pediatron
Contributor
Let me start off by saying that I am a bit nervous about posting this, but I figure it may help someone.
A little background: My husband and I had just gotten to Bonaire after an overnight flight where I didnt sleep and a huge hassle about our room being oversold that night (and having to be put up in alternate accommodations). I would have preferred to go to the new condo and get some sleep, but the only way to get the marine park tag that day was to participate in an orientation and check out dive that morning. I had done about 70 or so dives in the past (AOW), my husband at least double that.
I was in a new 5mm full wetsuit (from my previous 3mm) and needed to figure out weights. My husband didnt suit up as his plan was to hand me additional weights from the pier if needed. I suited up and jumped off the pier (probably over-weighted with 18 lbs.) into about 12 feet of water. Very quickly I noticed that while my BC would inflate for a moment, it wouldnt stay inflated. I called out to my hubby that I had a problem and he said to just swim around to the steps and wed fix it on the pier. He (I guess) figured I was fine and didnt pay much attention to me after that. I started swimming around the pier, plus the two boats tied up, and started to get really tired really fast. Its amazing how much energy it takes to hold oneself at the surface without any air in the BC. About half-way around the pier, I was starting to panic. I had my hands on my weights, but couldnt seem to be willing to release them (I mean I was right there at the pier so close). There was a DM on the boat I was trying to go around who asked if he could help and jumped in, then tried to orally inflate my BC without success and gave me a quick tow to the stairs. Took me about 10 min. to calm down and did the dive after my hubby fixed the connection of the inflator hose. Had a great time the rest of the week.
This was my first equipment problem after about 70 or so dives. I knew I was going to be ok the whole time, but it was incredibly scary at the time. I felt very abandoned by my dive buddy, husband. Im disappointed in myself for not dropping the weights. I do understand what they teach in the rescue course about a panicked diver not descending. (I could have easily swam UNDER the pier to the steps in no time, but this didnt even cross my mind).
I had wanted to take the rescue diver that trip, but the dive shop couldnt accommodate. We have both since enjoyed the course in Cozumel this last month and have learned much.
I just wanted to share my experience perhaps it will help someone. I had been very trusting of my equipment and thought I could handle problems as they came up. If my husband had been in the water or probably any other buddy, I think I would have been a lot calmer. I definitely felt very alone and will not agree to that type of separation again even under what seemed like such benign conditions. (BTW we just booked another Bonaire trip for this summer!)
A little background: My husband and I had just gotten to Bonaire after an overnight flight where I didnt sleep and a huge hassle about our room being oversold that night (and having to be put up in alternate accommodations). I would have preferred to go to the new condo and get some sleep, but the only way to get the marine park tag that day was to participate in an orientation and check out dive that morning. I had done about 70 or so dives in the past (AOW), my husband at least double that.
I was in a new 5mm full wetsuit (from my previous 3mm) and needed to figure out weights. My husband didnt suit up as his plan was to hand me additional weights from the pier if needed. I suited up and jumped off the pier (probably over-weighted with 18 lbs.) into about 12 feet of water. Very quickly I noticed that while my BC would inflate for a moment, it wouldnt stay inflated. I called out to my hubby that I had a problem and he said to just swim around to the steps and wed fix it on the pier. He (I guess) figured I was fine and didnt pay much attention to me after that. I started swimming around the pier, plus the two boats tied up, and started to get really tired really fast. Its amazing how much energy it takes to hold oneself at the surface without any air in the BC. About half-way around the pier, I was starting to panic. I had my hands on my weights, but couldnt seem to be willing to release them (I mean I was right there at the pier so close). There was a DM on the boat I was trying to go around who asked if he could help and jumped in, then tried to orally inflate my BC without success and gave me a quick tow to the stairs. Took me about 10 min. to calm down and did the dive after my hubby fixed the connection of the inflator hose. Had a great time the rest of the week.
This was my first equipment problem after about 70 or so dives. I knew I was going to be ok the whole time, but it was incredibly scary at the time. I felt very abandoned by my dive buddy, husband. Im disappointed in myself for not dropping the weights. I do understand what they teach in the rescue course about a panicked diver not descending. (I could have easily swam UNDER the pier to the steps in no time, but this didnt even cross my mind).
I had wanted to take the rescue diver that trip, but the dive shop couldnt accommodate. We have both since enjoyed the course in Cozumel this last month and have learned much.
I just wanted to share my experience perhaps it will help someone. I had been very trusting of my equipment and thought I could handle problems as they came up. If my husband had been in the water or probably any other buddy, I think I would have been a lot calmer. I definitely felt very alone and will not agree to that type of separation again even under what seemed like such benign conditions. (BTW we just booked another Bonaire trip for this summer!)
