lobbolt
Contributor
Cast:
A family of four with father, mother and two teenage boys.
Myself, an instructor and a divemaster.
Set:
A dive from a shore, in about 20 meters of depth.
Background Information:
The family of four had just completed Advanced Open Water the day prior, today would just be some fun diving.
I was told and under the belief that the divemaster would be my designated dive buddy.
The Near-Miss:
The father and two teenage boys with the scooters head off in another direction with the instructor, disappearing from view in the misty low visibility.
The mother and the divemaster stay close to a reef to cruise and observe the marine life.
A near-incident unfolds as I remain close to the mother and divemaster.
I check my SPG, less than 100 BAR remaining in my aluminum 80, at approximately 20 meters of depth. Experience and familiarity with my own gas consumption rates tells me that I must begin the return swim, very soon, to surface with at least 50 BAR in reserve.
I show the divemaster my SPG. She reads it.
Message sent, but my intended message not 100% received.
We should start ascending. I write on my wrist slate and show it to the Divemaster, who is with the mother.
OK she signals, not meaning OK, lets ascend together as I assume, but, Youre OK, STAY.
My mind tells me:
In a fortunate scenario I WILL be running below the 50 bar reserve pressure by the time of surfacing if I stay at the depth and continue the dive, with the divemaster and the mother.
In an unfortunate scenario, I will be going out of gas at depth, and then depending on the other divers to share gas with me to assist my return journey.
I signal the Divemaster again. The SPG. We should begin the return journey.
Nothing. I read that she intends to continue the dive and stay with the mother.
It hit me. Rock bottom. I must end the dive on my own and surface before running out of gas.
Beginning my ascent to the surface immediately, I lose depth at a low ascent rate while venting from my BCD.
I shake my underwater signaling device, attempting to get the attention of the Divemaster, still hoping she would make the ascent with me, who is still with the mother, and about 10 meters below. Her face is turned in my direction, thus I believe she notices my signaling.
Still with the mother, she fully does not intend to make the return journey with me.
I continue alone.
I continue my ascent to the surface, losing the divemaster and the mother in the misty visibility.
Deploying my SMB and surfacing after the safety stop, I see the Divemaster approximately 10 meters away, at the surface.
My SPG reads nearly exactly 50 BAR.
Swimming back to the entry point, walking back to the gearing-up location is uneventful.
The Talk:
I describe to the divemaster, what happened as I interpreted and experienced.
The Divemaster:
80 bar is enough to make the rest of the dive and surface with the group.
From what I saw of you, with your arms flailing about, you panicked.
You panicked and shot to the surface.
You put me at risk, and everyone else in the group at risk.
In a situation like this, you should stay close to the group, where someone can much more likely assist you.
You didnt even check your compass heading, instead of swimming back to the entry, you swam out into the bay.
What's your perspective on this?
Thanks !!
A family of four with father, mother and two teenage boys.
Myself, an instructor and a divemaster.
Set:
A dive from a shore, in about 20 meters of depth.
Background Information:
The family of four had just completed Advanced Open Water the day prior, today would just be some fun diving.
I was told and under the belief that the divemaster would be my designated dive buddy.
The Near-Miss:
The father and two teenage boys with the scooters head off in another direction with the instructor, disappearing from view in the misty low visibility.
The mother and the divemaster stay close to a reef to cruise and observe the marine life.
A near-incident unfolds as I remain close to the mother and divemaster.
I check my SPG, less than 100 BAR remaining in my aluminum 80, at approximately 20 meters of depth. Experience and familiarity with my own gas consumption rates tells me that I must begin the return swim, very soon, to surface with at least 50 BAR in reserve.
I show the divemaster my SPG. She reads it.
Message sent, but my intended message not 100% received.
We should start ascending. I write on my wrist slate and show it to the Divemaster, who is with the mother.
OK she signals, not meaning OK, lets ascend together as I assume, but, Youre OK, STAY.
My mind tells me:
In a fortunate scenario I WILL be running below the 50 bar reserve pressure by the time of surfacing if I stay at the depth and continue the dive, with the divemaster and the mother.
In an unfortunate scenario, I will be going out of gas at depth, and then depending on the other divers to share gas with me to assist my return journey.
I signal the Divemaster again. The SPG. We should begin the return journey.
Nothing. I read that she intends to continue the dive and stay with the mother.
It hit me. Rock bottom. I must end the dive on my own and surface before running out of gas.
Beginning my ascent to the surface immediately, I lose depth at a low ascent rate while venting from my BCD.
I shake my underwater signaling device, attempting to get the attention of the Divemaster, still hoping she would make the ascent with me, who is still with the mother, and about 10 meters below. Her face is turned in my direction, thus I believe she notices my signaling.
Still with the mother, she fully does not intend to make the return journey with me.
I continue alone.
I continue my ascent to the surface, losing the divemaster and the mother in the misty visibility.
Deploying my SMB and surfacing after the safety stop, I see the Divemaster approximately 10 meters away, at the surface.
My SPG reads nearly exactly 50 BAR.
Swimming back to the entry point, walking back to the gearing-up location is uneventful.
The Talk:
I describe to the divemaster, what happened as I interpreted and experienced.
The Divemaster:
80 bar is enough to make the rest of the dive and surface with the group.
From what I saw of you, with your arms flailing about, you panicked.
You panicked and shot to the surface.
You put me at risk, and everyone else in the group at risk.
In a situation like this, you should stay close to the group, where someone can much more likely assist you.
You didnt even check your compass heading, instead of swimming back to the entry, you swam out into the bay.
What's your perspective on this?
Thanks !!