How would you have helped this guy?

[tedtim]

Considering he posted to your LDS e-group I wonder if he has some other connection to your LDS. If he just joined the list, then perhaps someone should invite him to visit the LDS and talk to the staff about a refresher, or continuation training.

I believe that you did all that you could have done to help him out.

 

[cummings66]

Sounds like you did fine. I would have done the same as you, there are only so many things you can do in the open water after all and it appears he was seriously deficient in not just a couple skills to boot. Pool work time.

I know you said he's taking a refresher course which is good, but did you learn how long it had been since he last dove?

 

[dherbman]

My wife has buoyancy problems, though not so bad now. I did the Peter Pan thing with her, basicly controlling her buoyancy myself. I would let go of her hand and she'd drop like a rock. Not a pleasant way to dive, for sure.

 

[novicediver]

I think you went beyond the call of duty. Brand new divers really need to dive with charters that include in-water DMs, or hire one.

Sorry, but that statement just doesn't fly with me. It just creates dependent divers. Granted, many OW classes are dumbed down to the lowest common denomanator, but to say that brand new divers should either hire DM's or stick to charters is simply ignorant. The gentleman sought out a more experienced buddy, and when he encountered problems he took the buddy's advice and sought refresher training from an instructor. So many people on the board forgot what it was like to be a newbie themself not that I have a plethora of dives either.

 

[IwakuniDiver]

I don't believe that anyone is saying that this diver needs to "stay" with an instructor or DM, they're saying he needs more time with one. Also, as divers, we ALL should be dependent.

Dependent on our peers to share their experience. Dependent on our insturctors that they will "finish the job" of training new divers instead of handing out signatures and certs. And most importantly, dependent on our dive buddies to be there in case a problem comes up.

I don't know about other divers on this board since I just got here but I for one have no interest in diving with an "Independent Diver". They can be a danger to themselves and other members of the group.

 

[Divmstr223]

Two things were done correctly before and after this dive. #1 He didn't fool himself by thinking he could just jump in the water and be okay with anyone, He asked for an experienced diver to dive with.... and it looks as though he found the right person because you did what you could to help him and #2 referred him to take a skills update.

This guy will thank you in the long run for steering him in the right direction....:14:

 

[theskull]

. . . He was very willing to listen and try. . .

He was willing to listen at the surface. And he was willing to try at depth -- right up to the time that he lost contact with the bottom and panicked because he was actually feeling what neutrally buoyant feels like and didn't know how to control it.

You were right on. This serious of a lack of ability needs to be sorted out in very shallow clear water, like a pool. And a refresher class is the ideal setting.

Good work!

theskull

 

[fishb0y]

I think you went beyond the call of duty. Brand new divers really need to dive with charters that include in-water DMs, or hire one.

Definitely the wrong answer...If a diver doesn't have the appropriate skills coming out of their class, then there is no reason to be certified. I quit teaching because I was expected to push through students. If the person hadn't been in the water for a while, then Kudos to you TS&M!!! I wish I could convince more people to take refreshers... I've got too much of a soft spot and I'll take them out and dive with them if it has been too long.

 

[Henryville]

You've had a lot of reinforcement of your decision to advise on getting focused help. In case you are asking a different question, here's another take on it. I have DMed divers with experience but using new gear who have looked similar to what you describe. In those instances and I'm guessing in the one you describe, the issue is weight distribution and the diver's ability to recognize problems with it.

I have been able to fix this relatively easily by moving the tank up or down in the straps, adjusting the harness if it's a backplate, using a weighted STA or a heavier plate (again, if it's a backplate,) and moving weight around into pockets or onto tank straps - mostly, getting weight off of a weight belt, which tends to drive the center of gravity toward the feet. Vest-type BCs are harder since once the air moves up to the shoulders, it takes a little effort to re-distribute it. If he got enough air into the BC to be neutral but was hanging vertical, this sounds to me like the same situation.

Since he is a newer diver, he likley just doesn't know what he is supposed to be feeling in the water and won't until he gets some more dives in.

So if your question is "what should I try if I see this again," those are some of the things I would try. From DIR-F, you know about arching your back and tightening your butt to get the feet up, and you can tell a diver to do those things, but ultimately they won't overcome grossly mis-distributed weight.

 

[scubafool]

Thanks for being willing to dive with a new diver. I remember not being able to find someone to dive with.