I Hurt Myself Today

[DandyDon]

Thanks for sharing that tale, okiejeff. I learn most from my own mistakes, but I try to learn from others misfortunes shared here, too. I can understand wanting to return for surgery, but X-rays probly would have been helpful at the time, reckon?

Did you have DAN insurance then? The basic membership includes Traveler's Assist which could have helped you get home earlier without extra costs; their top or Preferred plan includes $10,000 Medical Non-Dive Accident Coverage Occurring outside home country; and their doctors are available 24/7 for consultation even if you're not a member.

Hope you never have another need, but if you do - some thots to consider.

 

[MMM]

What was great about the dive other than depth bragging rights? The one and only time I went to Maracaibo, the top of the reef was at about 130' and not visible from the surface. It took us quite a while to get down to the reef; we went down the face of the wall to about 160' or so. We got about 5 minutes at depth before it was time to make our ascent, which took about 30 minutes of dealing with deco obligations. All but about 10 minutes of the dive we were either in descent or ascent mode with nothing to see but blue water and each other. I was underwhelmed; all in all I'd rather have been at Palancar.

Was your experience different from that?

Try it on steel 120s. You'll have a big deco obligation but more time to se the awesome reef. OTOH, Jorge will take you to Yucab deep which is similar, but same deco problems. A steel 120 gives a wide margin of safety.

 

[alohagal]

What was great about the dive other than depth bragging rights? The one and only time I went to Maracaibo, the top of the reef was at about 130' and not visible from the surface. It took us quite a while to get down to the reef; we went down the face of the wall to about 160' or so. We got about 5 minutes at depth before it was time to make our ascent, which took about 30 minutes of dealing with deco obligations. All but about 10 minutes of the dive we were either in descent or ascent mode with nothing to see but blue water and each other. I was underwhelmed; all in all I'd rather have been at Palancar.

Was your experience different from that?

Our dive did not go that way at all. I clocked a 45 minute dive. By the time we meandered our way up at various gradually ascending levels I was only concscious of a 4 minute safety stop. We ended up going to 161...not hanging there forever. Made our way slowly up the wall. Saw eels, lobsters, fishes, turtles and even a swimming nurse shark. It was fun to clock 161 feet in my log book. All of us use air sparingly and had a nice dive. We were briefed to kick down to depth so we could get the job done...no one had any clearing problems or mask squeeze. We were a perfectly matched group of divers. We made sure of that the day before. Everyone on the dive knew what was involved well ahead of time. We only asked people to go who knew what they were doing. We all had deep dives under our belt.

It was all good.

 

[firstdive2005]

Oh, now you have done it. While you have survived accidents that would have killed a lessor mortal....you may well have brought upon yourself a plague that will do you in.

You have admitted, in an open forum, that you touched something under the water.
Just not good diving edicate.
Now, you shall be smitten by those who dress their pets up like children and insist that the animal kingdom are not only delicate but also far more fragile than a human infant.
It appears my chocolate lab, Charlie is still smarter than the average diver.
Nevermind the environment they live in makes being touched by a human less than irrelevant.
Assinine statement.
There are those who believe that the lightest of human touches can destroy entire populations and wreak irrevocable damage on ecosystems long after you have gone.
I'm hope this will give you a bit of education on reef life. Each coral head is a living animal/life form. There are thousands/millions living on one another creating the coral head. If you touch them they die. The area around where you touch will affect that life also. This is why good bouyancy is needed to dive in areas of coral life. So we are not bouncing off the bottom etc. Photograghers usually have amazing bouyancy skills.
After hurricane force damage has hit shore lines we see how long it takes for the life to rejuvinate. Years. Many years. Hundreds for some formations.
Lets see, yes long after we are gone. This is why we are taught to not touch any life form. Including animals that move about.
You have flown in the face of these religious zealot's beliefs
If this is your tone for a person who cares for the ocean or for that matter tries to look after the earth in whatever small way they can that is your right. Most of us drive cars, fly jets, flush toilets. We can try and not desturb the creatures under water as it MAY hurt them and us.

....and for that you shall be forever damned and burn in the fires of mother nature's revenge.
Maybe not a curse but have you ever seen a persons hand that has touched a fire worm. Fire coral, you know the really pretty feather like PLANT that gracefully flows in the ocean drift. Why not brush that against your face next time your on Coz. Well know who your are then. Have you ever seen a persons hand after a bite from a green moray, I have, go ahead pet one. Have you ever seen a person swollen from octopus venom, I have go ahead give one a kiss. Get my point yet fool.

A curse be upon you and....oh, uh... nevermind...in light of recent bad luck, that curse seems to already have been in affect
I dont believe in luck, can't comment here.

I have an exorcist standing by at DIA for the day you return. He will perform the procedure without your knowledge while you wait for your luggage....it is for your own good.
You might want to sit in on that session yourself.
We are also enrolling you in the "Animals are more fragile than Humans" rehab/reprogramming clinic for a 6 month reconditioning.
Might want to sit in on this session too.

Your first lesson will be on the devil spawn sea turtles who without any remorse whatsoever run rampant in our oceans eating the legally protected reef sponges.
This is their food, a slight difference to us needlessly touching the coral and killing it. By the way dont touch turtles either. Thats how they will shy away from me when I see them underwater. I would prefer that I can get close enough to take a pic.


My what big eyes you have.

