Hi all, I was up to Aurora Res last Saturday for (I thought) a fun dive with my new LDS. I had previously been told that Aurora Res requires advance notice and permission to conduct Rescue Diver classes, so I had planned on finishing mine up later this month at Turquoise Lake. I was surprised to find that another young woman was completing hers, and they had already pulled my folder and were ready to test me too. :11: I wasnt planning on it, but they told me you dont plan emergencies. :headshake
So, I was tested and completed my Rescue Diver course Saturday.
:dancingsnoopy:
I am still sore. :shiner1:
The first dive, I was helping my buddy, who had never dove cold water, put her fins on, and found that during that process, my Velcro mask keeper had released my mask somewhere under water.
My buddy tried snorkeling for it, but the visibility was too low where we had been dancing or fins on. I borrowed her mask, and started a search for it, but brail (using hands only). It took about 10 minutes, but I successfully recovered it.
We then checked weighting, and she found she needed a bit more. Shore support brought her another 3 pounds and we were off to see the crawdads on a test dive. She surfaced somewhat unexpectedly at a platform one of the other dive shops had placed there, and said she knew we were there for Rescue Diver, and that she felt really embarrassed, but this was not part of the test, but she couldnt breathe, and her chest hurt badly. After some basic questions/answers, she said she thought she was okay to go back to shore on the surface. I swam with her, but it became clear that she was not comfortable, so I started gently towing her. We got her to shore, took her gear off, too off mine, and helped to up to a table/bench, and she said she felt light-headed. I told her to sit and relax, and let me know if conditions changed. I notified the instructor about her condition, but didnt go into the details of having to tow her back. He didnt seem too concerned. As it turns out, we think it was just the shock of cold water. Shed only dived before in Hawaii (where she used to live) and heated LDS pools.
After a rest, she felt better, and we then did our scenarios without any further problems. Except all the swimming on shore .and back towing and rescue breathing. I knew it was a bit of work while doing it, but I am really surprised how sore my back and arms are today. I dont really remember using them that much, but guess swimming with my arms supporting the victims head and raising myself high enough to perform Rescue Breathing without submersing the victim, is more intense than I realized, especially over a distance with a bit of wind (surface current).
As most have commented, I got the most out of this course, fun and skills, of any scuba courses Ive taken to date.
For those who havent been out there yet this year, you cannot make a left turn to the scuba beach and parking from the entrance road now. They have concrete dividers installed so you cant make this left hand turn. You now have to go up to the little entrance station (where they are inspecting boats and other watercraft for zebra and other muscles) and pay your fee there during normal operating times. You can get the placard/key there too. I guess its their way of controlling access.
BTW, from what I remember, the fees have gone up $1 for entrance (from $5 to $6) and $1 for the Placard & Key (from $6 to $7). Annual Fee for non-Aurora resident is $55 (breakpoint is 11 days).
So, I was tested and completed my Rescue Diver course Saturday.
:dancingsnoopy:
I am still sore. :shiner1:
The first dive, I was helping my buddy, who had never dove cold water, put her fins on, and found that during that process, my Velcro mask keeper had released my mask somewhere under water.
My buddy tried snorkeling for it, but the visibility was too low where we had been dancing or fins on. I borrowed her mask, and started a search for it, but brail (using hands only). It took about 10 minutes, but I successfully recovered it.We then checked weighting, and she found she needed a bit more. Shore support brought her another 3 pounds and we were off to see the crawdads on a test dive. She surfaced somewhat unexpectedly at a platform one of the other dive shops had placed there, and said she knew we were there for Rescue Diver, and that she felt really embarrassed, but this was not part of the test, but she couldnt breathe, and her chest hurt badly. After some basic questions/answers, she said she thought she was okay to go back to shore on the surface. I swam with her, but it became clear that she was not comfortable, so I started gently towing her. We got her to shore, took her gear off, too off mine, and helped to up to a table/bench, and she said she felt light-headed. I told her to sit and relax, and let me know if conditions changed. I notified the instructor about her condition, but didnt go into the details of having to tow her back. He didnt seem too concerned. As it turns out, we think it was just the shock of cold water. Shed only dived before in Hawaii (where she used to live) and heated LDS pools.
After a rest, she felt better, and we then did our scenarios without any further problems. Except all the swimming on shore .and back towing and rescue breathing. I knew it was a bit of work while doing it, but I am really surprised how sore my back and arms are today. I dont really remember using them that much, but guess swimming with my arms supporting the victims head and raising myself high enough to perform Rescue Breathing without submersing the victim, is more intense than I realized, especially over a distance with a bit of wind (surface current).
As most have commented, I got the most out of this course, fun and skills, of any scuba courses Ive taken to date.
For those who havent been out there yet this year, you cannot make a left turn to the scuba beach and parking from the entrance road now. They have concrete dividers installed so you cant make this left hand turn. You now have to go up to the little entrance station (where they are inspecting boats and other watercraft for zebra and other muscles) and pay your fee there during normal operating times. You can get the placard/key there too. I guess its their way of controlling access.
BTW, from what I remember, the fees have gone up $1 for entrance (from $5 to $6) and $1 for the Placard & Key (from $6 to $7). Annual Fee for non-Aurora resident is $55 (breakpoint is 11 days).
