First, thanks for all the great replies! It seems like scubaboard is the place to be on these wintery Saturday mornings.
neil's:
"All of them dove nitrox." Was there something inherently wrong with this? Most agencies allow using Nitrox on OW dives if the coursework has been done otherwise. The reasoning (I'm not saying I agree) is that using nitrox does not introduce any truly new in-water skills. In dive planning you'd have a max depth whether or not you had a Nitrox MOD, no? But you said they were on their "post-OW-certification-celebration-trip", so they were already certified? I hope so, because 15 is 7 more STUDENTS than one instructor is allowed to take into OW.
I agree that they were certified (though not well, based on their lack of astonishment to find tanks with no labels and random FO2s) for nitrox, and thus they should be able to dive nitrox all they'd like. The reason it bothered me was that they were only at 60 feet, and were completely gas-limited. None of them could have taken advantage of the longer bottom times, because none of them had enough gas. So nitrox was rather pointless, besides, of course, providing a little less nitrogen-loading. However, the way that the instructor spoke about nitrox led me to believe he sold them the class based on the subjective ideas about nitrox making you feel more energetic, or causing less post-dive fatigue -- not based on the facts of decreased DCI risk when dived as air, or the longer bottom times. The instructor had the ludicrous attitude that no one should ever "chew on air" no matter what the dive profile. I felt he just wanted to charge them $200 for a certification they didn't completely learn, and $10 for their nitrox fills they didn't completely need.
And yes, they were certified, and this wasn't technically a class -- but at the same time, it was the same people depending upon the same guy for direction. The instructor/student relationship was alive and well, even if it wasn't "official."
The lack of MOD labels and their mix hysteria unsettled me first, and I started noticing all kinds of behavior I didn't like -- though it was "legal" by the rulebook, it still wouldn't be what I'd choose to do. The DID break hard-and-fast gas-management rules, though, and that's what really got to me.
Thanks neil.
jmsdiver:
In response to the agencies that teach computers only, the only one that I know of is TDI/SDI.
Ouch, and I used to be such a TDI groupie.
Furthermore, the second dive on the two tank boat dive was NOT the site requested, nor was there enough SI time between the sites, plus it was just as deep as the first one, though the map drawn said that it was a max of 40 feet (the top of the reef started at 50). Needless to say, many divers aborted the dive (many were new) and those of use that stayed went into deco.
That sounds pretty rough, too -- especially since I'd imagine all charter boats have depth-finders.
So, there we are, alone in the deep blue current; we go up a bit and catch up with the group. Back on board, I get an ass chewing by the group leader and the DM because I separated from the rest of the group. I understand that the DM's job depends on getting everyone back safely and that divers have been left behind before, but my concern was for my buddy's safety (him being new and all) and no one seemed concerned.
I think you made the right decision, there, too. It sounds like your buddy separated first, though -- did he not get a reprimand, too? Those kind of situations are gray areas though -- even when handled correctly, they're still disconcerting to DM's. One might even say that one dead diver is better than two dead divers. It's a very sticky situation, indeed. One diver has bad information (i.e. depth gauge) and is waving the other diver to follow him. The other diver has the correct information and is waving just as confidently for his BUDDY to follow HIM. There isn't any way for either diver to know for sure he's got the correct information. Generally, when my buddy starts trying to get me to do something contrary to all the information I have, there's nothing else to do besides call the dive and chat about it over hot cocoa. I'm glad you got it all taken care of, jmsdiver.
Walter:
You were probably on the General Sherman.
That sounds right, actually. You'd think I'd know my own dives.... but.... ok, I'm not perfect either. I don't think I ever found out what wreck it was! Oops. All I have to say for myself is that my buddy signed me up! The other divers were mainly collecting belt buckles and pieces of leather. Apparently the boat was full of uniforms -- does that agree with the General Sherman?
Frankly, most instructors are incompetent. Your story does not surprise me, it's fairly typical and I've personally seen much worse.
I hope I can transcend the norm.
DeepSeaDan:
You have a VERY good point.
