(15 APR 04) Have you ever been close to meeting your maker while diving

[Virus]FSLR2[]

Four regulators. Would that be 2 on the H valve, one on the BCD inflator and one on... what, a pony? Or 3 on the H valve? And, why??

Actually, it's 2 on the right side of the H, and one + the PI on the left. As to Why? Well, I've always been of the mindset that if I want one of something, I take two. If I need something, I take 3. No, there is not a time that I have had to go to my tertiary, nor have I had to use my PI for a source of air either, however I do practice those skills. Actually, on alot of my dives, I will run through those skills on ascent. I have however had to go to my backup a couple of times.

As for why? It's just something that I've done for the past few years, and it works for me. The extra reg is not obtrusive, does not harm anything. It's not out there dragging on the bottom, not tangling on anything, and since it's a solo rig, doesn't bother anyone. I'm not sure why you question it aside that it's not the typical setup, but there's your answer.

 

[mikswi]

I have wanted to dive since I was about 16. It wasnt until 21 years later that my wife made it happen for me. (kids, job loss, mortgage, illness.etc for taking so long)

During my initial pool session, I freaked out in the deep end of the pool (12') while learning to clear my mask and I bolted to the surface-convinced that I was drowning. I nearly drowned as a 6 yr old after falling into the pool and those fears came back all at once that night and with amazing clarity. I told my instructor that this wasnt for me and started to get out of the pool. I apologized to my wife for wasting her time as she was helping me pack up.

Knowing that my embarassment as well as my ego was my biggest injury, she spoke some magical words of encouragent and 10 minutes later I was back in the pool to finish out the night. I didnt leave that night until I could clear without a problem. My confidence soared and I finished the course without another problem. Over the winter months, we practiced our basic skills together 1 night a week at the local pool. I was eagerly looking forward to the upcoming season and seeing marinelife instead of hairballs at the bottom of the pool.

This last weekend we did our first dive of the season,a beach dive with our instructor. Upon entering the water and doing a boyancy check, my reg started to freeflow. I got it to stop and figured that I must have gotten some crud in it as I only used it on 7 dives so far.(Genesis GS2000, cleaned religiously) I didnt want to call the dive and ruin the day for everybody else so I said I was ready. Our instructor seemed hesitant but I convinced him that I was OK. We dropped below and started the dive. The instructor towing the flag and my wife and I staying close together.

After about 20 minutes @32' my reg started to chatter and it felt like it was restricting the airflow. I took it out and purged it and it breathed better. I noted that I had to bring it to the shop to be looked at, patted my chest for my octo and felt reassured that all was well.

About 2 minutes later my reg repeated the symptoms. I signaled my wife that I was aborting and started to ascend. At this point we were paralell to the reef and had modest surge with tide coming in. My reg chattered again and then my mask flooded. I tried to clear but I got water in my nose and I started to panic like I did in the pool that night. Although my vision was blocked, I hesitated and stopped to think. I had air so I was going to be ok. I cleared my mask(finally) by tightening the straps a bit. When I got to the surface, I was growing concerned again because I couldnt stay upright, I kept being forced forward as I have the Genesis Recon BC, which is a back inflation and in my opinion is for someone more advanced than me. I bought it on the suggestion that I would "grow into it". I am friends with the seller (shop owner)and I respected his opinion. Im sure that he thought he was doing me a favor because he gave it to me for about 45% off retail. I wasnt sure but felt reassured in his confidence in my ability to grow into it. (tech BC)

I knew I couldnt climb the rocks as the surge would beat me to death. The dive flag was about 80' away and I told my wife that I had to get to the flag as I was going through my air at an alarming rate. I put my head down and swam on the surface with my octo to the flag. When I got there, I was completely exhausted,grabbed one of the handles and swam to the rocks and decided to take my chances with the surge because I just couldnt stay face up in the water any longer and I was running out of air. I somehow made it up on the rocks without injury and took off my BC. I sat there for about 10 minutes panting and reviewing how I got to that point. I knew that I should have aborted the dive in the beginning and had the wife dive with the instructor. I was mad at myself for putting myself- in addition to 2 other people in jeprody because now they were trying to find a way in to assist me.

I convinced them to stay put and with me out of the water, they were convinced that I was in minimal danger. After 10-15 minuters of rest I put my gear back on I re enterd the water and somehow cheated death yet again - by making it back to them. We agreed to snorkel our way back to the entry point about 6-8 minutes away, I ended up coming in on my octo. Upon reaching the entry point, we reviewed what had happened. Once again, other then my pride and embarassment- I was not injured.

What I Learned;

1- I knew from the beginning that I should not have dove with equiptment problems or concerns.
2- I should have restated my concerns regarding the advanced BC and insisted on getting what I felt was better suited for me
3-I knew that I was letting the situation snowball and yet I almost could not control it
4-I involved 2 others because I didnt want to ruin their day
5-I need to do what is right for me, regardless of other peoples feelings


I know thats more than everybody wanted to know but thats my 2cents

.

