O2BBubbleFree
Contributor
Incidents 1 and 2:
Date: Yesterday, 2/26/6, ~11:30.
Site: Barstows Wendy Point SCUBA Park, Lake Travis, TX.
Temp: Site operator told us a constant 55*F, top to bottom. He was right about this one.
Vis: He also told us vis was 5 at the surface and 3 at depth. Turns out vis below about 30 was a fishermans foot. You know how fisherman exaggerate.
The Event: Working on my Advanced Open Water Diver cert, doing the 'deep' dive, instructor/buddy and I (one-on-one). Visibility at depth was 'maybe' a foot. We followed the chain down to about 90' (end of chain), then followed the bottom contour to 100'. Plan was to turn around at that point and retrace our route, but when we hit 100' we also hit a tree. Buddy lost his weight belt. He later said it felt like something pulled it off of his hips. He tried to grab it with his ankles, but was unable to, so he grabbed a hold of me. We decided to thumb the dive (obviously).
I started my ascent, watching my computer. Problem was, the depth was not changing! I was entangled somehow, still don't know if it was a tree limb, fishing line, or what. Now I know what it feels like when panic comes knocking. When I first started to feel anxious, I made myself look at my pressure gauge and reminded myself that I was still breathing and had enough gas to continue doing so for quite a while. That kept the panic at bay. I started wiggling back and forth to see if I could free myself, and my instructor was tugging on me. Within a few seconds we started ascending, skipped the safety stop (not enough combined weight), and decided to cancel the other planned dives for the day (again, obviously). Ascent rate was between 30 and 60 ft/min.
Lessons learned:
1. I now know what it feels like when panic comes knocking. I think I handled it pretty well, and maybe will do better if it ever decides to revisit.
2. First thing I probably should have done to try to free myself was to try to descend. The entanglement became evident when I tried to ascend, so dropping down might have cleared it (we were maybe a foot off the bottom). Not sure I could have descended, since buddy and I were both depending on my 16# of lead at that point, but maybe I should have tried. I knew I could take my gear off and try to clear the entanglement, but it didnt come to that.
3. Ive been thinking of splitting my weight between BC and weight belt when using this much neoprene. Still weighing the pros and cons, but if I do, or if I go with a non-integrated BC in the future, a harness-type (something like the DUI Weight and Trim) has moved up on my list. I have read/heard of, and now seen, that loosing a weight belt happens all too often.
4. We had two major incidents at the same time: buddies weight belt and my entanglement. If things had gone slightly worse, I would have been looking at a CESA. Actually, I think it was lucky that my buddy was able to grab a hold of me when he lost his weights: he was able to hook the belt with one ankle for a few seconds, and he was still able to get to me in the next-to-non-existent vis. If he hadnt, I would have been entangled AND alone. Not a happy thought. Worst case I could have ditched my gear and done a CESA, but a detachable pony bottle has also moved up on my list of things to have. I feel a normal ascent with weights and pony in hand would be a better option than a CESA.
Incident 3 (Later that same day):
After we hung out on the surface for awhile (off-gassing adrenaline), my instructor was demonstrating some techniques I would have to be familiar with for the SLAM (Rescue) cert. We were right by the stairs, and he was showing me what to do if a panicked diver on the surface is trying to climb on top of you. I was playing the part of the paninked diver, he diverted my attempt to grab him, and moved around behind me. Then (from my perspective) nothing happened for a few seconds...
I turned around to ask him what's next, and he was struggling to keep his mouth above water. Turns out when he moved around behind me he got his tank valve/first stage caught under the handrail, and couldn't get to his second stage. I told him what I was about to do, then shoved him under the water to push his valve/reg out from under the handrail.
Lessons learned:
Demonstrate such skills where you have lots of room. I think the proximity of the stairs gave us a false sense of security after all else that had happened.
I told him what I was about to do so he wouldnt be caught off-guard when I shoved him under, but maybe I should have helped him find one of his second stages first. Didnt occur to me. I also could have given him my octo, but then when I shoved him under, I probably would have had to duck under, too.
All ended well, but quite a day.
Extra detail, should you care:
Suit: I was in a 7mm john and jacket, 5mm booties, 3mm hood and gloves. Although the water was about 5*F cooler than what Id dived before, this combo was fine for me. My buddy was dry (er, actually, semi-dry. Seems he has a leak in the suit).
Weight: On my most-recent dive with this exposure protection in fresh water (1995), I used 17# of lead, and noted in my log that I was still heavy. Ive gained about 15# since then, but am still negative in fresh water with an al80 and no neoprene. I decided to go with 16# for this dive, 8# in each WI BC pocket (older-style Ranger with two weight pockets), and was still a little heavy. Buddy had 25# in weight belt (on the way out, that is).
Both diving air.
