Accident and rescue at Breakwater (Monterey, CA)

[Eric Sedletzky]

That's for sure. My wife took a hit of pulmonary edema last month, while surface swimming in from a 23 minute dive to 25 feet! Thankfully, we had just gotten our O2 tank hydro'ed and filled and got her on 100% oxygen as quick as I was able to get her out of the water. We were close enough that my daughter and I just drove her to the local ER, where we discovered that the O2 we got her in is the main reason she can continue diving. I can't stress it enough for every diver: get oxygen certified, get a tank, and always have it on hand.

Glad to hear this person was revived and was apparently doing well. Looking forward to hearing the final report, if possible.

Wow, I never thought someone could run into trouble on such a mild profile.
I think you just made my mind up for me to get an O2 set up for my boat and all my diving adventures. I've been thinking about doing it for some time now and after reading that I think the time has come.

Thanks.

 

[Jim Ernst]

Hey Mod's Can we combine the two threads on the same incident???

In the other thread I was just Reading that she was breathing on her own when they took her from the scene!


The other Thread is Tittled (Sunday Breakwater Accident)

 

[charlesg3]

I don't really think there's ever a time to do a "reg out" CESA. The reg prevents you from inhaling water even if it isn't giving air. Plus the air expands as you ascend, potentially giving you one last breath (or half breath) on the way up. Thus I think it's advisable to keep the reg in for any CESA.

Yeah seems like an awful dangerous thing for students and instructors both.

My instructor made us do it with regs in but we had to make a consistent Noise from start to finish to prove we were breathing out and not "cheating" I realize this allowed us a "crutch" but I think it reduced risks in OW with new students and still made the point. He made us practice the skill by swimming the distance at the level while making the required consistent noise until we were all doing it before we did the exercise as heading for the surface.

If the exercise is needed in more experienced/confident divers in later courses but if so then it seems would be a more reasonable time for the reg out practice.

He also made it clear how dangerous "bounces" were and how unhappy he would be if he had to risk another "Bounce" because one of us messed it up! He certainly put the fear into us enough non of us messed it up!

 

[ryssyr]

does anybody know what LDS was doing the training?

 

[ZenDiver.3D]

I don't really think there's ever a time to do a "reg out" CESA. The reg prevents you from inhaling water even if it isn't giving air. Plus the air expands as you ascend, potentially giving you one last breath (or half breath) on the way up. Thus I think it's advisable to keep the reg in for any CESA.

You are not supposed to spit out your reg when doing a cesa.
I am interested in hearing more details of this incident as it unfolds.

 

[Brewski]

No where does it mention the individual did a reg out CESA.
I'm not sure how this became part of the discussion.

 

[bbianchi]

I was at Breakwater this morning too coming back from my first dive when the commotion started. At first my buddies and I thought it was some drill until some folks in the kayaks started yelling for people to call 911.

From what I heard, the woman lost consciousness doing a CESA. The paramedics were able to revive her and then took her to the hospital. Again this is what I heard, I didn't ask the paramedics or the dive instructor they were questioning what happened.

I heard from a friend and one of my instructors that saw it all happen that when she did the CESA the reg was spit out and thats what caused the LOC. The rest of your description is in line with everything else I heard.

 

[Brewski]

The instructor with the student should have stopped her immediately and reinserted the regulator in her mouth. Perhaps there was some other problem that caused the diver to lose consiousness during the drill and the reg fell out of her mouth.
It would be interesting to find an official account of the incident, instead of speculation.

 

[Brewski]

another thread on the same subject.
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ac...5-accident-rescue-breakwater-monterey-ca.html

 

[bbianchi]

Given the number of divers at breakwater as well as classes its highly probable that if this diver ends up not dying (which it sounds like is the case) we will probably never hear a full account of what happens. Speculation sadly may be all we have.