Full Equipment Exchange

[andydiver06]

As part of your Divemaster Skills you need to carry out Full Equipment Exchange while buddy breathing with a single donor. Last Saturday I completed it and had a real tough time and learnt a few lessons.

I did it with my instructor in pool and it was quite simple as we each took two breaths each and passed the reg along while exchanging our equipment. I started in the following progression - Mask- Weights, Fins, BCD. So repeating the same in open water seemed to be absolutely no problem. After completing my second dive on a single tank (two 45 min dive at 6m- 8 m) I had 90 BARS left and my Instructor told me I better change my tank as I had 90 BAR left and we had to do full Equipment Exchange. I confidently said no problem as 90 BAR was fine. He said are you sure? ok lets give it a try. My instructor and me are of similar build and also have similar equipment which I knew from my pool try out. But now the instructor changed the scenario. Instead of having an equipment exchange with him as we have done in pool , he called Greg out divemaster, who is much taller and have completely different types of equipment. His fins and were not adjustable which I did not know then. ( I was a fool not to enquire before we went down) . So we went down and statred with the exchange. As practiced I changed my Mask First. Easy. Two breaths each. Now when I cleared the mask it filled again. It was too big for my face. I tried to find the strap adjustments and found none. It was kind of fixed for his face. So all my problems began. By this time Like I have practiced in pool, I did not get the reg back on time. Greg was busy removing his equipment and I had to literally grab the reg back. I was kind of blind as my mask was full whatever I tried. While repeatedly trying to clear my mask in between equipment exhange I was totally out of breath and gasping for air as my anxiety was increasing and two breaths were not enough. I was so desperate that I removed my Octo and took two deep breaths after which my Instructor caught my hand and kept the OCTO back. I tried to calm down and stop trying to clear my mask. Anyhow I removed my Weight and exchanged, then my fins and then finally the BCD all while remaining breathless and blind. Finally we surfaced slowly ascending. Greg had spring adjustable strap Jet Fins which was too loose and heavy. I almost lost it while ascending. Anway I survived the day. My Tank pressure as almost zero when I surfaced.

Was my Instructor trying to kill me?

Now I understand the lessons I learned from this and like to share with other divemaster candidates.
1. Before the exercise find out about each others equipments, whether they are compatible.
2. Change Your mask Last. Start with weights, fins, BCD and then mask.
3. You need to send continuous bubbles through your mouth betwen the breaths but forget about DEMO quality, just make them really tiny.
4. Do not try to clear your mask at one go as you will be totally out of breath.
( Two times it enough to clear your mask)

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I don't think your instructor was trying to kill you ... I think he was trying to teach you a lesson or two I don't see listed ...

5. Never go on a dive with "just enough" gas in your cylinder. Mr. Murphy is a diver ... and unexpected things happen. When they do, you will use your gas far more quickly than normal. Next time, change the tank ... it might save your life (or someone else's).

6. Things are never as easy on a real dive as they are in the pool. Plan accordingly.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Sideband]

4. Do not try to clear your mask at one go as you will be totally out of breath.

You should be able to clear a mask several times on one breath. The amount of air actually needed to clear a mask is tiny compaired to the volume in your lungs.

Joe

 

[Walter]

I think your instructor made a mistake, but I don't think he was trying to kill you. I would've let you take your octo and ended the exercise.

This really is an easy task. The key is to discuss the proceedure step by step with your buddy while looking at each other's gear.

You're not yet ready to be a DM, be patience and get more experience. Practice your skills, especially no mask breathing and mask clearing. It will come, none of us were born with the skills.

4. Do not try to clear your mask at one go as you will be totally out of breath.

You should be able to clear your mask at least 3 times on one breath. Practice it in shallow end of the pool with no SCUBA.

Practice diving with no mask. Swim for at least 5 minutes before putting it on and clearing it.

These skills skould be second nature for all divers, but especially for DM candidates.

 

[andydiver06]

Swimming with no mask is no problem neither is mask clearing but I think you people did not get my point. What about equipment exchange with no mask plus no air. Or how do you clear a continuously flooding mask as you cannot adjust the straps. Try that for a change.

 

[SteFord]

I would suggest swapping gear before entering the water, then the exercise is returning your own gear to you...

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Swimming with no mask is no problem neither is mask clearing but I think you people did not get my point. What about equipment exchange with no mask plus no air. Or how do you clear a continuously flooding mask as you cannot adjust the straps. Try that for a change.

