DiveDaddyDale
Registered
Just a close call, but a valuable lesson learned for me.
I dove CSSP Sunday, August 25, 2013. First dive no issues, was finally well trimmed and balanced using my AL80, SS bp, Hollis 25# wing, 0 weights, new OMS Slipstream fins, 3.5mm Waterproof Steamer, 7mm Oceanic boots. Did a 40 minute dive at 36ft.
After a 1hr surface interval I went back in to test my rig with a Steep HP100 to see if I could swim it up with no air in bladder (I could not=rig not balanced).
As I was walking down the platform stars with my full rig on except for fins and mask, I slipped on the first step and hit the metal stairs hard on my right side. Jarred by the blow and weighted as I was I quickly slid down 7 more stairs bouncing off the edge of each step along the way. I knew I was headed for the water without my fins and mask on and with my primary regulator still neatly clipped off to a chest D ring. I managed to grab hold of the steel railing and caught the crook of my arm in a post which stopped my slide. Ouch, I was hurting from the fall and the bounce.
I sat on the bottom stair for around 10 minutes while I recovered from the surprise and shock of the fall. I was hurting all along my right side where I had done the big slide. After 10 minutes I recovered my breath and senses and considered calling the dive due to pain. But instead, I tool off all my gear and checked each item for damage. Regulators OK, tank OK, Hoses and gauges OK, no air leaking and all my gear seemed in good working order.
I decided to continue the test dive (to check for rig balance) and stepped off the lowest stair carefully into the water. I was confident but cautious so I just hung around the platform and stairs for a few minutes re-checking connections and gear for damage. I descended to 10ft several times and came back up to the surface to triple check and then continued my test dive.
BTW; as I said I am over weighted with the HP100 and the SS bp. I am going to switch back to an aluminum bp to see if shedding 4lbs helps.
Just thinking through the "What If's":
I might not have been able to swim myself to the surface without my fins
You can bet that I was (and shall continue to be) much more careful when descending and ascending platform stairs!
I dove CSSP Sunday, August 25, 2013. First dive no issues, was finally well trimmed and balanced using my AL80, SS bp, Hollis 25# wing, 0 weights, new OMS Slipstream fins, 3.5mm Waterproof Steamer, 7mm Oceanic boots. Did a 40 minute dive at 36ft.
After a 1hr surface interval I went back in to test my rig with a Steep HP100 to see if I could swim it up with no air in bladder (I could not=rig not balanced).
As I was walking down the platform stars with my full rig on except for fins and mask, I slipped on the first step and hit the metal stairs hard on my right side. Jarred by the blow and weighted as I was I quickly slid down 7 more stairs bouncing off the edge of each step along the way. I knew I was headed for the water without my fins and mask on and with my primary regulator still neatly clipped off to a chest D ring. I managed to grab hold of the steel railing and caught the crook of my arm in a post which stopped my slide. Ouch, I was hurting from the fall and the bounce.
I sat on the bottom stair for around 10 minutes while I recovered from the surprise and shock of the fall. I was hurting all along my right side where I had done the big slide. After 10 minutes I recovered my breath and senses and considered calling the dive due to pain. But instead, I tool off all my gear and checked each item for damage. Regulators OK, tank OK, Hoses and gauges OK, no air leaking and all my gear seemed in good working order.
I decided to continue the test dive (to check for rig balance) and stepped off the lowest stair carefully into the water. I was confident but cautious so I just hung around the platform and stairs for a few minutes re-checking connections and gear for damage. I descended to 10ft several times and came back up to the surface to triple check and then continued my test dive.
BTW; as I said I am over weighted with the HP100 and the SS bp. I am going to switch back to an aluminum bp to see if shedding 4lbs helps.
Just thinking through the "What If's":
- What if I had had not been able to grab the rail to stop my slide?
I might not have been able to swim myself to the surface without my fins
- What if I had been knocked out by the fall?
See above possibilities
You can bet that I was (and shall continue to be) much more careful when descending and ascending platform stairs!
