Equipment If you can't drop your weights and you are sinking

[clownfishsydney]

If I found an unconcious diver on a recreational dive. I would not mess around with trying to find a weightbelt or weight pockets. I would simply grab them and inflate their BC, and hang on tightly. I am pretty sure I could modulate the amount of air in the victim's bc (as well as my own) on the ascent.

Unfortunately, that is sometimes not going to work. For example, where the diver is so overweighted, their BCD is not capable of lifting them and you are at your limits. Much easier to drop a pocket or weightbelt. This was a contributing factor to one of the more well known diver deaths in Australia.

 

[CT-Rich]

His ID says he is not even certified, so that's how I know. Yes, it may be incorrect, but that is what he has showing.

That and all of his participation has been in the basic forums… asking basic questions…

 

[johndiver999]

Unfortunately, that is sometimes not going to work. For example, where the diver is so overweighted, their BCD is not capable of lifting them and you are at your limits. Much easier to drop a pocket or weightbelt. This was a contributing factor to one of the more well known diver deaths in Australia.

Of course, as I clearly described my initial strategy may not work. That is not a reason to avoid trying it initially.

If the unconscious diver is:

• super over weighted
• has no air pressure in tank to inflate BC
• or has failed BC
• And my BC does not have sufficient lift capacity

Then yes I would be looking at dropping their lead, but in that scenario, it might result in a very fast ascent. Not optimal for my safety.

Can you elaborate on exactly what was a contributing factor to a fatality?

 

[landphil]

I use little drop weight pockets on my harness waist belt. They only have 3lbs in each one of a total 26lbs of drysuit ballast. So, releasing one if everything has failed and flooded would still have me swimming up a bit, cause a "balanced rig" gets much less balanced for a drysuit that's full of water instead of air. Also, the drop weight pockets require a lot of intent to open them and get the weight out.

I do remember years ago using a rental BC, where I went to tighten my waist belt and found myself with one of the hip weights in my hand. Fortunately, I managed to hang onto it and get it put back in. A lot of late night drinking must have gone into into designing a BC with identical webbing and plastic D-rings for the end of the waist strap and the weight release strap.

 

[Still Kicking]

If I found an unconcious diver on a recreational dive. I would not mess around with trying to find a weightbelt or weight pockets. I would simply grab them and inflate their BC, and hang on tightly. I am pretty sure I could modulate the amount of air in the victim's bc (as well as my own) on the ascent.

If I pressed the up button and no air came out or I saw that air was just venting from their BC, then I would mash MY up button, and hang on. I generally have a decent amount of excess lift capacity in my BC and this exact scenario is one reason why I don't try to minimize the lift capacity of the BC's I buy.

Dropping lead would be my third option for bringing a diver up, partly because it is more complicated than pressing a button.

From a strategy perspective, it makes sense to try to first inflate the victims BC, because if you should accidentally "drop" them, or loose contact (for whatever reason), once you made them buoyant, you can be reasonably sure they will end up on the surface and not sink back down to the bottom. Also, operating the victim's bc is pretty easy, since you can readily see the device, it may even be easier than grabbing your own.

The challenge is to also vent your bc on the ascent, you will need to manage two BC's; if their BC has the capacity, it might beneficial to completely vent your BC on the bottom, so you have only one container to deal with, but that is assuming a lot of moving parts in a life or death emergency.

Training I got for this scenario was to position yourself behind unconscious diver, with right arm under their armpit holding the reg in their mouth (in case they are breathing, or come around during the ascent and start breathing) and ascend using my BC for lift for both of us. Between my BC and a kicking ascent, hope that would be enough lift. If not, I would have to add a small amount of air to their BCD I guess. Trying to keep the reg in their mouth, and manage air from two BCs on the way up might be too much task loading in my book.

 

[dmaziuk]

One of the many issues discussed here is the ability to ditch your gear. I am new to the backplate/wing setup and am looking at quick release shoulder strap options. I don't love all of the plastic pinch release buckles and am wondering if anyone has experience with the Helium hitch buckle? I've found little information/reviews on using this type of buckle and haven't seen it offered from other manufacturers.

Pros, Cons? what am I missing here?

How much does your "gear" weigh? And the follow-up question, are you sure you'll be able to get to the surface after you ditch your gas tank at depth? How about, without blowing a lung or turning your precious bodily fluids into a carbonated beverage?

 

[johndiver999]

Training I got for this scenario was to position yourself behind unconscious diver, with right arm under their armpit holding the reg in their mouth (in case they are breathing, or come around during the ascent and start breathing) and ascend using my BC for lift for both of us. Between my BC and a kicking ascent, hope that would be enough lift. If not, I would have to add a small amount of air to their BCD I guess. Trying to keep the reg in their mouth, and manage air from two BCs on the way up might be too much task loading in my book.

Sounds like a good plan.

 

[grantmac]

Thank you for this.....I didn't think about just cutting the strap but that makes perfect sense in one of those, this will never happen, scenarios.

A significant part of the rationale of the continuous webbing harness is to allow it to be cut easily and replaced cheaply enough that you don't hesitate to do that.

 

[wgw04024]

I use the dive rite pockets with my drysuit, that holds 12 lbs in each side. Between the buckle and the secondary velcro flap, it seems very well packed and sturdy.

 

[stretchthepenn]

On the first day I usually sit out the first dive, sit back, and observe everyone else on board kit-up to see who I need to stay clear of.