Near drowning

[beachlvr0168]

Last week we were on the Carnival Victory on a cruise to the Virgin Islands and we had an excursion booked thru the ship to go diving in St. Kitts. Everything was going well, I had an easy time getting down(i have trouble clearing my ears), and made it to the bottom at around 35ft with my husband. I was doing great and all of a sudden my regulator failed and I took in a lung full of water. I tried to purge my regulator and it wouldn't so my husband tried to assist me. I was in a state of panic by this point and could only think of getting to the top. With the help of my husband and the dive master we made a safe ascent(don't remember much of that part). They had to swim me back to the boat in a VERY swift current. Finally when we got back on board the boat my lungs felt as if they were going to explode and I was exhausted. They didn't have oxygen on the boat! They got me back to the dock and called EMS but the dispatch said it would be 15 mins before the ambulance would get there, I knew I didn't have that long, my husband is a paramedic and he said I was cyanotic. The dive shop owner drove us to the ship and I went to the infirmary and was treated by the ship doctor. The ended up transporting me to the hospital and admitting me to the ICU(in a hospital time forgot). I stayed 4 days in the hospital and things could have been much worse, I have had to extend our stay in St. Kitts by 1 week due to not being able to fly. Due to go home Friday. This was a very scary experience but one I hope will not deter me from diving again.

 

[ibj40]

Wow, glad you are okay now, but that must have been frightening.

Can you provide any follow-up on what the exact equipment malfunction was, and especially, who was the dive op? To not have a DAN or similar emergency kit on board, including an oxygen supply, is unforgivable!

 

[beachlvr0168]

They are doing an investigation of the equipment to find out what happened.

 

[flots am]

Last week we were on the Carnival Victory on a cruise to the Virgin Islands and we had an excursion booked thru the ship to go diving in St. Kitts. Everything was going well, I had an easy time getting down(i have trouble clearing my ears), and made it to the bottom at around 35ft with my husband. I was doing great and all of a sudden my regulator failed and I took in a lung full of water. I tried to purge my regulator and it wouldn't so my husband tried to assist me. I was in a state of panic by this point and could only think of

First, I'm glad you're OK.

However now that's out of the way, a little practice could have turned the whole event into an interesting story to tell at dinner.

If anything is wrong with your regulator, the first thing to do is switch to your alternate regulator (Air/2 or "octopus"). If that isn't working, you need to share air with your buddy (husband).

At this point you're both breathing, the emergency is over, and you can do a nice, calm, slow ascent to the surface.

Additionally, you can easily and safely do a nice moderate-speed Out Of Air Ascent from 35' and arrive safely on the surface, with no assistance from anybody. Again, this requires remembering (and practicing) your training which emphasized keeping an open airway, controlling your ascent rate and doing a manual BC inflate at the surface if necessary.

While I'm certain that people will pop up and blame the rental gear (and it's entirely possible it was faulty), that's really irrelevant. All gear will eventually fail and you need to always be prepared to find that your last breath was your last breath.

This is why SCUBA classes stress air sharing, and (should stress) buddy skills and emergency procedures.

SCUBA can easily be fun and safe, however you need to keep your skills at least moderately sharp. If you dive mostly on vacation, your local shop can easily arrange for a SCUBA Skills Update class, which is fun and generally done in the pool. If you don't dive frequently, it's a great idea to practice your skills with your husband (in a pool) before the cruise.

flots.

PS. Just a footnote. Never trust the DM for anything critical. You and your buddy need to be able to handle everything on your own. I cruise frequently and more than once have seen an OOA diver come flying up to the DM and receive a dumb look instead of air.

 

[Codiak]

Glad you are around to submit the report.

I'm sure the cruiseline is following the investigation; however, it's worth while staying in touch with them to ensure you both have the full details. The lack of O2 onboard the boat should set off alarm bells to any investigater.

Since you are a new diver I hope this doesn't discourge you from continuing the sport.

If you rented gear, you might consider starting off by purchasing your own regulator. There is piece of mind knowing the service record and having a reflex reaction to it's breathing quaility.. IE you know quicker when something isn't right.

I notice from your profile that your certified within the last year.... prior to this dive when was the last time you'd dove and under what conditions?

 

[Razz]

Did you end up using an accessory air supply on your assent? Again, if you don't mind, could you let us know what the name of the dive operator was?

 

[RubberDucky]

They didn't have oxygen on the boat!

I'd recommend always asking beforehand if a dive op has oxygen on the boats. Then when you're on board ask to see it. If they can't demonstrate that they carry it, that's not a professional operation, and certainly not one that cares about anyone's safety.

 

[ZenDiver.3D]

I'd recommend always asking beforehand if a dive op has oxygen on the boats. Then when you're on board ask to see it. If they can't demonstrate that they carry it, that's not a professional operation, and certainly not one that cares about anyone's safety.

+1

I give a boat briefing in OW class. I show them how a good briefing should be conducted, and I point out the important parts.
A boat briefing should:
1. identify capt, dm, mates, instructors of that company
2. Show where the life preservers are
3. show all fire extinguisher locations
4. show where the emergency oxygen and first aid kitsis located.
5. identify those qualified to administer it.
6. show where the emergency management plan is on board.
7. give travel info, boat rules for the trip.
8. offer to answer questions.

This should all take about a minute and a half. If they don't have emergency plan or gear, I leave the boat.

As for your experience OP. If you had an equipment malfunction and your octo was also inoperable, you would then turn to your buddy'e alternate air source. Then you could slowly make a safe ascent and be fine.

This emergency skill is often never practiced after OW classes. I am glad you made it, but now you should work on drills. They will make you feel safer and more in control, as well as keep you prepared for emergencies.

 

[DandyDon]

Glad you came out ok in spite of such a challenge. Some great suggestions already posted. Certainly nothing for me to add. I have been negligent in asking to see the O2 kit on boats, and I've seen one fail when needed. I need to change there, ask to see it and the pressure perhaps.

Was DAN involved in any of this? I do hope y'all have their dive insurance.

Traveling with your own reg is so much better than risking rentals, especially outside of the US. It's about time for me to have mine serviced, all three - pricey, but I like to dive with a pony bottle, I like to have a spare on a trip, and I like to know all 3 well.

They are doing an investigation of the equipment to find out what happened.

Reminds me of one of my favorite Hamlet scenes: "Words...words...words."

 

[DiverDean59]

I'm glad you are OK. Did you rent the equipment also from the boat? If so I'd question also how well they maintained their equipment. That plus not having O2 on the boat is pretty bad.