Disturbing trend in diving?

[John C. Ratliff]

You mention that water in your wife’s nose is a big problem (or I read it in another post). May I suggest a fairly large volume mask with a good purge valve in front as a counter to that problem.

Also, I think I related that I was diving for three years before ever receiving actual instruction. I was certified LA County in 1963. I really don’t feel that scuba diving is that hazardous, especially if the depth is limited to say 30-40 feet. I was diving rivers and lakes at the time, and shallow.

Take a look at my mask collection below, and note that the larger, tri-window mask by Scubapro in silicone, may be the best for this situation. The mask on the lower left, which is a TUSA “Hyperdry” Imprex, is my wife’s mask and she really likes it.

Tusa Imprex 3D Hyperdry Mask and Case ☆ See Pictures ☆ Fast Shipping ☆ | eBay

Tusa Imprex 3D Hyperdry Mask and Case ☆ See Pictures ☆ Fast Shipping ☆

www.ebay.com

Finally, I have experience in a number of fear-inducing activities, such as parachute jumping in the U.S. Air Force. My experience was that, even after two weeks of training in parachuting and parachute landing falls (PLFs), it wasn’t the first jump that was producing the most anxiety; it was the third. The first one was almost automatic, the second I started thinking about it after the jump, and the third parachute jump produced the most anxiety before the jump. Then, I survived that third jump, and I was good from then on, and could focus more on jump techniques, how I exited the plane, and the PLF.

Diving may be the same for some as parachuting; it takes some experiences (plural) to become more comfortable with scuba. And, it may not be the first scuba experience that produces the most anxiety. But over time, with more experiences, it becomes routine and does not produce that high level of anxiety.

SeaRat

 

[P-Dog]

They only place I've seen this is Raja Ampat. I couldn't believe it - the casualness taken by divers over their control and safety. On every single dive other divers on the boat would try to tag along with me since I'm a DM, had my own gear, and, generally, know what I'm doing. In the past few years, vacation divers have been having to make very long longboat rides to Sorong to the chamber. Not a way that I'd like to spend my vacation.

 

[Soloist]

Take a look at my collection below, and note that the larger, tri-window mask by Scubapro in silicone, may be the best for this situation.

SeaRat

Very nice. However, you may have to change your nickname from SeaRat to PackRat!

 

[therookie]

Take a look at my mask collection below

That's quite the collection!

You make a good point - the fit and style of her mask could make a big difference. The one she is currently using is relatively new to her and seems to fit well (professionals at the dive shop where we bought it helped her) but she hasn't had much chance to use it since due to very poor snorkeling weather our last few trips

 

[russ805]

I'm not sure, but if a dive operator knows the maximum depth and dictates the time and requires everyone to ascend with (or before) the divemaster, it may not be that big of a deal if customers simply play "follow the leader" - as long as they watch their own air supply.

I've done many, many dives where two 60 foot dives were scheduled with a 30 minute bottom time. As long as everyone follows the guidelines, they really don't need a computer to remain out of deco.

Personally, I don't dive without a computer unless it is super shallow and I might not turn it on just to save batteries.

Save batteries? Your well being is not worth the price of batteries? I change mine at 50% there is nothing to win by milking batteries until the are exhausted, unless your batteries are rechargable and non removable.

 

[EFX]

See it on a lot of guided dives. Especially saw it in cozumel, ow divers doing repeated dives to 90 feet and not watching NFL at all.....

So, for those of you who do not know what NFL means apart from the three hours of hysteria we just witnessed a month ago; it means No Fun Limit. It can occur at any time but mostly rears its ugly head when NDL has gone to zero and you realize you don't have enough gas for those mandatory deco stops.

 

[dmaziuk]

... and that is why you should dive a very conservative algorithm: that way can hit the No Fun zone with (likely) enough gas to keep the computer happy.

 

[NothingClever]

I have experience in a number of fear-inducing activities, such as parachute jumping in the U.S. Air Force.

Now just stop it right there.

Everyone knows AFSOC covers the DZ with memory foam pillows.

Sheesh…some people.

 

[Bigbella]

Disturbing trend in diving?

As always and mentioned all too frequently -- just too much crap, going in the water. I dragged yet another guy out of the surf at Carmel River State Beach, CA, less than ten days ago, who was incapable of even standing with all of his gear -- side-mounted 100s or 120s swinging like pendulums at either side, knocking him on his ass and a mondo pony slung over one shoulder. I nearly took one in the jaw.

There were three tanks, unclipped, out on the sand before the diver even stood -- and it was relatively flat out there.

My own setup that day, by way of comparison, was a hard backpack from the 1970s, sans bladder; a ten pound weight-belt and 7 mm wetsuit; a rental 80 because it was the last minute; along with a forty-year old Cyklon 300 with analogue gauges and a watch, normally kept behind the seat of my truck.

Of the two us, who do you suppose had a better time of it that day; and had a far lesser chance of dying by embarrassment?

 

[John C. Ratliff]

Now just stop it right there.

Everyone knows AFSOC covers the DZ with memory foam pillows.

Sheesh…some people.

A kinda poor PLF during the POW/MIA Jumpfest, 1972. Closest I could come up with memory foam pillows…

SeaRat