Have you ever had your hand stuck under a rock?

[MASS-Diver]

Hi guys,

I've heard a few horror stories about a lobster diver getting stuck under rocks and having to break his or her hand to get free, but, last week I had a first hand experince.

I was diving alone off Cohasset at a spot I've free dove at for years. I was working on a lobster under a large flat topped rock. I was in well past my elbow w/ my right hand and I was feeling about the rock w/ my left hand for a back door. I was basically bear hugging the rock (except my hand was underneath) w/ my face/reg flat against the surface of the rock.

At one point I went to pull out my right hand and it felt very stuck, I pulled as I hard as I could and it didn't move. Although I was only in 10' of water - I felt sheer panic creeping up. It probably took a good minute (which seemd like forever) to free my hand. I wasn't injured bad, but, I was really freaked out. I just chilled on the bottom for a while untill I stoped shaking. I think I might start carrying a knife now, just in case, as I don't think my shears would have cut through my arm, had it come to that.

Has anyone else ever been in this situation?

And people say tech diving is dangerous........then again tech divers don't get to eat this:

 

[FredT]

I did have me trapped on the bottom by piece of 60" concrete pipe the crane operator dropped on me crossing my back between the tank band and the boot while I was doing a "quick" alignmnet inspection in black water. No backup diver on site, and the crane operator couldn't restart the crane. I spent about 2 hours working my way out from under it in the Everglades muck. Moving fast caused the muck to liquify to the ends of hte pipe, thus driving me deeper into an inverted C. by moving slowly I eventually worked by way out a half inch at a time while the mud supported the ends of the pipe a bit. I was still trapped a bit below my knees when I sucked the bottom out of the tank. A bit of rapid movement with an adrenalin boost and I finally cleared it. When I got to the surface the crew was wondering what to do as the crane operator had (wisely) split for parts unknown and the remaining crew were pretty certain I'd already bought it. I had his last check on the jobsite for a bit over 2 weeks before i turned it into the office. He may have had the office mail it to him, but I doubt it. Thank God I had a full tank and knew how to skip breathe, combined with a bit of Zen.

I have been up to my armpit in holes after bugs many times, but generally if you can get the arm in there, there is a way to turn the body to get it out again, unless of course the rock breaks internally and wedges you in. DO NOT wear a wrist mounted device when bugging by the grope method. Bringing your own wedge into the hole is a bad idea. It's simply a 3D puzzle that has a time limit.

FT

 

[crispos]

That looks pretty good MASS-diver, but not worth losing your hand for.

I was stuck a few times. Once, in a coral hole straight down, feet up in the air, couldn't budge, maybe 15 feet deep. Also, under a ledge, way inside, freediving. It really gets the blood pumping doesn't it? Watch out where you put your hands, and have lots of air as well as a buddy.

 

[cudachaser]

I was reaching deep into a hole for a lobster...kept feeling some nudging my upper arm (I was in to my shoulder). Didn't get the lobster and pulled out...Immediatetly this green moray comes out of a side hole....he was mad. Thought about that incident later...could have been bad news

 

[MASS-Diver]

FredT once bubbled...
I did have me trapped on the bottom by piece of 60" concrete pipe the crane operator dropped on me crossing my back between the tank band and the boot while I was doing a "quick" alignmnet inspection in black water. No backup diver on site, and the crane operator couldn't restart the crane. I spent about 2 hours working my way out from under it in the Everglades muck. Moving fast caused the muck to liquify to the ends of hte pipe, thus driving me deeper into an inverted C. by moving slowly I eventually worked by way out a half inch at a time while the mud supported the ends of the pipe a bit. I was still trapped a bit below my knees when I sucked the bottom out of the tank. A bit of rapid movement with an adrenalin boost and I finally cleared it. When I got to the surface the crew was wondering what to do as the crane operator had (wisely) split for parts unknown and the remaining crew were pretty certain I'd already bought it. I had his last check on the jobsite for a bit over 2 weeks before i turned it into the office. He may have had the office mail it to him, but I doubt it. Thank God I had a full tank and knew how to skip breathe, combined with a bit of Zen.

I have been up to my armpit in holes after bugs many times, but generally if you can get the arm in there, there is a way to turn the body to get it out again, unless of course the rock breaks internally and wedges you in. DO NOT wear a wrist mounted device when bugging by the grope method. Bringing your own wedge into the hole is a bad idea. It's simply a 3D puzzle that has a time limit.

FT

I'm going to have nigthmares about that story.

And, yup, that's how I got free, just moving at different angles. Of course, what worried me was that I might have collasped the rocka few inches while digging with my other hand. Oh well, as scary as it was, it's not as bad as when you feel a little stuck while free diving, then the pressure is really on.

 

[yak]

If you had a buddy there, he could strip off the gear that he's been admiring on you.

 

[HammerNoMore]

FredT once bubbled...
Impressive story of self resuce snipped....

Fred,

It's been quite a while since I've been to the MS coast, but if I get the chance it will be an honor to dive with you...


James

 

[nusspli]

My boyfriend & I were lobstering and I always seem to be the one who reaches under the rocks to get them out. I had my hand under the rock and my boyfriend lifted the rock up, grabbed the lobster and then dropped the rock on my hand. I was screaming under the water and looking at him to lift the rock up again. He was holding a lobster in each hand and just looking at me, like it's either me or the lobsters. I managed to free myself and enojoyed a twin lobster dinner.

 

[Diver294]

I guess the only thing I'm wondering about is.... why did he let you have the lobsters after he did all the work?? Heheheh... aint love grand?

I hope he at least cooked them for you and cleaned up afterwards.