Narc'd at 110'fsw!

[RonFrank]

I thought I'd share a story.

I'm a reasonably experienced diver, and have many dives over 100'. I've never really experienced getting narced to any large degree, and this dive was really not much different with the exception that I was a bit task loaded.

We were doing the Grove during some difficult conditions. Very strong current, and 15' vis added up to advanced conditions. I had formed a buddy trio with a couple that lived in the Keys who were both very experienced local divers.

We were doing the ship as a drift dive which was a good thing with strong current. We descended down the line, and we were doing some light penetration. I was in the middle of the group, and we were going through a hallway that only allowed single file entry.

We were slowly poking along at approx 110' near the beginning of the dive when I noticed our lead buddy was fouled in some thick monofilament. I grabbed the line, and started winding it around my hand. I got to the point that he was basically free from the tangle, but I still needed to cut the line as it was caught somewhere on the ship. I went to reach for my dive knife, and I could not remove it from the sheath! WTHell! :11doh:

It did not take me long before I found the release and got it out. I cut the line, shoved it in a pocket, and then had even a harder time putting the knife back in!

Now I've practiced this move a lot as I sometimes use my knife as a tank banger. While I was able to remove and replace the knife, it seemed like it took me forever to do so even if it was likely no more than 15 seconds to perform either task.

At the time I did not think much of it. We had a bit of a situation, fortunately no one panicked, and once the problem was resolved we just continued on our way.

Later I realized... I was Narced! :11:

 

[LiteHedded]

i get narced very badly. it starts for me at about 90 ft and seems mostly only in cold water like springs.
it hits me like a ton of bricks. so bad that I don't care if I ever go deep again without trimix.

 

[robint]

everyone gets narced, its just a matter of degrees and if you realize it or not. I know for sure, that below 100' I get narced, but it is mild and I am very aware of the fact that I am constantly looking at my gauges, like non-stop staring at my computer! I don't like it but at least I know what is going on.
My hubby on the other hand has been down below me, like 20-50' lower and swears he has never been narced....... yeah, right!


robint

 

[Jimmer]

My instructor's wife gets sudden anxiety attacks past about 100 feet or so. For me it just shows up as accelerated breathing/excitement sort of thing, and I have to focus and force myself to relax and calm down, then my breathing gets back in rythm.

 

[LiteHedded]

everyone gets narced, its just a matter of degrees and if you realize it or not. I know for sure, that below 100' I get narced, but it is mild and I am very aware of the fact that I am constantly looking at my gauges, like non-stop staring at my computer! I don't like it but at least I know what is going on.
My hubby on the other hand has been down below me, like 20-50' lower and swears he has never been narced....... yeah, right!


robint

i definitely notice it. i get a BIG TIME buzz.
maybe my misspent youth is the reason I notice it?

 

[Walter]

I'm a reasonably experienced diver, and have many dives over 100'. I've never really experienced getting narced to any large degree

Here was your biggest problem. You've made lots of deep dives and have "never really experienced getting narced to any large degree." Sorry, but that's wrong, Ron. We (you, me and everyone else) are always narced at depth. We may or may not be aware of our diminished abilities, but we are impaired none the less. When you understand you are always nacred at depth, you can work to deal with the problem. Give yourself extra time to accomplish tasks. Don't assume a task that requires one hand at the surface requires only one hand at depth. For example, remove your knife before you wrap monofilament around one hand.

this dive was really not much different with the exception that I was a bit task loaded.

Task loading didn't cause you to become narced, it caused you to become aware of it.

 

[PlayaCountryBoy]

Great story! And I totally believe it. I too sometimes feel the affects of narcosis while sitting on the bottom getting things set up for my demonstrations during the Deep dive of one of my PADI Advanced courses. But my students wouldn't know a thing..hell I know they're feelin' pretty good as well. When you're sitting in 110 ftsw and you got 110ft viz..you can see the smiles through the masks! ;-) Although 1 out of 100 people will NOT like the sensation...just my experience.

 

[LiteHedded]

Great story! And I totally believe it. I too sometimes feel the affects of narcosis while sitting on the bottom getting things set up for my demonstrations during the Deep dive of on of my PADI Advanced courses. But My students would know a thing..hell I know they're feelin' pretty good as well. When you're sitting in 110 ftsw and you got 110ft viz..you can see the smiles through the masks! ;-) Although 1 out of 100 people will NOT like the sensation...just my experience.

I don't like it. at all.

 

[RonFrank]

Task loading didn't cause you to become narced, it caused you to become aware of it.

Very true. Before on deep dives, I've really not noticed because I was not required to deal with anything out of the ordinary.

I do often carry a camera to depth, and use it. But while I'm sure my photography abilities maybe somewhat diminished at depth, I'm likely enjoying things too much to notice.

 

[battles2a5]

I'll second what the others said about being narced and not noticing it, yada yada, but the fact that your perceived narcosis was higher tells me that there may have been other stimuli. Since you were working harder in tougher conditions you may have had increased CO2 levels which can increase the narcosis at depth. Sounds like you handled it just fine though, so kudos on that.