Dive safe! A short story from a chamber operator

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Not knowing how your computer works is a real problem. I dive off SE FL very frequently. Several times each year I am asked by an individual on the boat why their computer seems to not be working normally. The answer is often, your computer is in violation gauge mode because you neglected to satisfy a deco obligation. They often look back at me like I am an alien, speaking in an unknown language.
 
Very good point, probably not. I should have been clearer. As rsingler points out, this was meant from a inert gas loading standpoint. A better way to phrase this might have been: "pretend your NDL limit is X minutes shorter than what your computer is showing you."



Hi Kathy,

In keeping patient confidentiality, I don't want to reveal too much information on him that might suffice to identify him. He was of the age of many divers seen on Cayman. Let's say between 50 and 70. He claimed to be a very experienced diver with excess of 1000 dives. I don't know when he last dived before he arrived in Cayman, but he was on vacation from a state that isn't know for diving. He told me in the chamber he was diving nitrox, but I later found out he was in fact diving air. According to his boat captain who I later spoke with, he had dived 4 dives that day. I'm not sure how quickly he sought out treatment, but due to the fact I was his last attendant at 12:30 would indicate he went in the chamber around 8:30. He could have done a night dive, but I'm unsure.

With gross symptoms like he had, it's unlikely he delayed treatment due to denial, like we see with many type 1 hits. Or he could have had an extended evaluation in the ER. I didn't see his chart when I got there. Not sure if he has DAN or not.

I try not to press too much in the chamber. Typically you can only chat with them during the 5 minute air breaks. The oxygen mask makes talking too difficult. Some patients are more forthcoming than others. This guy didn't seem like he wanted to chat too much, but then again, he had some pretty severe symptoms.



You maybe aware, our 2019 Innerspace event was held in Little Cayman. During our year-long planning with LCBR, we discussed, among other things, the emergency plans for diver injuries. If the diver is symptomatic, they get them off island a quick as possible. (Scubydrew who works for us, has a funny story about a false alarm in this regard with one of his divers.) If it's after dark, there is a real chance you'll be laying in the nurses office until daylight. According to LCBR management and staff, sometimes the chopper will come over, but most often not, due to the fact there are no lights on the runway there. A friend of mine who worked at LCBR for several years said she had seen an incident of a severely bent diver, where a twin otter came over at night, and residents of Little Cayman lined their vehicles up along the runway to provide landing light with their headlights.

I've also heard sometimes Cayman Brac would send the fire boat over to bring injured divers back to the Bra

To my knowledge I haven't seen any cases from the Brac or LC come in, but I don't always know where they are from and I also don't see every case that comes in. It's a volunteer program, and often when they call, I'm at work, or have been diving that day. (The chamber does not allow you to be an attendant if you've dived within 12 hours.)

I do know time is of the essence, and the quicker they get in the chamber (especially with type 2 hits) the more likely they are to make a full recovery.

Tony

Thank you Tony for all the great information and I totally understand the importance of patient confidentiality. I appreciate all the valuable information that you have provided.

It is my understanding that they actually do have a chamber on Brac but that it is no longer in use because of staffing issues (I think?) Do you know anything about that?
 
Do you actually think divers using Nitrox on an air profile are going to track their O2 exposure?
have you ever tracked O2 exposure over a series of recreational dives discussed in this thread? theoretically your point is valid but in the real world the chance of O2 exposure becoming an issue in recreational profiles is a world apart from the benefits of diving nitrox on air profiles to reduce dcs risks. in order for O2 exposure to become an issue in recreational diving you would have to be doing some absolutely crazy ass diving
 
I know people who actually dive Nitrox without setting their Nitrox enabled computer for Nitrox. Multiple day trips with 4-5 dives a day for at least 3-4 days. They admitted they don’t keep track of their O2 exposure, when I specifically asked them. That’s why I posted this question.
That can be a risky/dangerous practice in that situation - depending on depth and dive times!
 
have you ever tracked O2 exposure over a series of recreational dives discussed in this thread? theoretically your point is valid but in the real world the chance of O2 exposure becoming an issue in recreational profiles is a world apart from the benefits of diving nitrox on air profiles to reduce dcs risks. in order for O2 exposure to become an issue in recreational diving you would have to be doing some absolutely crazy ass diving

I don’t do the long, packed with dives, trips that many do. I dive regionally and at most have done 6 dives over 3 days. People have reported doing some really stupid stuff to me with regards to diving - not paying attention to their computers, getting locked out for missed deco (borrowing another computer to keep diving), never analyzing tanks, etc., so excuuuusssee me for asking a question. My diving on the Great Lakes is very different from the tropics. We tend to do long weekends. Week long (or more) trips are rare here.
 
