On October 2, 2018, I was bent right outside River Hospital in Alexandria Bay, New York, while diving the wreck of the Islander and Broadway Shoal. The day prior, I had been teaching advanced trimix on the Roy A. Jodrey. It was my first DCS injury since I began in 1981.
The physician assistant wouldn't place me on an oxygen mask, wouldn't call DAN to speak to a hyperbaric medicine expert, and from what the paramedics told me, I had been listed as a non-emergency transport. I believe it was 7 hours before I was chambered just 90 minutes from the accident site.
It took 2.5 years to get my balance back and to be able to process motion visually, but I lost the use of my right eye. I wear an eye patch now. I returned to freediving and tape over the right lens of the mask.
I don't know what the future holds for me as as SCUBA instructor. I have a job offer if I cross over to FII as a freediving instructor. My plans are to continue to get stronger, fitter, and take up spearfishing. I really want to cave dive again, but we'll see.
The physician assistant wouldn't place me on an oxygen mask, wouldn't call DAN to speak to a hyperbaric medicine expert, and from what the paramedics told me, I had been listed as a non-emergency transport. I believe it was 7 hours before I was chambered just 90 minutes from the accident site.
It took 2.5 years to get my balance back and to be able to process motion visually, but I lost the use of my right eye. I wear an eye patch now. I returned to freediving and tape over the right lens of the mask.
I don't know what the future holds for me as as SCUBA instructor. I have a job offer if I cross over to FII as a freediving instructor. My plans are to continue to get stronger, fitter, and take up spearfishing. I really want to cave dive again, but we'll see.
