Almost died today--Any captains out there???

[fnfalman]

I didn't read through all the posts but I suppose that I would probably be a wee nervous if I were to think that I was stuck in the ocean and the boat hauled ass. However, since that most of us dive with BCs, drowning shouldn't be an issue.

 

[cdiver2]

Then why are you capitalizing the wrong words and throwing about useless apostrophes? Does that not just prove your own ignorance?

How about you read post #130, and answer it? I concede that your mastery of English far exceeds mine. You win.

Now please, with sugar on top, explain to me what you would have done differently.

Today, I went diving on a charter dive boat with a group of six. We were dropped off when it started to rain, and as I got to the bottom I felt uncomfortable and came back up. When I did the boat was no where in sight, and I was caught in a thunderstorm for 45 minutes before I was rescued. What should I do to complain about the captain's negligence?

People, you don't understabd I wrote that post only hours after I was thinking my life would end and I would face my master. And today it hasn't been only twenty-four hours that I was about to get struck by lightning, eaten by a shark, or swalled by the ocean. My primary purpose in joining this forum/website is not to enjoy the educational value in it, but it is to ask of you all for help your opinion. I'm not on to share my life with you so you can make a judgement on my being through the babble on my profile.

Anyway, some of you want some more information and here it is. Before we got in the water we were given our profile and our dive plan.

Yeah, we noticed there was a thunderstorm on the coast, but the captain said it was going north, and we were miles offshore.

I was ready until I got down there and the visibilty was crappy, it was dark, and I felt sick. Can you blame me for doing what I was trained to do? I grabbed my diving buddy, and gave him the signal. He was reluctant to but did anyway

. So, we went up to surface where a thunderstorm was passing through us, and the boat was atleast 500 yards from us and fading away

. We were in a panic. I blew up my safety sausage and waved it like a madman. Nothing.

I later found out that the four other divers were also stranded

, scared of the storm they inflated there safety sausages and waited for twenty minutes after their dive down at their safety stop. Fourty minutes later, after I accepted the fact I would be in heaven that afternoon after being struck by lightning or the other many possible implications of being stranded in open water and not even able to see which way is land, I saw the boat again. He was far but I could see it. My partner couldn't his head remained in the water for the majority of our panic protecting us with his spear gun (poor guy). The boat was just then picking up the other divers who were now give or take five-hundred yards away. The boat saw us and picked us up. The captain was there to greet us make sure we were alright, but never told us his side of the story. All he ever said was "thanks for coming out today." All I knew was I was safe and I survived why complain? I never did, because I was alive. When we were done taking our gear off the boat I spoke with the crewgirl, and asked her what happened on the boat,

she said, " Oh my God, I was so scared for you all

We were completely pushed away bc of the storm, and could not find you.

There was no visibilty and we could not see any of the sausages or anything,

I was in tears the whole time." It wasn't until I got to my house that I realized what really almost happened and I had a nervous break down. I know there are worst near-death experiences we have all heard, but this one is mine

In a later post they did say they came up the SMB line, so where was the boat?

 

[Puffer Fish]

I know I have not be playing in the sand box.. but if you don't mind, will answer that question (even though it was not asked of me):

I've been on lots of dives where the boat left....never really had that much concern over it.

It depends where one is diving... but the first issue is where is the shore and what direction is the current/wind going (if I thought I was being left)...Not sure how well I would do if it was over 2 miles to shore these days... but it would be fun to try.

It might be that the captain went to where everyone would be at the end of their drift dive...seen that happen, particularly in bad weather...so as not to hit anyone. In that case... one just has to wait, and you eventually get there.

I would think, the concern is not the boat leaving... but rather, the boat coming back...

Oh and if it is lighting out and I have lots of air... I am on the bottom...

No lighting, and floating is kind of fun...

 

[redacted]

Why am I defending the captain, whom I do not even know? Because people like me want to make a living off of diving, ....

Too bad that explanation comes across as selfish and has nothing to do with right and wrong.

I thought the captain was probably right to protect the boat knowing that the divers were relatively safe from the weather under water and there was little he could safely do to help them. That way he and the boat are there to help his divers when the storm passes.

 

[Slonda828]

I get annoyed when people drop commas when using "and", as in: I bought peas, carrots and tomatoes. I would greatly prefer it that everyone used the traditional: I bought peas, carrots, and tomatoes (even though it is common practice for newspapers to omit the comma preceding "and"). Can we discuss this practice?

People do that here in the south all the time. Maybe it is geographic?

In any event, I see that I have begun the downhill slide, so I'm out of here. I promised the old lady that I would not get angry at a bunch of random people on the interweb anymore (not you MarKon, thank you for making me smile).

 

[MarKon]

Umm, Slonda, I was kinda just kidding...but since you mentioned it, I'm in the northeast and see it pretty often. Actually read an article that discussed it (the things I'll do to avoid working while at work), they said dropping the comma was almost common practice now, though it is still considered proper to place the comma before "and".

 

[cdiver2]

I know I have not be playing in the sand box.. but if you don't mind, will answer that question (even though it was not asked of me):

I've been on lots of dives where the boat left....never really had that much concern over it.

It depends where one is diving... but the first issue is where is the shore and what direction is the current/wind going (if I thought I was being left)...Not sure how well I would do if it was over 2 miles to shore these days... but it would be fun to try.

It might be that the captain went to where everyone would be at the end of their drift dive...seen that happen, particularly in bad weather...so as not to hit anyone. In that case... one just has to wait, and you eventually get there.

I would think, the concern is not the boat leaving... but rather, the boat coming back...

Oh and if it is lighting out and I have lots of air... I am on the bottom...

No lighting, and floating is kind of fun...

It might be that the captain went to where everyone would be at the end of their drift dive...seen that happen, particularly in bad weather...

Was this brought up in the dive brief?

 

[Puffer Fish]

Was this brought up in the dive brief?

You expect someone that has just been thru a major life changing experience to remember some babble that happened before the dive?

 

[cdiver2]

You expect someone that has just been thru a major life changing experience to remember some babble that happened before the dive?

Just to remind you. You said. It might be that the captain went to where everyone would be at the end of their drift dive...

seen that happen, particularly in bad weather...so as not to hit anyone.

In that case... one just has to wait, and you eventually get there.

 

[Puffer Fish]

Please."Almost died today" asked for suggestions.

I suggest trying again

Well, other than relax and make sure you understand the dive plan... not sure what suggestion there is to give.

I guess one could also suggest that if the captain does something that concerns you, you ask them why they did that.

Oh, and if you decide to call the dive... asking where the boat will be might also would be helpful.

As a person that has done the swim to shore thing... all I remember thinking is "this is going to hurt"...