That can be a risky/dangerous practice in that situation!

According to the guy above you, it’s nothing to be concerned about.
 
Not knowing how your computer works is a real problem. I dive off SE FL very frequently. Several times each year I am asked by an individual on the boat why their computer seems to not be working normally. The answer is often, your computer is in violation gauge mode because you neglected to satisfy a deco obligation. They often look back at me like I am an alien, speaking in an unknown language.

I cannot tell you how often that exact scenario occurs. Easily once per week at minimum. And you have to be super careful how you handle it, because it's their vacation, they just want to have fun, and you don't want to come over like an overbearing ****.
 
Deleted, I was going to tell a "clueless diver that I once met" story but that is not the purpose of this thread.
 
According to the guy above you, it’s nothing to be concerned about.
I don’t fully agree with the guy above me :).

While diving conservatively is likely not an issue, 4-5 long and deep dives/day for multiple days could get you into trouble.

After 4 Nitrox dives in 1 day in GC last Feb (2 tank AM + 2 tank PM), I was at ~28% CNS - so I would imagine that keeping that schedule with a 5th /night dive thrown in for a week could ratchet up CNS - certainly worth watching/monitoring, imho.
 
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Very good point, probably not. I should have been clearer. As rsingler points out, this was meant from a inert gas loading standpoint. A better way to phrase this might have been: "pretend your NDL limit is X minutes shorter than what your computer is showing you."



Hi Kathy,

In keeping patient confidentiality, I don't want to reveal too much information on him that might suffice to identify him. He was of the age of many divers seen on Cayman. Let's say between 50 and 70. He claimed to be a very experienced diver with excess of 1000 dives. I don't know when he last dived before he arrived in Cayman, but he was on vacation from a state that isn't know for diving. He told me in the chamber he was diving nitrox, but I later found out he was in fact diving air. According to his boat captain who I later spoke with, he had dived 4 dives that day. I'm not sure how quickly he sought out treatment, but due to the fact I was his last attendant at 12:30 would indicate he went in the chamber around 8:30. He could have done a night dive, but I'm unsure.

With gross symptoms like he had, it's unlikely he delayed treatment due to denial, like we see with many type 1 hits. Or he could have had an extended evaluation in the ER. I didn't see his chart when I got there. Not sure if he has DAN or not.

I try not to press too much in the chamber. Typically you can only chat with them during the 5 minute air breaks. The oxygen mask makes talking too difficult. Some patients are more forthcoming than others. This guy didn't seem like he wanted to chat too much, but then again, he had some pretty severe symptoms.



You maybe aware, our 2019 Innerspace event was held in Little Cayman. During our year-long planning with LCBR, we discussed, among other things, the emergency plans for diver injuries. If the diver is symptomatic, they get them off island a quick as possible. (Scubydrew who works for us, has a funny story about a false alarm in this regard with one of his divers.) If it's after dark, there is a real chance you'll be laying in the nurses office until daylight. According to LCBR management and staff, sometimes the chopper will come over, but most often not, due to the fact there are no lights on the runway there. A friend of mine who worked at LCBR for several years said she had seen an incident of a severely bent diver, where a twin otter came over at night, and residents of Little Cayman lined their vehicles up along the runway to provide landing light with their headlights.

I've also heard sometimes Cayman Brac would send the fire boat over to bring injured divers back to the Brac, but they stopped that when the Brac chamber closed.

To my knowledge I haven't seen any cases from the Brac or LC come in, but I don't always know where they are from and I also don't see every case that comes in. It's a volunteer program, and often when they call, I'm at work, or have been diving that day. (The chamber does not allow you to be an attendant if you've dived within 12 hours.)

I do know time is of the essence, and the quicker they get in the chamber (especially with type 2 hits) the more likely they are to make a full recovery.

Tony


Obviously the gentleman hadn't checked his own tanks but any idea why he would have thought that he was diving nitrox but instead air, for 4 dives?
 
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