NJScubaDoc
Contributor
Reposted from New Jersey Scuba Divers Message Board....
The SpringTide went to the Agolt under flat cool conditions - after a quick hook in at 78 feet, vis was 12feet - conditions - no waves, no wind, no current 53F? i think - i went to the decking to pick my favorite easy shellfish - things went well and after my first dive was complete - the cleaning on deck started during my surface interval - APPARENTLY during the cleaning of my first bag of goodies, in my haste to do a good job and keep the decking as shipshape as possible a SMALL MUSSEL was deposited in my primary 2nd stage - i of course was oblivious to the fact that this small insignificant shellfish had now become a VERY DANGEROUS PROJECTILE SET TO LODGE IN MY AIRWAY!!!!??? - as i prepared for my second collection dive and was checking my regs, i took a DEEP BREATH -
Lets take a moment to reflect - it amazes me that such a situation could occur - I mean WHAT ARE THE ODDS in a tiny bivalve becoming dislodged from a larger mussel, flying several feet across the decking and dropping three point style directly into my 2nd stage - i am truely at total loss how this could occur
Anyway As I took in the deep breath the said shell fish was shot rifle like deep into the back of my throat, partially obstructing my airway - going where no foreign body, let alone a sharp hard pointy one, EVER SHOULD GO - my gag reflex kicked in so hard that the mussel went flying back across the deck - I should also state that gag reflex kicked me so hard in the throat that my trachea constricted around that sharp object further scraping my throat - moments later my stomach was contracting so hard that its contents were now moving upwards and out on to the deck
As i was left writhing incapacitated in my gear still bungeed to the bench, coughing, vomiting and retching, the outpouring of help from my friends was remarkable - the loud laughter was quickly replaced with genuine concern as to my condition - of course an immediately dialogue of my condition started - a certain seacobra stated his observation that it was a good thing i had my mask on as it kept my eyes from leaving my head, others quickly agreed my mask had indeed saved my eyes - after several minutes things calmed down enough to start my dive which was quite peaceful
returning to the boat i was presented with the shell to take home
PLease everyone be careful when cleaning mussels, if it was not for the fast acting help from my FRIENDS things could have turned out worse
-Bartman
The SpringTide went to the Agolt under flat cool conditions - after a quick hook in at 78 feet, vis was 12feet - conditions - no waves, no wind, no current 53F? i think - i went to the decking to pick my favorite easy shellfish - things went well and after my first dive was complete - the cleaning on deck started during my surface interval - APPARENTLY during the cleaning of my first bag of goodies, in my haste to do a good job and keep the decking as shipshape as possible a SMALL MUSSEL was deposited in my primary 2nd stage - i of course was oblivious to the fact that this small insignificant shellfish had now become a VERY DANGEROUS PROJECTILE SET TO LODGE IN MY AIRWAY!!!!??? - as i prepared for my second collection dive and was checking my regs, i took a DEEP BREATH -
Lets take a moment to reflect - it amazes me that such a situation could occur - I mean WHAT ARE THE ODDS in a tiny bivalve becoming dislodged from a larger mussel, flying several feet across the decking and dropping three point style directly into my 2nd stage - i am truely at total loss how this could occur
Anyway As I took in the deep breath the said shell fish was shot rifle like deep into the back of my throat, partially obstructing my airway - going where no foreign body, let alone a sharp hard pointy one, EVER SHOULD GO - my gag reflex kicked in so hard that the mussel went flying back across the deck - I should also state that gag reflex kicked me so hard in the throat that my trachea constricted around that sharp object further scraping my throat - moments later my stomach was contracting so hard that its contents were now moving upwards and out on to the deck
As i was left writhing incapacitated in my gear still bungeed to the bench, coughing, vomiting and retching, the outpouring of help from my friends was remarkable - the loud laughter was quickly replaced with genuine concern as to my condition - of course an immediately dialogue of my condition started - a certain seacobra stated his observation that it was a good thing i had my mask on as it kept my eyes from leaving my head, others quickly agreed my mask had indeed saved my eyes - after several minutes things calmed down enough to start my dive which was quite peaceful
returning to the boat i was presented with the shell to take home
PLease everyone be careful when cleaning mussels, if it was not for the fast acting help from my FRIENDS things could have turned out worse
-Bartman
