Frequency of advanced divers practicing CESAs ? [Poll]

Approximately how often have you practiced doing CESAs up till now ?

  • Never.

    Votes: 121 75.2%
  • A few times.

    Votes: 22 13.7%
  • About once every 5-10 years.

    Votes: 2 1.2%
  • About once every 2-4 years.

    Votes: 2 1.2%
  • About once a year.

    Votes: 4 2.5%
  • About once every 5-6 months

    Votes: 1 0.6%
  • About once every 3-4 months.

    Votes: 1 0.6%
  • About once every 1-2 months.

    Votes: 5 3.1%
  • More often then once a month.

    Votes: 3 1.9%

  • Total voters
    161

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Roger Hobden

Contributor
Messages
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Location
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# of dives
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This question is mainly for advanced divers.

EDIT: Advanced = AOW certification but not necessarily Technical certification.

How often have you practiced doing Controlled Emergency Swimming Ascents (CESA) up till now ?

Do you practice them horizontally, vertically, or both ?

At what depth do you usually practice them ?

I assume that divers currently always keep their regulator in their mouth at all times, just in case.

I mention this because when I did my OW training with NASDS in the 1990s, we ditched our regulator but then were immediately helped up towards the surface (while finning frantically) by the instructor from a depth of 5m.

Any other comment on the ideal frequency and setting of the practice of this skill would be most welcome.

Is it possible to practice this too much, or not enough ?

What criteria would you use to determine how much is "just right" ?
 
Advanced divers?

Having AOW certification, but not necessarily Technical certification.

I will specify this more clearly on the OP.
 
I never practice this, i don't see any reason why to have this skill.
 
I certainly don't and I advise divers to avoid doing so.
  • There are serious injuries that can and have happened during a CESA
    • Ear Barotrauma
    • Lung Barotrauma
    • Embolism
    • AGE
    • DCS
  • Better to develop the skills that obviate the need for a CESA
    • Gas Planning
      • Includes gas checking
    • Buddy Skills
      • They are your redundant air source
      • Buddy Awareness
      • Know & check their air often
      • They should be doing the same for you
    • Overall dive planning
 
Holding AOW does not mean you’re *advanced*. Far, far too many would be considered “advanced” if that was the case. Just a thought.

After having done initially OW training with NASDS, the follow-up diving card that I received in 1993 from ACUC indicates advanced diver on the card, this after having subsequently done "deep" diving (30m), night diving, compass diving, etc.

I am just using, as far as I know, the currently recognized terminology. Please don't hesitate to correct me if I am wrong. :)
 
I certainly don't and I advise divers to avoid doing so.
  • There are serious injuries that can and have happened during a CESA
    • Ear Barotrauma
    • Lung Barotrauma
    • Embolism
    • AGE
    • DCS
  • Better to develop the skills that obviate the need for a CESA
    • Gas Planning
      • Includes gas checking
    • Buddy Skills
      • They are your alternate air source
      • Buddy Awareness
      • Know & check their air often
      • They should be doing the same for you
    • Overall dive planning

Do you believe that CESA should never be taught by any diving agency ?

I know you mentioned something about this in a recent thread, but I am still unclear about your position in that matter.

OTOH, practicing to exhale slowly while you are finning rapidly in a horizontal position would never bring about pressure changes and thus none of the injuries that you mention.
 
Please don't hesitate to correct me if I am wrong.
Oh please, we don't need to have your thread hijacked. :D :D :D
 
After having done initially OW training with NASDS, the follow-up diving card that I received in 1993 from ACUC indicates advanced diver on the card, this after having subsequently done "deep" diving (30m), night diving, compass diving, etc.

I am just using, as far as I know, the currently recognized terminology. Please don't hesitate to correct me if I am wrong. :)

Meh. That's more marketing hype than anything else, and there are tons of people who would say that what's marketed as "Advanced Open Water" should more accurately be called "Open Water Part II."
I did OW, and AOW the very next day. So when I finished, I had (not counting a handful of dives I did before being certified) 9 dives. Yes, it says Advanced on the card. No, I wouldn't be so silly as to consider myself an advanced diver at that stage.

As for the original question, I do not practice CESA. The Chairman listed plenty of good reasons not to, and I agree with them. Planning, caution, and redundancy are far better things to work on.
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/swift/

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