bisonduquebec
Registered
Ok. First of all, this may not fit in this category since it is clearly not a near miss and not really a lesson learned. But it is still a experience that I was very lucky to experience.
During my first scuba course OW1, we were diving with small old alu tanks that would hold less then 2000psi for a class in a 18' depth pool. We always had plenty of air. No console (this is 10 years ago). Note that console were added at mid course - when the owner of the school broke a great deal with 90$CAN per console.
Anyway, My buddy and I are doing our exercices and suddenly, I am having a hard time taking a breath of air. I stop, think - this is odd - try again, Yeap, no air at all. Bottle must be empty. I am still relaxed and thinking wow, there are no much warning sign. When you found out, it is too late already. Ok time to signal my buddy, I slash my throat and wait for the signal and the octopus right?. False. He answers with a slash throat as well. I am thinking, ok, we really need to do some more training.... So I am sending him the signal again hoping that this time he understands and gives me some air. Same answer - Damn. Suddently, I understand we are both out of air at the exact same time, with the exact same relaxed approach.
Time to use to ascend procedure but without octopus. slowly making it back to the surface. All this took less then 30 seconds. No panic, relaxed... in fact very funny.
We laugh about it for some time. Looking back at it, I am very happy that I was able to experience this in a control environment and feeling what the whole thing is about. With proper training, panic should never happen.
So I think this still fits into lesson learned. You can't rely on your buddy for everything. Training is essential. Until you experience it, you have no clue what to expect - so try it in a control environment.
During my first scuba course OW1, we were diving with small old alu tanks that would hold less then 2000psi for a class in a 18' depth pool. We always had plenty of air. No console (this is 10 years ago). Note that console were added at mid course - when the owner of the school broke a great deal with 90$CAN per console.
Anyway, My buddy and I are doing our exercices and suddenly, I am having a hard time taking a breath of air. I stop, think - this is odd - try again, Yeap, no air at all. Bottle must be empty. I am still relaxed and thinking wow, there are no much warning sign. When you found out, it is too late already. Ok time to signal my buddy, I slash my throat and wait for the signal and the octopus right?. False. He answers with a slash throat as well. I am thinking, ok, we really need to do some more training.... So I am sending him the signal again hoping that this time he understands and gives me some air. Same answer - Damn. Suddently, I understand we are both out of air at the exact same time, with the exact same relaxed approach.
Time to use to ascend procedure but without octopus. slowly making it back to the surface. All this took less then 30 seconds. No panic, relaxed... in fact very funny.
We laugh about it for some time. Looking back at it, I am very happy that I was able to experience this in a control environment and feeling what the whole thing is about. With proper training, panic should never happen.
So I think this still fits into lesson learned. You can't rely on your buddy for everything. Training is essential. Until you experience it, you have no clue what to expect - so try it in a control environment.
