Question Panic in the experienced diver?

It would seem to me that, as we gain experience and go through some minor glitches on dives, we should increase our capacity to tolerate issues underwater. I'm wondering what could cause an experienced (say, more than 200 lifetime dives) diver to become distressed enough to lose rational thought. Has anyone here (who meets those criteria) been through a panic event? What caused it, and what did you do?

 

[crofrog]

I went cenote diving two Aprils ago. I had about 85 dives at the time and I was OW certified. It was my first time diving, and it was just me and the DM. He did a superb job of explaining everything-the 1/3 gas plan, staying on the line, and following the triangles. We had not seen anyone in the first two cenotes. As we dove our way to the third, we passed a group of five with cameras leaving. We then dove into a room area which was completely suited out with no visibility AT ALL!!! I completely panicked for 30 seconds. I then remembered: 1) my first DM said the first rule of diving is NEVER PANIC, 2) I had plenty of air, 3) the DM was no more than 3- 4 feet ahead of me, 4) the line is within 2 feet of me, and 5) I can follow the triangles out if I need to. I then calmed down, we continued slowly swimming out of there and the visibility cleared. It was fine on the way back. After the dive, the DM said the other DM shouldn't have let his divers silt up the area, and he should report him, but he wasn't going to. And that's the only time I've had full blown panic.

That should be silted out-not suited out! And I mean no visibility-you couldn't see your hand if it was in front of your face! At that point in my diving career, I was used to at least 30 feet of visibilty, and up to 80 or more as all my diving had been Cozumel, Belize and Dahab.

I've had dives since then where I was scared, and probably looking back, were well worthy of full blown panic, but I never have again. Twice where there were turns in the swim thrus, and I waited because of visibility, and my buddy left me each time-that wasn't fun. I am anal about checking my air and depth.

If it was truly a 0 vis silt out you described for an entire “room” and you didn’t have the hand on the line going into it you should be thankful you’re alive. The guide should never have taken you into the silt.

 

[Allen-1]

Some people are more prone to panic than others but training, repetition and time at the task can usually solve all of the issues. In the 1970's a guy I knew was learning how to skydive but actually leaving the door of the A/C was something he couldn't do. He would panic and refuse to go near the door. Its somewhat uncommon perhaps involving 1/2% of students. Normally an instructor would only take such a person up 2-3 times at most before they would advise them to find another sport. Naturally every aircraft ride costs $$. Finally after 7-8 rides he made his first jump and went on to make over 1,000 more.

I took my UW training about the same time. It was through a club in the winter of Canada and lasted the five months, twice a week. Training included buddy breathing two lengths of the pool and diving to the bottom of the pool blindfolded. Then you had to search for your gear, turn the air on and put all your equipment on.

Spring rolls around and its time for the check out dive. This is pre octopus regs and pre computers. So the instructor an I at are about 50' and eventually I'm about 600 psi so I show him my gauge, he nods and we continue. A bit later my reg gets hard to breathe so I flip the J valve down motion to the instructor what just occurred and we continue! Well it seemed like a minute later I was out of air. So I signalled that I was out of air and we started buddy breathing to the surface. Subsequently he admitted that he was quite embarrassed by it all. But i thought it was all a part of the dive.

Most skydivers review safety procedures in their minds on every jump. Because if the main parachute either doesn't open or opens is some fashion that makes landing under it dangerous. Time is of the essence and time wasted diagnosing a problem can put you too low to have any chance for a unobstructed landing area. Or worse.

Always keep track of air, depth and emergency options. If you have psychological issues with some area of the diving experience work at it until you're completely comfortable with it. Keep in mind that your buddy could have issues for which your assistance may be necessary.

I had a jump go bad, worked through it, did an off field landing. My daughter was there as a spectator and asked me if I was scared during it. I told her the truth. When it was happening, I didn't have spare time to be scared, I needed the time to deal with the problem(s) and couldn't waste it. Plenty of time after I was on the ground to let the adrenaline dump give me the shakes.

My (now) wife was there, first time she'd come to the field. She's watching, and as she told me later, the guy next to her watching the dive saw me, and said "oh **** - that guy's gonna die". I laughed - she wasn't amused.