More on CESA

[del_mo]

While reading another thread (http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=130420)
I was blown away by some of the responses of doing CESA's from 60 and 100 feet and more. When I did it from 20 feet, I had fully expelled my air by the time I reached the surface. We had more than one student who needed to try two times before they got it.

Is it really possible to do a CESA from deeper than 100 feet (a two to three minute exhale!?) For those of you who can, I'm impressed!!!!!

 

[elmbruker]

Haven't you seen "Into the Blue"?

Possible? Yes.

Safe? Might be safer than the alternative, would hate to have to find out!

 

[captain]

One of the things that has disappeared from BCs is the CO2 inflator. My old Scuba Pro jacket and the BC in my avitor photo has it. Two or three minutes from 100 feet not me, I going to drop weights, pop the CO2, swim like hell and blow. I'll worry about possible DCS or embolism when my head breaks the surface.

 

[Mr Carcharodon]

While reading another thread (http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=130420)
"a two to three minute exhale!?"

From 100' no one was trying to maintain a 30' per minute assent rate. I am unsure how long people took to get to the surface, but it was less than 2 to 3 minutes.

As was said on the other thread this is not the lowest risk thing you can do. But then leaving people untrained for emergecies presents other types of risk. The fact that many divers appear to assume that a CESA from depth is not possible may be more dangerous than doing the exercise. Of course swimming around 100' underwater is not zero risk either. I think the last waiver I signed said something to that effect.

 

[elmbruker]

If by some unlikely emergency, or poor gas management we find ourself low on air...

In order of priority or risk (PADI)
1. Make a Normal ascent
2. Use alternate air source(buddy's air)
3. CESA
4. Buddy breathe(single reg)with untrained buddy!
5. Buoyant emergency assent

Bruke

 

[PaulChristenson]

While reading another thread (http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=130420)
I was blown away by some of the responses of doing CESA's from 60 and 100 feet and more. When I did it from 20 feet, I had fully expelled my air by the time I reached the surface. We had more than one student who needed to try two times before they got it.

Is it really possible to do a CESA from deeper than 100 feet (a two to three minute exhale!?) For those of you who can, I'm impressed!!!!!

The trick is to practice...and not really exhale...nice little aaaaaahhhh....

Your type of message is why I started the thread...If you happened to have a same-ocean dive partner and you are below 20 feet with a gas problem...what do you think will happen :-(

 

[herman]

Don't forget the air in your lungs is going to expand 4 times from 100 ft, you have a lot more volume to work with.

 

[kensuguro]

1. Make a Normal ascent
2. Use alternate air source(buddy's air)
3. CESA
4. Buddy breathe(single reg)with untrained buddy!
5. Buoyant emergency assent

The hard thing about this order of priority is that there' so many more vital variables in real life. Like, what happens when it's a class? What about ascent rate? Actually, I guess it's the ascent rate that's the hardest part I think. Because already at priority #2, there's a buddy involved, and essentially, it's a rescue maneuver for the buddy. Now at 100ft, you do buddy breathing, with an out of air or panic diver.. and the guy shoots for the surface.. Potentially 2 cases of complications..

It's always hard to strike the balance because with a buddy, both persons have a higher survival rate, but if it fails, you have 2 problems instead of one. With one guy doing the best he can, his survival rate may be lower than with a buddy, but if all fails, you only get one problem. And the buddy will be around to atleast do some aftermath.

Well, actually, if it was a panic diver, I'd give air to him, but if he starts darting.. well, I'd think twice. Maybe go up a little, and then send the guy on a CESA. Man, I can't stop thinking about these scenarios, after assisting a couple of out of air situations at a 100' wreck. It all seems like it happened yesterday. Fortunately no on got hurt, but 3 assists in one dive freaked me out pretty good. Atleast it keeps me on my toes.

I wonder how bad would it be if you did a CESA or some sort of fast ascent stunt.. I guess it's a little different for everyone, like your bottom time 'till your ascent. But considering the "safety margin" and all that, I wonder what sort of complication you could come down with.

 

[Charlie99]

Is it really possible to do a CESA from deeper than 100 feet (a two to three minute exhale!?) For those of you who can, I'm impressed!!!!!

A mere 3 minute ascent? Here's a link to a 5 or 6 minute ascent from 100'.

For a long slow CESA, one does NOT exhale, but instead merely keeps the airway open and lets excess air bubble out. Adjust lung volume to control buoyancy, and thereby the rate of ascent.

Blowing bubbles or going "aaaaaaaahhhhhh" is going to make you run out of air very quickly. What is taught is OW is an oversimplification.

 

[JodiBB]

If by some unlikely emergency, or poor gas management we find ourself low on air...

In order of priority or risk (PADI)
1. Make a Normal ascent
2. Use alternate air source(buddy's air)
3. CESA
4. Buddy breathe(single reg)with untrained buddy!
5. Buoyant emergency assent

Bruke

I've never agreed with this order....and I've told my instructor as much....I would believe that swtiching 4 with 3 would be safer for all involved before doing a CESA....wouldn't it make sense that if both members of the buddy system can ascend safely be more important than one person doing a CESA and maybe risking injury???