Doing deep stops in strong current

[WhiteSands]

On a recent dive there was very poor visibility (1.5m) and strong currents. There were 3 of us in a group. We went very slowly but still got separated when our group met another group and we were all trying to hold on to something because of the current. I think the team member up front moved on but I was blocked by 2 divers from the other group.

When I could find space to inch forward I lost sight of the front member. Me & remaining buddy searched around a bit but could not find him. We signalled to each other to surface.

When doing our stops we were swept off quite a distance from the boat. When we surfaced, we could not see the 3rd buddy. So we decided to head back to boat first since the missing buddy is our guide and very familiar with the area. that presented some problems as we were now swimming up current and the boat could not come to us as we were on the reef.

Question: what will you do in this situation?

Another question came to mind. What are you supposed to do if there was a down current and you had to do your stops?

 

[Tortuga68]

Would help if you shared your dive profile, time/depth/NDL (sounds like it was a rec dive?)... not sure what you mean by 'deep stops'

In the situation you described, stay on the surface, get away from the reef to a position where the boat can collect you

For down current priority is to get out of the current, do your required stops after that

 

[DevonDiver]

(sounds like it was a rec dive?)... not sure what you mean by 'deep stops'

We can hope it was a recreational dive...

Assuming that is so, the 'deep stops' are entirely optional. Whether manually added or computer designated (i.e. Suunto DS option) they exist in the same way as a safety stop does.

The decision to abort optional stops (deep or safety) would be made should other factors impose a threat to safety. Strong current and separation from the dive boat might easily be one of those.

Whilst a lot more information on the specifics of the dive/boat/support is needed for a definitive answer, once contact with the shot-line is relinquished, you basically have a choice between;

1) Abandon stops and ascend immediately to retain contact with the boat. Possibly the best option if the boat has to remain static and cannot disengage to come and collect you within a reasonable timescale (and you might otherwise be swept out of visual range and become 'lost').

2) Launch DSMB and ascend with stops in the current. Possibly the best option if the boat is likely to observe your DSMB and pick you up upon surfacing within a short timescale without losing sight of you. Only an option if you actually carry a DSMB and reel... and know how to use it.

It's wise to consider these sort of scenarios when dive planning. Having a contingency plan in advance, based upon the specific factors of that dive, prevents last minute problem solving and certainly makes dives safer and more relaxed.

 

[supergaijin]

Depending on conditions and environment, sometimes it is better to stay close to the original divesite/drop point as this gives the boat a much smaller area to look for you. Certainly here in the Maldives it is not a good idea to be drifting away from the security of the reef. If the reef is extrememly shallow, one can swim away from the reef once contact has been made with the boat.

'Deep stops' are simply not needed by the vast majority of divers IMO and they are an unnecessary 'selling feature' in today's range of computers.

Normally drift diving should involve SMB deployment while underwater to alert the boat of divers who will soon be surfacing. The SMB pops up over the reef (or close by) and then the boat can track the drifting divers. If no deployment is possible underwater and there is a good chance of drifting away- it is better to forgo any safety stop, surface and get the boat's attention.

Honestly however, if the viz was that bad (1.5m) and the current was also strong- I would be cancelling the dive.

'Down currents' get a lot of press here in Scubaboard. During a safety-stop there may well be a circular washing machine, however a 'down current' at that depth is pretty rare. Again if the SS was impossible, it's better to surface and inflate.

If by "stops" you are talking about decompression stops.... may the gods have mercy on your buddies.

 

[gekodivebali]

Ah deco dives where you have to hang onto the reef to complete your deco schedules... Sigh!

 

[dreamdive]

FYI, there is sufficient evidence that deep stops are actually increasing your risk developing DCS! You can follow the discussion on DAN - 2008 Technical Diving Conference Proceedings, "Deep Stops and their Efficacy in Decompression" by Gerth, Doolette, and Gault. Their concluding comment:"Both DCS and VGE were higher after the deep stops schedule than after the traditional schedule (no deep stops)".

 

[DevonDiver]

FYI, there is sufficient evidence that deep stops are actually increasing your risk developing DCS! You can follow the discussion on DAN - 2008 Technical Diving Conference Proceedings, "Deep Stops and their Efficacy in Decompression" by Gerth, Doolette, and Gault. Their concluding comment:"Both DCS and VGE were higher after the deep stops schedule than after the traditional schedule (no deep stops)".

The article was more specific than that... and specified several type of stops. Either way, I don't think it's advisable for any diver to start acting like a volunteer 'test diver' when they have little theoretical understanding of the concepts being applied..

 

[dreamdive]

The article was more specific than that... and specified several type of stops. Either way, I don't think it's advisable for any diver to start acting like a volunteer 'test diver' when they have little theoretical understanding of the concepts being applied..

i.e. adding arbitrary stops?

I am all for education. Here is the link for said proceedings.

http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/xmlui/handle/123456789/8300?show=full

 

[WhiteSands]

Would help if you shared your dive profile, time/depth/NDL (sounds like it was a rec dive?)... not sure what you mean by 'deep stops'

In the situation you described, stay on the surface, get away from the reef to a position where the boat can collect you

For down current priority is to get out of the current, do your required stops after that

Hi
Perhaps "deep stops" was the wrong word to use. It is a safety stop at 9m for 1 min, then another at 6m then last one at 3m, all 1 min each. Depth of the dive was around 18m. Got lost after 20mins. Thanks.

---------- Post added July 28th, 2013 at 07:25 AM ----------

We can hope it was a recreational dive...

Assuming that is so, the 'deep stops' are entirely optional. Whether manually added or computer designated (i.e. Suunto DS option) they exist in the same way as a safety stop does.

The decision to abort optional stops (deep or safety) would be made should other factors impose a threat to safety. Strong current and separation from the dive boat might easily be one of those.

Whilst a lot more information on the specifics of the dive/boat/support is needed for a definitive answer, once contact with the shot-line is relinquished, you basically have a choice between;

1) Abandon stops and ascend immediately to retain contact with the boat. Possibly the best option if the boat has to remain static and cannot disengage to come and collect you within a reasonable timescale (and you might otherwise be swept out of visual range and become 'lost').

2) Launch DSMB and ascend with stops in the current. Possibly the best option if the boat is likely to observe your DSMB and pick you up upon surfacing within a short timescale without losing sight of you. Only an option if you actually carry a DSMB and reel... and know how to use it.

It's wise to consider these sort of scenarios when dive planning. Having a contingency plan in advance, based upon the specific factors of that dive, prevents last minute problem solving and certainly makes dives safer and more relaxed.

Thanks for the tips. Yes it was a rec dive.

 

[islanddream]

Your depth was 18 meters (approx. 60 feet) and you made three safety stops? Is this what you learned in your training (I'm not seeing if you are a certified diver)? I was trained to do a 3 minute safety stop at 15 feet. Or if my computer is telling me to stay at 15 feet a bit longer, I do. It's critical to have a DSMB and know how to deploy it safely so the boat can find you. I also have a Dive Alert just in case the seas are rough and if the boat captain doesn't see me then I can signal (very loud "horn" --- make sure head is underwater when signaling!) and hopefully he will hear it. I know how hard it is to swim up current....not fun! If you can get to a place where the boat can travel and the captain can visually see you, then that's what you must do. Having the right tools before hitting the water is critical.

BTW----what happened to the 3rd buddy? Hope he/she was OK!