Your attack against advise to all divers about life underwater is sad, there are new divers and those thinking of diving reading our script daily. As experienced divers, (I assume you are), we have a duty to teach these divers good diving edicate. I am also assuming you have never been taught that or you are flying in the face of it. Please for your diving safety and for the life underwater try to never touch anything that isnt attached to your body unless it is biting you.

So ends my religious tirade, for now.......(enter evil laugh here...) kevin

 

[ggunn]

....and for that you shall be forever damned and burn in the fires of mother nature's revenge.
Maybe not a curse but have you ever seen a persons hand that has touched a fire worm. Fire coral, you know the really pretty feather like PLANT that gracefully flows in the ocean drift. Why not brush that against your face next time your on Coz. Well know who your are then.

Back when I was still a mere snorkeler, I picked up a bristle worm... ONCE. I won't repeat that mistake! I was picking those transparent, nearly microscopic spines out of my hand with tweezers for days.

I agree with you totally in principle, but that feathery stuff (a colony animal, not a plant) that will sting the $%^# out of you is hydroid, not fire coral.

 

[firstdive2005]

Our dive did not go that way at all. I clocked a 45 minute dive. By the time we meandered our way up at various gradually ascending levels I was only concscious of a 4 minute safety stop. We ended up going to 161...not hanging there forever. Made our way slowly up the wall. Saw eels, lobsters, fishes, turtles and even a swimming nurse shark. It was fun to clock 161 feet in my log book. All of us use air sparingly and had a nice dive. We were briefed to kick down to depth so we could get the job done...no one had any clearing problems or mask squeeze. We were a perfectly matched group of divers. We made sure of that the day before. Everyone on the dive knew what was involved well ahead of time. We only asked people to go who knew what they were doing. We all had deep dives under our belt.

It was all good.

Your experience in this dive is the same as mine. There is some difference in life form at that depth, not huge, but there is. I like finding them.
Deco abligations arent a big deal as long as it is done properly. Just slowly going up a wall is not proper deco procedure. I hope this isnt coming off as rude. I just wouldnt want to see our intrepid diver bent. Many people get away with this method but it is dangerous, unless your level as you drift, then ascend, level, drift, ascend, etc. Also kicking down to get at depth is dangerous at that pressure for many reasons. One is barotrauma, it can happen so fast as you descend quickly, you may not have time to clear. You should have your hand on your face as you descend as to not be late with this maneuvar. A buddy of mine cant dive anymore because he was told to race to depth so they would have more time at depth. He will never dive again. He told me it happened so fast, he just did not realize until it was too late. Seconds.
Please dont take this note as me trying to remark on your dive skills. I realize you have many dives. I would just like you to know this may be a dangerous way to descend. kevin.

 

[billindenver]

Your attack against advise to all divers about life underwater is sad, there are new divers and those thinking of diving reading our script daily. As experienced divers, (I assume you are), we have a duty to teach these divers good diving edicate. I am also assuming you have never been taught that or you are flying in the face of it. Please for your diving safety and for the life underwater try to never touch anything that isnt attached to your body unless it is biting you.

So ends my religious tirade, for now.......(enter evil laugh here...) kevin

You really are quite emotional, aren't you? As in all things of this nature, the proper balance is somewhere in the middle. There are people like you on the one extreme (who write pages of reply to a joke) and there are those who roam around the reef touching everything on the other. Somewhere in the middle lies the rest of us. While I appreciate your undying devotion to all things underwater....I doubt your dedication is as steadfast when it comes to air breathing animals. You do certainly have the right to your opinion...but understand I may poke fun at your religion from time to time.

Oh, and my lab is smarter than yours.

 

[firstdive2005]

Back when I was still a mere snorkeler, I picked up a bristle worm... ONCE. I won't repeat that mistake! I was picking those transparent, nearly microscopic spines out of my hand with tweezers for days.

I agree with you totally in principle, but that feathery stuff (a colony animal, not a plant) that will sting the $%^# out of you is hydroid, not fire coral.

Yes you are correct about the hydroid, thank-you. I did not mean to call it a plant, thanks again. It is so easy to call these creatures plants isnt it. They apperar that way. I think that is why divers feel free to touch so much under water. Fire coral is totally different. It stings also though.
I usually go home with hydroid stings from them drifting in the water even, now they are evil.

 

[firstdive2005]

You really are quite emotional, aren't you? As in all things of this nature, the proper balance is somewhere in the middle. There are people like you on the one extreme (who write pages of reply to a joke...while eating meat etc) and there are those who roam around the reef touching everything on the other. Somewhere in the middle lies the rest of us. While I appreciate your undying devotion to all things underwater....I doubt your dedication is as steadfast when it comes to air breathing animals. You do certainly have the right to your opinion...but understand I may poke fun at your religion from time to time.

Yes your zealousness at being assinine is acceptable. Yup I eat meat. Glad you dont so I get more. Heres one for you big guy, I stopped traffic on a highway here this spring so some Canada Geese could walk their gooselings across the road. (got a joke for that?). Dont be so emotional about being told to try and preserve our dive sites. Somewhere in the middle isnt good enough. A typical answer to issues of preservation. I suppose I will laugh when a creature decides to defend itself against you when you decide to pet it. NO I wont, I will be sad you where a fool that did not listen to good judgement about wild life. Why not come to my place, I'll take you to see some pretty mountain goats to pet. They look so cute. awww.

 

[firstdive2005]

Oh, and my lab is smarter than yours.

Then that means he is smarter than you.lol