Forced descent in Blue Hole

[MikeFerrara]

But, something going wrong doesn't have to mean being unsafe.

Of course not but how prepared and able you are to handle the problem is what makes the difference there. Good dive planning and solid skills pretty much make it all a piece of cake but how often do you see that?

 

[occrider]

Two quick things:

Biscuit7's experience sounds like almost the exact opposite of what I experienced with ADM. Had I been on a dive like what B described, I would have been quite pissed and would be dragging ADMs name through the mud wherever I could. I'd like to think I would have seen the writing on the wall before we even got in the water on that dive and aborted, but in all likelihood I would have done the dive anyway and tried to stay out of the way of the oncoming cluster. For the record, I am not at all in favor of dives like B's dive being carried out and if ADM is really carrying out dives like this, I should quit defending them.

As far as the 130' on an 80 argument goes, I agree that if anything hits the fan at that depth, it's going to be a bad situation. Not a certain death sentence, especially with a good buddy and cool easy-breathing heads (and maybe some hang tanks!), but definitely not a happy place. My only point is that reasonable people can differ as to whether the risk with this plan is an acceptable one.

And Christi: I agree that you guys can (and should, for your own best interests) refuse to let anyone dive if you feel they are a danger to themself or others. I just don't think divers should be excused from thinking for themselves because they think it's the dive ops job to police whether they're ready for a dive.

Yea my experience was more like yours. There were 20 divers on the boat, they broke up the crowd into 3 groups. Each group had 2-3 DMs. The max depth they quoted in the briefing was 130ft, but I noticed that some people were going down to 135 maybe 140ft. In once instance they caught someone's attention to tell him to rise.

Blue Hole is interesting, but I wouldn't do it again. Really Half Moon Caye and the Aquarium are spectacular (dive 2 and 3). If anyone is thinking about diving the blue hole with ADM (the only other operator I would go with would be protech), talk to the lead DM and get in the first group. This is a must do ... I was stuck in the third group and the first two groups scared away all the big stuff for the second and third dive.

 

[Christi]

The entire concept of "Advanced Dive" should be scrapped.

Operators should describe the dives in specific terms like:

"This is a 140' dive into an overhead environment. You will need to descend immediately and as quickly as possible to the entrance, or return to the boat. There is no margin for error. The dive may exceed your NDL or your gas supply if your SAC rate is more than xxx."

"This is a 50' dive in moderate viz and moderate-to-low currrent, to a mostly rusted out barge".

I've heard both of these described as "Advanced", although there's clearly a big difference.

Terry

There you go! I couldn't agree with you more. I think I am going to change my dive site descriptions and take away the "ratings"

The rating is all subjective and kind of goes along with what I was saying earlier about some divers thinking they are more qualified than they really are because they have a card that "says so."

 

[dherbman]

Of course not but how prepared and able you are to handle the problem is what makes the difference there. Good dive planning and solid skills pretty much make it all a piece of cake

SNIP.....

That's all I'm saying. That level of competence is the exception, rather than the rule. It doesn't come from just doing the dives, it comes from training, practice and planning.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Turns out that ADM had lost a diver in the hole the week before. I don't actually know if the body was ever recovered or what happened in that incident.

Was that in the summer of 2001? If so, the body was never recovered. They even attempted using an ROV to see if they could locate it, to no avail. Not surprising, considering the depth and terrain.

The sad thing is that the man was diving with his son ... they got separated, and the guy was never seen again. I think they were both pretty new divers.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Christi]

SNIP.....

OK...I have a question...maybe a blonde question...but what does this acronyn SNIP stand for?

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

OK...I have a question...maybe a blonde question...but what does this acronyn SNIP stand for?

It's not an acronym ... it's a descriptive term meant to indicate that the preceding text was not included ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[wreckchick]

This was summer 2002. I never heard a thing about it except around town after my trip with them. People were saying heart attack, but who knows. I guess the guy just floated on down to the bottom. Creepy.

Rachel

 

[Christi]

It's not an acronym ... it's a descriptive term meant to indicate that the preceding text was not included ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Thank you...I THOUGHT that's what it meant...but wasn't exactly sure...so I feel stupid...haha!

 

[Hank49]

I think I can shed some light on it for you. So how was it that I got to see all that? I guess just because I was there. I was just there. I didn't cause it and none had anything directly to do with me or any one in our party (atleast until the aftermath). I was just there. I have solved the problem though. I rarely go to those places any more. It's just too exciting for me.

The Barney Fife school of diving may be a good description although I've seen the same sort of stuff in other places like Florida although without the ambulances. Vortex on a weekend is truely a site to behold.

Now, the thought of a bunch of these good folks getting together for a dip into the blue hole just gives me the willies.

It is a whole different diving world going into quarries. I never have sat and thought of all the .....increase really,..of problems that can occur relative to clear, warm water. Thanks. That was quite a post you made. Hank