No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

[divinh]

I get the sense that some guides feel more comfortable when they're the ones doing the final valve checks because they feel they're responsible (or an incident had caused them to be this way). On a recent trip, I brought my own gear, set it up and did checks myself, even though it was full service. I usually turn off, depressurize, and only turn back on before the dive. Some guides would just ask me about opening the air and some felt the need to twist the valve themselves. It didn't matter either way to me, because before splashing, I still do an air check again with multiple breaths, just to be sure it's not just partially open or closed.

 

[Lorenzoid]

I get the sense that some guides feel more comfortable when they're the ones doing the final valve checks because they feel they're responsible (or an incident had caused them to be this way). On a recent trip, I brought my own gear, set it up and did checks myself, even though it was full service. I usually turn off, depressurize, and only turn back on before the dive. Some guides would just ask me about opening the air and some felt the need to twist the valve themselves. It didn't matter either way to me, because before splashing, I still do an air check again with multiple breaths, just to be sure it's not just partially open or closed.

Aren’t those liability waivers we sign supposed to cover their “responsibility”? It could be argued that they’re actually taking on more responsibility and potential liability by messing with customers’ gear. If something happens AFTER the DM messed with it, well, now he could be on the hook.

 

[Ana]

The dive was going well up to about 1/2 way through when our friend noticed the disconnected LP hose at around 50' depth. He moved over to my wife and proceeded to reconnect the LP hose to the malfunctioning inflator. Immediately, the wing inflated to full and the overpressure valves opened up. My wife began to quickly rise to the surface with a large stream of bubbles. Our friend tried to hold her down and did manage to slow the ascent until he lost his grip at about 25' depth.

Mike

So the thread is not about gear check or boat crew touching your stuff.

A diver is doing is thing at 50' and someone comes to F*** with this diver's gear... Of course this someone later tries to undo the F*kery he caused but can't.

 

[Diving Dubai]

Aren’t those liability waivers we sign supposed to cover their “responsibility”?

Good luck with that - I'm no lawyer but I'm pretty certain that they'd come at the Dive staff for duty of care etc. In my region, the most senior/or responsible people go straight to jail while they figure things out. As far as I understand, in the US - someone has to be blamed

Anyway I'm there to make sure you have an enjoyable time and look after yoru safety on the boat in the first instance

During the dive I didn't understand why my regulator hose became shorter than normal, especially whenever I turned my head to the left. I ended up pulling the primary regulator hose with my teeth on the mouthbit and ended up biting off the regulator mouthbit.

I'm sure you learned an important lesson there though, tha no matter what, it's your ultimate responsibility to check your own kit before use - especially if you didn't put it together?

 

[Lorenzoid]

It’s my understanding that dive op waivers are routinely upheld in Florida. Waivers cover claims for “simple” negligence. It seems like it would be difficult to argue that leaving a certified diver to deal with his own gear constitutes “gross” negligence or recklessness. It seems like it would be a stronger argument that a DM who messed with a diver’s gear and got it wrong was acting recklessly.

 

[gypsyjim]

So the thread is not about gear check or boat crew touching your stuff.

A diver is doing is thing at 50' and someone comes to F*** with this diver's gear... Of course this someone later tries to undo the F*kery he caused but can't.

My point, exactly.
OP was NOT discussing checking a tank valve before entry, but another diver mucking with a diver's life support system underwater, both without their permission, and without their knowledge.

 

[divinh]

Aren’t those liability waivers we sign supposed to cover their “responsibility”? It could be argued that they’re actually taking on more responsibility and potential liability by messing with customers’ gear. If something happens AFTER the DM messed with it, well, now he could be on the hook.

It was a full service situation, so normally the guide would be taking on the responsibility.

 

[Griffo]

In a similar vein, a diver recently decided to "save" my wife by grabbing her from behind without any kind of communication and trying to "drag her" over to the DM. I had to physically remove her hands from my wife and tell her to calm the F down.

All over a leaking Yoke o-ring.

In my mind you don't ever touch another diver or their gear without first communicating to them what you intend to do and why.

 

[Frosty]

Crikey folks Im pretty darned confused here.
You guys are going on about another diver checking/ touching your gear -from my POV that was not the main issue.
The MAIN issue is that the OP's wife had a mechanical gear failure. NOT on the day but some time in the past.The issue should have been rectified.
THAT to me is by far the biggest issue.
THEN we have mistake 2-They decided to dive anyway using the oral inflate option-fair call- but didn't tell anyone else which really set them up for what happened. -without 1 and 2 3 wouldn;'t ever have been an issue.
And NOPE Im definitely not a diving god. -Mistakes happen but this was totally avoidable,

 

[Ana]

Crikey folks Im pretty darned confused here.
You guys are going on about another diver checking/ touching your gear -from my POV that was not the main issue.
The MAIN issue is that the OP's wife had a mechanical gear failure. NOT on the day but some time in the past.The issue should have been rectified.
THAT to me is by far the biggest issue.
THEN we have mistake 2-They decided to dive anyway using the oral inflate option-fair call- but didn't tell anyone else which really set them up for what happened. -without 1 and 2 3 wouldn;'t ever have been an issue.
And NOPE Im definitely not a diving god. -Mistakes happen but this was totally avoidable,

Help me understand.... You are diving,. La la la... pretty fish, or whatever, check your gauges 50' depth ( or 20, or 120 makes no difference really), take a look around for situational awareness and among several divers you see one with the inflator hose disconnected. Is it your normal reaction to go and just connect the hose? Even if the diver in question is just doing the dive without any issues? Without somehow communicating with the diver?

I have to say, if that's normal these days, I will make a greater effort to stay away from people, and continue doing my solo thing.