Another diver is now a first time panic attack victim

[stairman]

I would have been able to tell by his bubbles that he was distressed. The surface would have been the next move and he would have to get another buddy. Ill dive with nearly anyone to a point but this guy sounds like the type to get you hurt

 

[bleeb]

Congratulations on getting your buddy and yourself out of a bad situation, and even more so on being willing to come here and discuss it, in spite of the risk of getting flamed. Thankfully, that doesn't seem to have happened much, and hopefully, all the criticisms will continue to be constructive and polite.

I tried to calm him and slow him down but I also realized that I am not rescue trained and I had to help him with caution. He was ignoring my attempts to slow down. Then, at around 45 feet he drew his last breath from his tank!

I was right there by him and could see what was happening. I handed over my primary.

Now, I currently have an Air2 and I've heard people say that they don't like them. I always just considered that kind of talk just Internet opinions. Now I know better. My Air2 breathed wet...very wet. Even after purging it I was getting water. So I motioned to share my primary. I was still calm so I would take 1 or 2 breaths then my buddy would take it back...for 5 or 6 breaths.

This is one point I wanted to get clarified, which I don't think anyone else has commented on yet. You two were sharing your primary second stage, what's commonly referred to as 'buddy breathing'? In the future, as a general practice with a buddy you don't have experience with, this might be problematic. From what I've understood from the postings of the more knowledgeable here on SB, buddy breathing is no longer taught or practiced in the vast majority of OW courses and by most certifying agencies. You handled it very well, but it might be too much for the diver you're rescuing if he or she hasn't practiced it recently that's already in trouble. It could be too much task loading, leading to (more) panic, or a refusal to give the regulator back to you. On the other hand, there may not be any better immediate alternatives, so you might just have to go ahead, keeping in mind the potential issues and hopefully being able to head those extra complications off before the fully blossom into being. However, I'd like to hear if anyone can suggest any other alternatives. (You've already commented you're planning to get a 'regular' secondary, and Don and perhaps others have mentioned carrying a pony.)

 

[DandyDon]

While I don't do a "stop" at 15 feet, I do observe my buddy during the descent. I realized that he was fighting a weight issue and I went up to him and presented the "OK" sign. He responded with OK. I have to give the other guy his respect here...even if I may not agree with it.

Yeah, I'm often too nice to insta-buds too, but face it: He is your alternate air supply and backup as well as your responsibility. Hell, people have had to go to court to defend themselves at times over their buddy's accidents. You might consider requesting a 15 ft stop and final bud check on descent. Or in my view, I don't trust anyone for backup or air, but I still want to know what I am responsible for below?

Personally, I don't like to "compare" regs. I am quite comfortable managing my own gas and I expect others to be capable of managing theirs. I did repeatedly ask if he was OK. I never imagined that he could have emptied his tank that fast. I'm an air-hog (but recovering) so I was shocked to discover that he was almost OOA.

I'm not at all shy about asking to see the other guy's spg, especially on a first dive together.

I was right beside him on the ascent...as in, arms reach. I watched him closely, realiazing that he was panicing, and wanted to slow his ascent as well as be there if he actually went OOA. He did. I immediately handed him my primary...no delay.

Well, I offer air sooner, IMO. If we are not going to leave the water with a 500# reserve and I have lots more than he, I offer as soon as evident. Avoiding the OOA and saving the 500# for a real emergency is preferable I think.

Nope. Well, I did test it (underwater) last summer. It has never been great (see above).

Way too trusting my friend. My home bud is like that, my own mistakes notwithstanding. Here is my predive check for the first dive of a trip at least...

Hook up the regs, turn on to see how much air shows, turn off.

Breath a second stage down to zero to remind myself how a LOA reg feels, then test for leaks while air is still off and line empty.

Test breath the other second stage while off to test of leaks.

Turn air own and test breath each again.

After my bud is all ready, test breath his regs. For extra benefit, just grab without asking to see how he reacts.

Oh, I do all that to my pony too.​

I never mentioned anything about him skipping the SS. In fact, I forgot to mention that he motioned to his chest at one point which made me want to get him to the surface ASAP. I knew that the SS was only a recommendation and not required...especially given our short dive time.

I only went back down myself as a reaction. I just thought that I needed it...but I realized later (on the boat) that I could have just skipped it.



Agreed.

Don,
I've read many of your posts here and I do appreciate your comments very much. Thank you for responding!

Well, TY - I am a klutz diver at times but try to plan and discuss diving safely with good suggestions. You might look at this active thread http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/advanced-scuba-discussions/386249-pony-bottle-worth-2.html

 

[dmoore19]

Sometimes I switch to my alternate (aqualung airsource 3) and breathe on it for part of the dive. I always test it on the surface and breathe off of it at least for a few breaths on every dive. I think it is good practice switching regs.

 

[SoccerJeni]

OP you wrote this very well. It was really easy to follow and understand exactly what was happening. Thank you for posting this as it is a good reminder of things that can go wrong and just how easy it is to go through your air. It also reminds me how important it is to get a refresher course. It sounds like you handled the situation really well though!

 

[dwatts]

OP you wrote this very well. It was really easy to follow and understand exactly what was happening. Thank you for posting this as it is a good reminder of things that can go wrong and just how easy it is to go through your air. It also reminds me how important it is to get a refresher course. It sounds like you handled the situation really well though!

Thanks. :blinking:

 

[dwatts]

Sometimes I switch to my alternate (aqualung airsource 3) and breathe on it for part of the dive. I always test it on the surface and breathe off of it at least for a few breaths on every dive. I think it is good practice switching regs.

You know, in all my (not so many) dives to date, I've never seen anybody do that. It does sound like a good idea, especially after this dive. Again, lessons learned....

 

[DandyDon]

The described klutz diver could do a refresher course, but really - we just try to hit a nearby spring dive for a dress rehearsal before a trip. Practice practice practice before the real show in the sea, then adjust weighting for suit and SW change. A boat dive after a year dry spell is a bit much tho; if he insists on that, then make him hire a DM as a bud for the first day.

 

[Bubbletrubble]

Sometimes I switch to my alternate (aqualung airsource 3) and breathe on it for part of the dive. I always test it on the surface and breathe off of it at least for a few breaths on every dive. I think it is good practice switching regs.

You know, in all my (not so many) dives to date, I've never seen anybody do that. It does sound like a good idea, especially after this dive. Again, lessons learned....

Within my circle of dive buddies, breathing off of a backup reg/alternative air source/octo periodically during a dive is standard operating procedure. I've seen other experienced divers doing this underwater as well.

 

[vladimir]

So I motioned to share my primary. I was still calm so I would take 1 or 2 breaths then my buddy would take it back...for 5 or 6 breaths.

Kudos to you for orderly buddy breathing. I wonder how many recently trained divers would have managed it so well. Were you taught to buddy breathe? Have you ever practiced it?