AOW Deep Dive Test

[Mark Vlahos]

My instructor had us tie a bowline and a clove hitch. The only problem was that on land he asked me to tie them first in our group and I thought he wanted me to demonstrate how to do it so I was slow and clear and methodical. I did not know he was timing me, and I use these knots every day at work, so I know them backwards and forwards. Underwater he again had me go first, but this time I knew it was going to be timed so I tied them really fast, on the order of 2 or 3 seconds each instead of the 15 seconds on the surface.

When we got out of the water and he was reviewing the dive only then did I learn that he had used the "demonstration" as my time on land. We both had a good laugh.

I like the idea of the childs game of fitting the different shape blocks into an appropriately shaped reciever.

Mark Vlahos

 

[Zippsy]

Thanks for the replies. I'll try the shapes in the box and the bolts, nuts and washer test and see how they work. I also like the color test too, just to demonstrate.

 

[DiverBuoy]

Just remember that once you are narc'd just coming up a few feet in the water column as is so commonly shared in basic training is often inaccurate, it is often true that one must travel 1 or more atmospheres through the water column to feel the alleviation of symptoms, the lasting effect has to do with overall loading of the tissues not just the quicker onset because of depth. A narced diver must be helped to ascend and monitored closely throughout this process.

Don't be fooled by theories, believe the practical reality. If you want real world lessons on the effect of narcosis and how long it lasts there are at least two fully dedicated chapters on the subject in Michael R. Ange's now popular book Diver Down Real-World Scuba Accidents and How to Avoid Them, a very compelling read.