Had 2 scary experiences: How to avoid in future?

[breckgirl5]

Hello all. This is my first posting here.I still consider myself a “new diver,” so this seemed like the best place to post. I’ve got about 15 dives under my belt (some in Belize and some Cozumel). I’ve not been diving in the last 3 years, but I’m going back to Cozumel next week. I did take a refresher course.

Here’s my issue. I don’t feel like PADI properly trains you for handling currents, and this seemed to be a recurring problem for me on my last dive trip. When I dove in Belize, there was very little current. When I dove in Cozumel it was another story, and I felt out of control and unprepared.

Here are a few things that happened to me:

1) On my first dive in Coz, our divemaster warned us there would be “some” currents. The more experienced divers on the boat told me to descend as fast as possible to avoid being carried away by a current. They descended very quickly as expected, but it always takes me about 5 minutes to descend. It takes me that long to clear my ears. I held onto the anchor line while descending, but by the time I got to the bottom, the group was ahead of me (including the DM). My buddy/husband was also new and didn't really know how to help me. I felt left behind. I was finally able to catch up, but found myself kind of flailing around in the currents as I tried to catch them. Soon, I had gotten AHEAD of them because I wasn’t sure what to do. Later on, they told me I should have just stuck close to the bottom and gotten to the leeward side of a reef or object in order to keep myself stationary. OK… thanks… Sure wish I had known that before.
2) On the next dive, I was again the slowest one to descend. I felt pressured to descend as quickly as possible (after the first dive), so I must have not completely cleared my ears. I controlled myself in the currents a little better this time (by sticking close to the bottom). However, it was during ASCENT that I ended up with a reverse block (!)…. One of the most painful things I’ve ever encountered. This occurred (I'm sure!) because I was rushing on the decsent and didn't completely clear. I also RAN OUT OF AIR because I had to continually descend to clear before I could continue ascent. Thank goodness the DM finally saw me and he came over to help. He and I shared air until I was finally able to clear the air from my ear. (My husband was my buddy, but he had to ascend 100% because he was out of air and I was almost completely out!!!)

So, I want to know how I can prevent this type of experience again. When you are a slow descender, what should you expect from the rest of the group? Should they wait for you? And, what IS the best way to handle currents? I know you should stick close to the bottom and not try to fight a current, but what else should I be doing? Anything? I just don’t want to be haunted by my last experience. I want to feel better prepared mentally for these things. Thanks!

 

[fisherdvm]

Tell your DM you want to be the first to descend if it is down a line, explain to him that you take time to go down due to your ear problems. Despite the law there that forbid gloves, don a pair. If you drift ahead of the group, go where there is no coral, and grab on to a rock and wait.

You might want to go to a pool and practice laps with a fin. Endurance and speed training can help you manage current and keep up with the group.

If you are burning up too much air, make sure your wetsuit fits you well. If you can not freely breath, you will burn up air.

Ascending too fast can contribute to reverse block. If you run low on air, let your DM know. He might end the dive for the whole group, or tell you to ascend slowly to save air. You will need to fin and keep directly above the group, or stay adjacent to the surface marker he might deploy for you.

 

[fisherdvm]

I might not blame PADI for your experience. Drift diving is not meant for beginning OW diver. That's why they do have a "drift" diving specialty. Of course, if you did your OW in cozumel, you probably will get enough drift and boat experience.

 

[HowardE]

Remember - when you are drift diving, the people on the bottom are also in the same current (for the most part) -

I am sure that if you started drifting along with the group, even if you were 30 feet above them, you'd be able to follow along while you descend at your own pace.

I have on several occasions had some ear clearing problems, and usually I can stay with my group and keep them in visual range even if I am 30 or even 50 feet above them. If you need your buddy there, tell them that you will be doing this, and they can stay with you at your slow pace.

I don't think you should blame PADI though... Drift diving is slightly more advanced, but lots of fun, and a nice relaxing way to dive and see a lot of reef with little effort.

 

[1_T_Submariner]

Welcome to Scubaboard....I don't have very much experience with guided dives so I will let others respond on how to avoid this situation. All have my dives have been without a DM in the water so my buddy and I control every thing about the dive.

 

[MatWill]

usually the DM will help you down the line.. at the very least your buddy should stay with you as you go down.. remember take your time.. there is no rush.. it is much better to go down properly then to have an ear squeeze later in the dive

remember to equalise often/constantly this might help you as you go down, if its not working just ascend 20-30cm if you still cant equalise abort the dive...

usually when i'm helping someone down the line i get them to focus on me and give them the equalise sign then i guide them down or up as needed.. this speeds things up because i only ascend a little, where as most new divers will ascend 1-2m then come back down.. makes the whole process take alot longer

just tell your hubby to be patient with you and everything should be ok

as for currents if your not drift diving make sure the group is swimming into the current at the start of the dive which makes the return sooo much easier!

also it sounds like you need to do more air checks between yourselves! you shouldnt be running out of air under water unless its a true emergency, your DM or supervisor should have recommended a back on board pressure (usually 34-50bar) you need to make sure that you surface when your running low.. dont be afraid to let your DM/buddy know how much air you have.. and tell them that you want to surface if your getting low, (they should come up with you)

best of luck with it!!