 

[CelticRavenVA]

My instructor for my OW had a saying which I think applies to alot of these posts,

"Every dive has its day, its ok to walk away"

 

[ShakaZulu]

Diving, can be fun............

Diving the Cenotes on the Yucatan Penisula (Cavern diving) when this all happened. Cenotes [say no tays] are sinkholes. The whole Yucatan peninsula consists of limestone. During the ice ages the water level sank and the rain water permeated the porous stone, forming caves, passageways and huge domes. These cenotes are actually underground rivers and form the largest interconnected cave and cavern system in the world. Some parts of those caves collapsed and left the picturesque water filled sinkholes in the middle of the jungle.

Being a fresh water dive, I was over weighted cause I forgot about the extra weight in the back of my BC, hell of a time controlling my boyency. The DM's in Mexico doesn't mess around, you got to know your ****.

Well, it was the DM, 4 girls and then me. I was supposed to keep all the girls ahead of me. Ok, so everything is going well, awesome dive btw, and the next minute, one of the girls is behind me. So I wait for her to pass. During this time I look around and enjoy the scenery, not knowing that I'm sinking into a hole in the ground. It's completely dark in there and the only light is the light from your the flashlight. So, by the time I think she would have passed, I look around to where I think the rest of the group should be and there is nothing but rockface. Covered my flashlight and I'm surrounded by blackness. Ok, this is where you start to crap in your pants. I looked up, and I saw what I thought was light. Swam up there and it was the light from my flashlight shining off my bubbles trapped on the cavern roof. Now what. Can't wait there, cause we were not by the line, I looked for it. Had about 1500psi left. So I just started cruising around, found this hole, dove through it, and to to my delight saw the DM's 500W flashlight. Thank god, he didn't even know I was missing..............

http://www.cavern-diving.com/e_cen_main.htm

Must add that this was badluck, the caverns are huge inside, I just stopped at a bad spot..........

 

[V-Erthal]

Well, i guess i wasn't that close to meeting my maker on it but it was scarry...
it was a year and a half ago, a few weeks after finishing my AOW. Idecided to do a wrek speciality course and my buddy (my brother) was with me. We went to do our chekout on a wrek here in rio and by that time we didnt have our own BC's or regulators. In the middle of the training session, my rental BC started to de-inflate and i could not manage to fix it, it was leaking like hell wnless i kept my hand on the hole. (i was stupit no calling the dive imediatly)
I signaled to the instructor and he unplugged my auto inflator (that really pissed me off). In the middle of the confusion i started to get nervous and use a lot (i mean really a LOT) of air. soon my tank was almost empty and i called the dive, but my buddy (heheh) insisted to continue the dive. Obviously i ended up doing an octopus acsent, and after that i started to complain (in a very agressive way) with the owner of the equipament.
It all started with an equipament problem, but it became an emergency situation due to my (and my buddy) stupidity and lack of experience by that time.

 

[Web Monkey]

You should have slapped your buddy around for abandoning you, instead of complaining to the dive shop owner.

Your buddy should have surfaced with you, in case you ran out of air on the way up.

Terry

started to de-inflate and i could not manage to fix it, it was leaking like hell wnless i kept my hand on the hole. (i was stupit no calling the dive imediatly)
I signaled to the instructor and he unplugged my auto inflator (that really pissed me off). In the middle of the confusion i started to get nervous and use a lot (i mean really a LOT) of air. soon my tank was almost empty and i called the dive, but my buddy (heheh) insisted to continue the dive. Obviously i ended up doing an octopus acsent, and after that i started to complain (in a very agressive way) with the owner of the equipament.
It all started with an equipament problem, but it became an emergency situation due to my (and my buddy) stupidity and lack of experience by that time.

 

[V-Erthal]

You should have slapped your buddy around for abandoning you, instead of complaining to the dive shop owner.

Your buddy should have surfaced with you, in case you ran out of air on the way up.

Terry

Believe-me, i DO slap him everytime i remember that small incident (we share an apartment, witch btw looks like a dive shop with fins and regulators all around).

And He did surface with me, remember it was an octopus ascent.

Victor

 

[Nay]

Having just done a dive at Deception Pass a week or so ago and planning to dive it again in another week or so I've been *reflecting*.

I sincerely hope that your more recent dives were better. Find any murder weapons?

 

[Nay]

Apparently he was trying to incite the fish to "blow himself up," and ended up pissing off the fish, who then attacked him and left him with fingers numbering 9 1/2.

Sad....

Rick

LOL!!!

I have ALWAYS wanted to see a puffer puff up. And as tempting as it would be, I wouldn't ever poke at one.
Dumba*s.

 

[xzippolite69x]

hey Vicki! i just made my user name so here it is xzippolite69x