I should have told someone.
jmsdiver and NetDoc:
You both said some very pertinent things. I agree whole-heartedly. NetDoc, I'm going to save your post and read it again and again as I start my first classes. I've caught myself having a bit of a "holier than thou" attitude a few times with fellow divers -- and that attitude is wholly incompatible with teaching. I have to make sure I don't fall into that trap! Thanks for the excellent post.
bradymsu:
In defense of c-card collection, I can see where many of these specialities are a good idea.
I think diving with an instructor or other (intelligent) recognized authority from time to time is definitely good for anyone, and getting a new specialty c-card is a good way to ensure they're under an instructor's wing every now and again. At the same time, though, they're overpriced, and pushed harder than other really useful classes like rescue.
Bob:
To make a long story short, he found his buddy at 90fsw, narced out of his mind, BUDDY BREATHING with a 'cuda.
LOL! Yeah, the Buddy-Breathing-With-Barracuda story is as old as diving itself, I think. I have the distinct feeling it's an urban myth. The concept of one being narced out of one's mind at 90fsw is laughable, and the concept that another diver, in the same conditions, would be unaffected enough to be a hero makes for a good tall tale.
I do have one story to share, though -- this really happened, and I think I will definitely share it with my students when the time is right.
A class of five students from my university was doing AOW with a quite competent instructor, whom we all trusted very much. We went to South Holston Dam in Tennesee in mid-March. The water was 53 on the surface, and the air was low 40's. Most of us were rather familiar with cold water, but we were all still pretty green, as well. In particular, my buddy, a thin (one might say boney) young woman of 90 pounds or so was shivering on the surface. Needless to say, the dive really wasn't for her. However, my instructor let us make our own decisions, and peer pressure and the prospect of travelling all that way for nothing convinced her to make the dive.
We were supposed to make a descent to 110 feet, and do a timed math problem on a slate to demonstrate narcosis. No one knew how cold the water was on the bottom. Three thermoclines later, we were at a bone-chilling 38 degrees, diving in 7mm wetsuits. When we got to the gravel bottom, I immediately noticed my buddy acting, well, a bit "weird." She was kneeling slightly on one knee, her body rocking gently back and forth. Her eyes were wide, and she looked around her, making the "I'm cold" sign to everyone and no one. She wasn't really conscious, and didn't respond to me, even when I started tapping her mask with my fingers. I called the dive immediately, and made a controlled, slow ascent while holding onto her tightly. When we got to about 60 feet, we passed through the second thermocline, and she kinda woke up and began to realize where she was. She started to look at her gauges, started to adjust her buoyancy for herself. When we got the surface, she was crying, and just hugged me. The other divers were still at the bottom, doing their math problems. I helped her back on shore, and we jumped in the van to get her warmed back up. She was a pale blue color, and was shivering so violently she could barely drink the hot chocolate I prepared for her. I discovered that she really was something close to unconscious, because she didn't remember being at the bottom, nor of me tapping her mask, nor of me beginning her ascent for her. Needless to say, she didn't dive again that day. I was no hero! I was badly, I mean BADLY, shaken. I was not yet trained to do make ascents with unconscious divers, and I did not know how to handle buoyancy. I was so scared that she might skyrocket if I touched her inflator that I just held onto her like a big lead weight and used my own BC as a lift bag (which, of course, is a big no-no). Thank god she was breating normally, though, because I don't know what I would have done if she hadn't continued to breath. I was incredibly lucky to have been put in a position well over my head, and to have managed to not screw up. Of course, I learned more from the experience than I can put into words here.
I had to do the deep dive over again that afternoon, unfortunately, because I didn't do my math problem and couldn't be AOW certified without it.
TexasMike:
Perhaps we, the more "aware" divers, need to be willing to come forward and say something when we see things like this. Perhaps by writing a letter saying that "I saw this, this, and this, and it goes against all that I have learned about diving. I wanted you to know about it so you will have the chance to improve." Send it to the shop owner (or charter operator) and CC: the boat captain (if applicable) and the certifying agency(s). Sorta like notifying the Better Business Bureau when business practices are involved. Unless you hold them accountable, the problem will continue.
Indeed -- you guys are making me believe a good diver is responsible for enforcing GOOD DIVING -- in everyone around him. One can be tactful enough to avoid bruising egos, while still promoting good practice...
- Warren "This post was so long I had to remove some smilies to post it" Craddock