 

[fisherdvm]

Remember - when you are drift diving, the people on the bottom are also in the same current (for the most part) -

Shear force will cause the current to be slower adjacent to stationary borders. So it is slower at the bottom of the river, and near the banks of the river. You can cut down on the flow against you by laying flat on the bottom, as the current is slower.

But as Howard said, the main group, which is about 3 to 4 foot above the bottom, is at relatively the same current as you are. You can learn to adjust your bouayncy while swimming horizontally to keep up with the group. I usually start to work on my bouayncy immediately on descend, and you actually can swim faster than the group at the bottom, as you are in a swifter current.

As far as following your DM closely, stay at least 5 ft behind him in swift current. He'll find an interesting fish or shark, and before you know it, you are 5 ft in front of him, and can not swim back against the current.

 

[RonFrank]

Some people have more difficulty clearing than others. One thing that may help you clear is to clear your ears BEFORE you get in the water. In fact I clear my ears all the time just living where I do, and changing altitude.

So practice clearing. Don't force it, but you should should be able to clear anytime on the surface at will. If you can not, work on it. If it hurts, or you can not clear on the surface see an EMT before you dive next.

I clear generally before getting in the water, and then the minute I hit the water. I continue to clear as often as needed while descending. If you are descending, and can not clear, go back up until you can. Reverse block is a sign that you did some damage to your middle ear, or you were congested. If you force clear at depth, and you damage your ears, it will lead to problems like a reverse block or worst. When PADI, and other agencies say to clear early, and often, they should stress it more.

Howarde gave you some good advice on staying with the group from above if necessary. However realize that currents can be different at different depths, so tell the DM that you are a slow descender, and ask him to make sure you are with the group. Keep in mind that while the DM is there to help he is NOT your buddy, nor is it his job to keep you safe even if most do the best they can. But a DM is responsible for the dive, and the group as a whole, and can not always cater to just one diver, so keep that in mind.

I'd also suggest that your buddy/husband needs to work on being a better buddy. If both of you are new divers, then it's even more important to work on staying together.

Another way to stay with the group is to fin into the current facing into the current. If the group stops behind you, rather than just drifting on, turn around, and kick into the current. Generally you can hold a position without having to kick to hard and use up air. This depends on the current, but unless you are advanced divers most dive OPS will not put people in ripping current.

Finally, if you are a bit of an air pig, ask for AL100's. You did not just run out of air because you had to descend a lot, you did so because you are new, and likely your SAC rate is not the best. There is no shame in this, just make sure you NEVER run out of air as it can kill you. Stress generally results in divers SAC rate increasing.

Have fun in Coz, and dive safe.

 

[BOB L]

I live in So Florida, where drift diving is the norm. I also occasionally have a problem getting down fast (allergy). I spoke to my ENT who happens to be a diver too, and he suggested a squirt of Affrin 20 minutes before a recreational dive to 60' is OK. I would not use Affrin continually, for it is addictive. I have used it everyday for a week on vacation and had no problems. Nothing is worst then being a new diver in a strange environment by yourself, for your perception narrows down to survival rather then the beauty around you. I'm sure most everyone on this list can tell us their own little war story, so don't give up and I promise it will get better.

Hope this helps.
BOB L

 

[fisherdvm]

Bob, I used Afrin regularly before my dives. But I noted, that after about 6 days of diving, I would get a rebound effect when I stop that lasts about 3 days.

A controlled study done said that Afrin does not improve ear baro injury in airplanes. I think it has to do with the fact that Afrin does not get back to the eustachian tube if you followed manufacturer's recommendation.

As I understand, to get the effect that divers want, you have to tilt your head back, so it flows into the posterior pharynx. Problem is, Afrin is nasty and irritating to your throat.. And I hate the sensation of it in my throat. If you have a tip, let me know.

I find that 1 tablet of claritin works wonder in myself. But many people will not respond to claritin. You can ask your doctor if it is safe to use Allegra for your dives. Antihistamines do have decongestive property - even if you have a cold. But of course, I do not recommend diving if you have a cold, a virus, or sinusitis.

Sudafed has been shown in controlled studies to help divers and airline passengers. But I would be worried about side effect, hypertension, contribution to anxiety and panic attack, and other have shown concern about increased in oxygen toxicity. This might not be as big an issue if you dive with air, but might be more of a concern with nitrox.