Unknown Friend got hit with DCS

[lowwall]

The smart move would have been to just sit out dive #2 because of what happened on dive #1.

Long enough at 97' to run out of gas and then a nearly straight ascent? I would have suggested going on O2.

If that wasn't an option, what do people think about using the second dive as a light recompression dive? It wouldn't technically be in-water recompression (IWR) because they had no DCS symptoms at the time.

I'd think something like not exceeding 40' and doing at least 10 minutes at the end of the dive around 20' and 5 minutes at 10' might have been better than skipping the dive entirely.

[Edit - Let's assume an extra DM was available to make sure they followed the profile. You obviously wouldn't want to rely on this couple to manage it themselves.]

 

[Biotech Diver]

Dive tables and a watch are useless if you don't plan to use them.

Just saying.

Yeah, good point. Why assume they would use them based on their poor decision making.

 

[bhend16]

Did they even have dive tables and a watch with them on the dive?

They did not, as far as I know.

 

[Centrals]

Yes free.

Most unusual.
I have never ever came across one except enrolling for the OW/AOW course.

 

[Bookworm11]

But is a dive computer that useful if you totally run out of air at 97 feet unless you have an integrated one that warns you?? Me, I can't imagine that happening to me. I am analyzing about checking air, especially when I get to 1200 psi or less. There are so many problems in this story here. I've seen couples diving on one computer, and I thought that was a bad idea. Not checking your air, not having a computer, waiting 9 days to see a doctor?

 

[tridacna]

Most unusual.
I have never ever came across one except enrolling for the OW/AOW course.

I’ve been to a few resorts that have offered free computers to guests. Little Cayman Beach Resort springs to mind as one. Methinks that you and me go to very different resorts so your experiences are unlikely to mirror mine.

 

[RIHappyDiver]

But is a dive computer that useful if you totally run out of air at 97 feet unless you have an integrated one that warns you?? Me, I can't imagine that happening to me. I am analyzing about checking air, especially when I get to 1200 psi or less. There are so many problems in this story here. I've seen couples diving on one computer, and I thought that was a bad idea. Not checking your air, not having a computer, waiting 9 days to see a doctor?

The dive computer, in this case, would be more to let them know if there should have been a deco stop, as opposed to a quick assent with a “1-2 minute safety stop”. Again, that’s if they would have had any understanding of the computer.

Erik

 

[Biotech Diver]

That and how fast they can ascend.

The dive computer, in this case, would be more to let them know if there should have been a deco stop, as opposed to a quick assent with a “1-2 minute safety stop”. Again, that’s if they would have had any understanding of the computer.

Erik

The dive computer, in this case, would be more to let them know if there should have been a deco stop, as opposed to a quick assent with a “1-2 minute safety stop”. Again, that’s if they would have had any understanding of the computer.

Erik

 

[Duke Dive Medicine]

As a US Navy trained recompression chamber operator/supervisor I cannot believe it did.
@Duke Dive Medicine what say you?

I'd want more detail about the sequence of events. @bhend16's post #1 seems to suggest that the headache and eye pain came after flying home, which they did a day after their latest dives. I'm curious how long they waited before flying, when exactly the pain started, and whether they got any imaging of the head. Going only by the information provided, the symptoms are more suggestive of sinus barotrauma.

Best regards,
DDM

 

[idadd4]

As many others have said - SO MANY THINGS wrong. After reading your post, I had to go back and re-read it and ask myself, did this really happen? Many have already pointed out the problems.

If you are a diver and dive more than once a year - why would you NOT have DAN? If you only dive once a year, again, why would you NOT buy DAN because you only dive once a year?

Computer - hmmm - I am torn on this one. Many say don't dive without a computer. Well, being a techie and an old school diver, I don't trust electronics under water. I highly recommend learning your Tables and carrying tables with you. I have a table attached to my BCD Pocket. If my computer dies 5 minutes into a dive - WHY END IT. Know my tables, know how to read and adjust and finish my dive. Divers have been diving many many years with no computer.

But, in your statement OP, you mentioned they did a safety stop for one or two minutes at 15', per her console? What console? Also, a safety stop is a MIN of 3 minutes.

I don't think they had DCS from the dive - if anything it was from the flight. Just my opinion which in today's world is not even worth the .02 it came with.