Actually, I think both Walter and I got more points than you realize and we are both trying to tell you something important ... vital, actually, if you truly intend to take on the responsibilities of a divemaster.

While repeatedly trying to clear my mask in between equipment exhange I was totally out of breath and gasping for air as my anxiety was increasing and two breaths were not enough. I was so desperate that I removed my Octo and took two deep breaths after which my Instructor caught my hand and kept the OCTO back.

The purpose of the exercise isn't to teach you how to exchange gear with someone underwater ... that's simply not something you will ever have to do in the real world.

The purpose of the exercise is to teach you how to deal with stressful situations underwater while task loaded ... and doing so calmly. A simple thing like a flooding mask caused you anxiety, which in turn caused your breathing rate to go up to the point where you were "gasping for air". Now ask yourself this ... what would you have done if your octo wasn't available? Did you consider your options? In this case, you were breathing hard and working hard. Slow down, calm yourself (mental discipline), forget about the mask, focus on the air exchange. Once your breathing calmed down, continue to exchange gear ... if necessary, close your eyes and do it by feel. When you've completed the exchange, signal your buddy that the two of you are going to ascend. Use your right hand to apply enough pressure to the mask to reduce water leakage, clear, and make a controlled ascent.

Remember ... as long as you are breathing, all else can be worked out. Do so calmly ... and as slowly as your gas supply allows.

This exercise is all about self-discipline. Until you get a better handle on it, Walter is correct ... you aren't yet ready to become a divemaster. That's not a criticism ... it's an evaluation of where you are at, based on your description of how you handled the exercise. Go back to the pool and keep working at it ... do so with the Greg, or someone else who can provide less-than-ideal circumstances ... in the real world, that's what you'll be faced with. When you can handle the unexpected in the pool without anxiety, then you're ready to try it in open water conditions.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Gary D.]

Listen to Walter and Bob and I have to agree that you’re not ready.

Think of what the true definition of SCUBA is. A self-contained breathing apparatus. Everything else you’re using is an option, like mask, fins, suit and so on.

So if you’re having trouble with the mask, get rid of it. You can function just fine without it or at least to be a DM candidate you should be. One of the many problems you’re going to deal with, as a DM, will be mask problems so you better have that skill down pat.

Just like driving a car without a windshield. It’s not going to be as comfortable as having one but you can still drive the car. The same goes for a mask.

IMHO I don’t think anyone with as few dives as your showing in your profile should be a DM. With under 100 dives you’re still learning how to be a diver which should be the first agenda.

Good luck with your progression and take it one step at a time. Get control of one skill at a time. Once you have that control putting them all together is a breeze.

Gary D.

 

[andydiver06]

Thanks for the advice . As you say Maybe I'm really not ready to be a DM because I allowed my panic to rise to increase my Breathing rate. I have completed only 75 dives and started two years back. So practically I'm a novice. But I have been freediving long before this without any mask and never had any problems. Sorry about the comment about the instructor. He is a nice guy. What I pointed out in my thread was Where I went wrong. Practically speaking without the mask should also be quite ok . Plus I failed major in proper planning before the activity. I will try doing that. But as I have a job which pays I only dive on weekends or when I have enough money to spare for couple of dives and do not have so much familiarity with different situations. I started my DM not for thinking in the line of profession but just to make myself a better diver and more self reliant.

 

[likelite]

Remember ... as long as you are breathing, all else can be worked out. Do so calmly ... and as slowly as your gas supply allows.

I'd agree with this.

Sounds like you tried to do too much on one breath. I just did the equipment exchange myself (my first try was a mess, like yours, but the second one was great).

Remember you can simply hold the mask to your face and clear it. Don't try to fiddle with the strap, clear it and breathe all at the same time.

Whatever you do when buddy breathing, DO NOT let go of the regulator (or the person's arm who has the regulator). If you do that, you're flying blind if you can't see, so you won't be able to grab it.

I think this last was the most important point for me - the first time I did it, we were simply passing the octo back and forth. My mask flooded, I couldn't see, couldn't find the octo, and things went south fast. This time, I held the mask to my face, cleared it - cleared it again after I discovered the strap had been underneath it...kept breathing...put the strap back on after I opened my eyes. Worked fine, thanks to my awesome instructor.