Your comments are appreciated. Well, actually, your comments will at least be considered
Date: Yesterday, 2/26/6, ~11:30.
Site: Barstows Wendy Point SCUBA Park, Lake Travis, TX.
Temp: Site operator told us a constant 55*F, top to bottom. He was right about this one.
Vis: He also told us vis was 5 at the surface and 3 at depth. Turns out vis below about 30 was a fishermans foot. You know how fisherman exaggerate.
The Event: Working on my Advanced Open Water Diver cert, doing the 'deep' dive, instructor/buddy and I (one-on-one). Visibility at depth was 'maybe' a foot. We followed the chain down to about 90' (end of chain), then followed the bottom contour to 100'. Plan was to turn around at that point and retrace our route, but when we hit 100' we also hit a tree. Buddy lost his weight belt. He later said it felt like something pulled it off of his hips. He tried to grab it with his ankles, but was unable to, so he grabbed a hold of me. We decided to thumb the dive (obviously).
I started my ascent, watching my computer. Problem was, the depth was not changing! I was entangled somehow, still don't know if it was a tree limb, fishing line, or what. Now I know what it feels like when panic comes knocking. When I first started to feel anxious, I made myself look at my pressure gauge and reminded myself that I was still breathing and had enough gas to continue doing so for quite a while. That kept the panic at bay. I started wiggling back and forth to see if I could free myself, and my instructor was tugging on me. Within a few seconds we started ascending, skipped the safety stop (not enough combined weight), and decided to cancel the other planned dives for the day (again, obviously). Ascent rate was between 30 and 60 ft/min.
Lessons learned:
1. I now know what it feels like when panic comes knocking. I think I handled it pretty well, and maybe will do better if it ever decides to revisit.
2. First thing I probably should have done to try to free myself was to try to descend. The entanglement became evident when I tried to ascend, so dropping down might have cleared it (we were maybe a foot off the bottom). Not sure I could have descended, since buddy and I were both depending on my 16# of lead at that point, but maybe I should have tried. I knew I could take my gear off and try to clear the entanglement, but it didnt come to that.
3. Ive been thinking of splitting my weight between BC and weight belt when using this much neoprene. Still weighing the pros and cons, but if I do, or if I go with a non-integrated BC in the future, a harness-type (something like the DUI Weight and Trim) has moved up on my list. I have read/heard of, and now seen, that loosing a weight belt happens all too often.
4. We had two major incidents at the same time: buddies weight belt and my entanglement. If things had gone slightly worse, I would have been looking at a CESA. Actually, I think it was lucky that my buddy was able to grab a hold of me when he lost his weights: he was able to hook the belt with one ankle for a few seconds, and he was still able to get to me in the next-to-non-existent vis. If he hadnt, I would have been entangled AND alone. Not a happy thought. Worst case I could have ditched my gear and done a CESA, but a detachable pony bottle has also moved up on my list of things to have. I feel a normal ascent with weights and pony in hand would be a better option than a CESA.
Incident 3 (Later that same day):
After we hung out on the surface for awhile (off-gassing adrenaline), my instructor was demonstrating some techniques I would have to be familiar with for the SLAM (Rescue) cert. We were right by the stairs, and he was showing me what to do if a panicked diver on the surface is trying to climb on top of you. I was playing the part of the paninked diver, he diverted my attempt to grab him, and moved around behind me. Then (from my perspective) nothing happened for a few seconds...
I turned around to ask him what's next, and he was struggling to keep his mouth above water. Turns out when he moved around behind me he got his tank valve/first stage caught under the handrail, and couldn't get to his second stage. I told him what I was about to do, then shoved him under the water to push his valve/reg out from under the handrail.
Lessons learned:
Demonstrate such skills where you have lots of room. I think the proximity of the stairs gave us a false sense of security after all else that had happened.
I told him what I was about to do so he wouldnt be caught off-guard when I shoved him under, but maybe I should have helped him find one of his second stages first. Didnt occur to me. I also could have given him my octo, but then when I shoved him under, I probably would have had to duck under, too.
All ended well, but quite a day.
Extra detail, should you care:
Suit: I was in a 7mm john and jacket, 5mm booties, 3mm hood and gloves. Although the water was about 5*F cooler than what Id dived before, this combo was fine for me. My buddy was dry (er, actually, semi-dry. Seems he has a leak in the suit).
Weight: On my most-recent dive with this exposure protection in fresh water (1995), I used 17# of lead, and noted in my log that I was still heavy. Ive gained about 15# since then, but am still negative in fresh water with an al80 and no neoprene. I decided to go with 16# for this dive, 8# in each WI BC pocket (older-style Ranger with two weight pockets), and was still a little heavy. Buddy had 25# in weight belt (on the way out, that is).
Both diving air.
Your comments are appreciated. Well, actually, your comments will at least be considered
