dive practices. Moral of the story… You don’t know what you don’t know and make sure you take a proper class instead of just having a conversation with another untrained bozo like yourself. Stay safe Sam

 

[John C. Ratliff]

Cthippo, I have a couple of questions about the OTS Full Face Mask you were using. It appears that you kept the regulator off the mask as you were walking into the water. You then put the regulator into the mask, and used it for a while. I have two photos from screen shots of you video.

The first shows you using the OTS FFM, without problems. The second shows the mask being taken off and your attempt to use the regulator without the mask. I also found this website with an OTS FFM, which states about the mask:

Description​

• Designed to meet the demanding needs of today’s Commercial/Professional Diver, it leverages the best features found on other FFMs with unique features designed by OTS
• Removable 2nd stage for easy cleaning and storage (can’t be used w/o mask)
• The Guardian FFM comes in the following color combinations (skirt/hardware): black/black, black/blue, black/red, black/pink, blue/black, and yellow/black
• Air flow is directed up over the visor to eliminate fogging and through one-way valves in the oral nasal pocket to reduce CO2 retention

I have highlighted one section, about the removable second stage, that it "can't be used w/o mask." So my question is why you would try to use it without the mask?

Also, I'm curious as to whether the regulator could have been re-attached to the mask underwater? I'm not familiar with this FFM, and so the question. I know the mask was flooding, but it seems possible that the regulator could have been reattached to the mask, and then used to purge the mask itself. Is this out of the realm of possibility?

John

 

[Jcp2]

I don’t think those are the OPs comments, but a quote from the author posting the video, who is a different person. I looked at the regulator schematic for the FFM and there is no exhaust port, just an inhalation port. I suppose one could breathe in through the regulator and then exhale through the nose if pressed to use the regulator without the FFM.