Happy to be alive - scuba diving incident in Brockville, Ontario

[FreeFloat]

getwet2 brings up an important point: if you are going on a dive that you've never done before, ALWAYS ask someone from the boat crew what the conditions are expected to be and inform them of your experience (or lack thereof).

I recently turned down a dive operator in Monterey because I felt I wasn't getting the answers I was looking for. The person on the phone seemed more interested in getting my credit card number than answering questions about depth, currents, etc. Things that are important to any diver, but especially important to a newbie.

Nice idea, but doesn't always work.

My very first post-certification dives were the Lillie and Gaskin. The Lillie is certainly not a wreck I'd recommend for a newbie - yet when I specifically asked the charter op if the dive was appropriate for a newbie with no out-of-class dives, they assured me it was! (Other charter ops I spoke to earlier gently informed me that the wrecks they had planned were not for me)

 

[ScubaCollin]

Im sorry but I have to agree that what you did was wrong, you pushed your limits. You should of asked what the conditions were and be honest not only with the divemaster about your skill but also with yourself. Im not saying this because im trying to be an ***. Im saying this because the last thing I want to hear about is someone getting hurt. If you do go back for closure, PLEASE get some more experience in current dives.

Good luck and I hope this doesnt stop you from diving.

 

[DandyDon]

Sarosa, I'd be curious - as to whether you had a group leader who knew you were brand new, or if the boat captain knew that. How did you get on that boat.

Freefloat, the Lillly is the one where you find it in poor viz and hard current, hold onto it as you work around it, then fly over it in the current, right - hugging the rock to your right, but not running into it, with Freighters passing overhead. Am I right on that? :vosk1: Damn! Did you beat the guy who told you it was a newbie dive? rofile:

 

[Web Monkey]

I'm not going to rehash anything the others said, other than to say that you should keep an eye out for DCS symptoms and phone Diver's Alert network (1-919-684-8111) if you think you might have them.

Terry

I got PADI open water scuba diver certification in August, 2004 in Bala, Ontario. After getting certified, I decided to do my first recreational dive trip in Brockville last weekend (Sep. 11/12, 2004). The trip consisted of four wreck

 

[Wendy]

Glad you are ok.

Add to the list of things learned or should review:

Never dive beyond your training or comfort level, even if you are with a more experienced diver. Trust me dives are bad. and being over adventurous can get you hurt, as you learned first hand.

If you have to throw up, keep the reg in your mouth. When you yack you inhale first and choking/drowning while vommiting has to suck.

If you are low on air and need to inflate your bcd you can orally inflat it.

 

[bluewatertoy]

My wife and I were certified in May 2004. We now have about 12 dives under our belt. I would not even consider doing a wreck dive to 80 ft. with your experience. You not only put yourself in danger , but eveyone else on the dive with you including your buddy. You should send him or her a bottle for following you up from that depth, with no concern for anyones safety but yours. Get some more experience with shallower dives then and only then try again.

 

[Wijbrandus]

Hmm. My very first OW dive was a wreck dive at 70'.

Of course, it was also in 80' visibility, zero current, and 88 degree salt water. We just swam around the outside, but it was very cool anyway.

The conditions of the dive matter just as much as the depth, at least when you are talking about a new diver. If the dive had been anywhere near the conditions described here, I'd be freaking out too.

Oh, and I was at 1700 psi when I reached the bottom as well. I can certainly relate to that experience.

 

[Jersey Chris]

Obviously by now you realize that was a bad move so I am not going to say anything but glad you are ok and welcome to the board.. Stick around and take the diving very slow. This a very exciting sport but as you found out the hard way can be life threatning if you overstep your training level.. Good luck

 

[Aum]

Hmm....my 3rd dive after finishing my OW was to 27 m (think that's around 90ft?) down over a wreck. I was comfortable enough with myself and with my friend DM who was taking me that I agreed to the dive. Everything went fine, had a wonderful dive and also used it as training to further hone bouyancy, breathing and trim etc.

I know those things should be "in the bag" before doing dives that deep but I was comfortable enough with myself and my skills so far that it wasn't a factor. The depth I considered within my personal safety limit. I was actually more concerned that it was "against the rules" as I hadn't actually been certified for deep diving at that time. I felt ready already for a dive of that depth.

But personal safety limits are different for different people. I've had opportunity for similar dives but with stronger current present and haven't dived on the day. My training and experience hasn't included much current/drift diving as yet and I didn't feel comfortable, so I didn't dive. I will only ever dive within my comfort zone, stretching it only when I feel comfortable and under proper conditions.

Very important not to bite off more than you can chew. I've learnt the hard way with other issues in life but with diving that's one area that I never want to find out the hard way.

Anyway, glad you're ok and chalk it down to lesson hopefully learnt. Definitely wait a lil more if you feel you need to before pushing yourself for closure. Get as much info and advice about the dives you're about to do and don't feel bad when you say "Thanks, but I might sit this one out." No harm done in the long run.

take care,

Arch

 

[GDI]

Well it appears that you should be getting the message from divers off the SB here. so I am not going to pommel you any further with the stay within your limits stuff. Most of the wrecks you mentioned are not really difficult wrecks but they have other factors that increase their potential for things to go wrong. The lillie for example not ony happens to have a strong current but it also can end up to be a very deep dive 130 ft plus. The wreck is upside down resting on the side of a island. Since you are in that part of Ontario I suggest you get a copy of DIVE Ontario or Dive Ontario II both written by Cris Kohl. These books provide a history and discription of the wrecks throughout Ontario, Great lakes and St Lawrence and a experience level required to dive them. Given your experience level and the fact that you live in a wreck diving capitol you will find plenty of wrecks that are within your diving experience level. Wrecks that don't have the possibility for penetration such as the Connestoga and Rothstay or the Effie Mae and the Aloha. There are some wrecks that do have penetration possibilities that you can swim around the outer side of the hull. PENETRATION Requires training! Good luck