fisherdvm
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About 1:30 p.m. today, a newly certified diver, I was told - a 22 yo female was ooa. We were finishing up our OW check out dive for the day, and I was watching a group of students on the surface. Suddently, a group of divers was yelling for help, call the ambulance, and to get oxygen. I could not assist, as I was responsible for 9 other student divers. We sent a certified diver from our group to help.
He said, she was just certified, and was diving with an older experienced diver about 35 ft. She ran out of air, and bolted for the surface. A diving class was going on, and apparently someone (instructor or DM perhaps) tried to stop her, but couldn't. She went to the surface, choked on water, hyperventilated, and was towed back.
I watched her sat up a bit, appeared to be in good color, and appeared to be communicating. The fire department arrived first, then the ambulance about 20 minutes later. I am sure she's going to be fine, based on what Steve, one of our tag along certified diver told us.
I guess we can never emphasize enough the need for buddy air check. New divers are so overwhelmed with tasks, that they simply can not remember all the key elements of diving.
On hind sight, I really wonder if a student bolting to the surface should really be stopped. I mean, if they were taught CESA correctly - why don't we just let them hit the surface - especially from a shallow depth. My concern is - unless you have an octo ready to shove into their mouth... Stopping them incompletely (apparently in this case) potentially could cause them to gasp, swallow water, and suffer from laryngospasm? What is a better alternate air? The atmosphere? Or your buddy's octo that was never vacumn tested or sucked on during the day. This also reiterated the logic of donating the primary regulator, rather than the octo.
I understand that I was chastised severely by many instructors (except thallassamania) at the suggestion of teaching CESA without a reg in the mouth. It seems to me that it is a skill that we should think about, especially if that octo you grabbed from your buddy is leaky and giving you only mouthful of water.
He said, she was just certified, and was diving with an older experienced diver about 35 ft. She ran out of air, and bolted for the surface. A diving class was going on, and apparently someone (instructor or DM perhaps) tried to stop her, but couldn't. She went to the surface, choked on water, hyperventilated, and was towed back.
I watched her sat up a bit, appeared to be in good color, and appeared to be communicating. The fire department arrived first, then the ambulance about 20 minutes later. I am sure she's going to be fine, based on what Steve, one of our tag along certified diver told us.
I guess we can never emphasize enough the need for buddy air check. New divers are so overwhelmed with tasks, that they simply can not remember all the key elements of diving.
On hind sight, I really wonder if a student bolting to the surface should really be stopped. I mean, if they were taught CESA correctly - why don't we just let them hit the surface - especially from a shallow depth. My concern is - unless you have an octo ready to shove into their mouth... Stopping them incompletely (apparently in this case) potentially could cause them to gasp, swallow water, and suffer from laryngospasm? What is a better alternate air? The atmosphere? Or your buddy's octo that was never vacumn tested or sucked on during the day. This also reiterated the logic of donating the primary regulator, rather than the octo.
I understand that I was chastised severely by many instructors (except thallassamania) at the suggestion of teaching CESA without a reg in the mouth. It seems to me that it is a skill that we should think about, especially if that octo you grabbed from your buddy is leaky and giving you only mouthful of water.