panicked diver

[alcina]

Sounds like you did a great job! Thanks for sharing it. I hope you don't have to deal with this again

I do have a concern that he was certified after this event. I would think the instructor would NOT certify him until he had calmly and confidently completed another dive. No way would I certify a diver that couldn't complete a full dive...what would have happened had you not been there and he had to rely on his buddy? It seems he clearly demostrated that he has NOT mastered reg recovery and clearing at the very least.

This scenario does not demonstrate mastery, confidence or competence to me.

 

[Jim Ernst]

actully, yes i and the instructor agree with you as he did make him complete several more tasks to be sure he was compident, and as he did do a good job from there on, so i do hope all goes well in the futer for him as he was headed for the aussi town, austrailia, lol, i know i spelled that wrong,lol

 

[TheDom]

Nice job Jim, sounds like a good learning experience for the both of you. A simple supportive hand on the shoulder can work wonders with someone who's upset. May all your future learning experiences run this smoothly.

 

[Kevfin]

Great job. Kudos to both you and the new diver. I'm wondering who got the most out of this... Good learning experience for everyone involved. It's good to show that you can handle this type of situation calmly and be an asset to the instructor and the class. I'm sure your awareness and quick handling of the situation made all the difference. It's this type of situation that can make or break a future diver and add confidence to the DM.

 

[Puffer Fish]

if i can i will see how he is latter down the road, good sugestion, and yes after thinking of what you are saying i would imagin that you are refering to the method used and learned in the rescue class, if i am correct? though at the time this diver didnt show any signs of bolting for the surface as he SEEMED to be mainly trying to get his reg and stop chocking and just breath and going to his aid seemed right at that time, and i can safely say my being there worked for him and saved him any further panic as he stated my being there was the safe comfort that was so helpful, if that makes any sense, thanks for your expertise and advice!!!

Don't know what was taught in rescue class, but I know what works. Your presence was, more than likely, the real calming aspect of this whole event. The bolting person is just one tiny step from where you were at. Your calming effect was the key aspect of this.

I did a checkout dive with a new diver from the Midwest in the pacific off Panama, and while I was going through a quick check of his skills, and letting him get adjusted to his first ocean dive, a 12 - 15 ft tiger shark swam directly at us, from behind me. The guy bolted and I tried to hold on - never been kicked, clawed, elbowed so much in my life. When we got to the surface, I discovered that a bolting diver is actually trying to get out of the water, not just to the surface. He attempted to use me as some sort of raft. Removed my reg, my mask, and perched on top of me. I will never again do a checkout of a new person with myself being directly in front of them.

Two minutes later, you would not have known anything happened.

I learned to stay on their right side - makes giving them back a reg really easy and allows you to move behind if needed.

 

[ghostdiver1957]

Way to go Jim!

One less body to recover !

Happy Diving

 

[Fish_Whisperer]

Nice job, Jim. On one of my OW cert. dives, I got my fins tangled in some fishing line. I wasn't panicked, but definitely was becoming agitated, because the more I tried to free myself, the more tangled I seemed to become. He swam up, held his palm out in a "relax... take it easy" gesture, then drew his knife and cut me free. I was very grateful that he was there, noticed what was happening, and helped me out.

 

[cummings66]

Sounds like you did a fine job with the student. Panic is one of those things you don't know how a person will handle until the real deal hits. I know that it doesn't take but a split second for a situation to get out of hand and prompt response is needed to prevent that, this you did and both of you benefited. They benefited because they saw the system works, you did because you have confidence that you can do what you're supposed to do, and it worked!

The key as demonstrated here is personal contact reassuring them they're ok.

 

[SStrecker]

Congratulations on a job well done. There is a lot of joy and satisfaction in a successful life saving situation properly executed. Best wishes as a new DM.

 

[Jim Ernst]

Don't know what was taught in rescue class, but I know what works. Your presence was, more than likely, the real calming aspect of this whole event. The bolting person is just one tiny step from where you were at. Your calming effect was the key aspect of this.

I did a checkout dive with a new diver from the Midwest in the pacific off Panama, and while I was going through a quick check of his skills, and letting him get adjusted to his first ocean dive, a 12 - 15 ft tiger shark swam directly at us, from behind me. The guy bolted and I tried to hold on - never been kicked, clawed, elbowed so much in my life. When we got to the surface, I discovered that a bolting diver is actually trying to get out of the water, not just to the surface. He attempted to use me as some sort of raft. Removed my reg, my mask, and perched on top of me. I will never again do a checkout of a new person with myself being directly in front of them.

Two minutes later, you would not have known anything happened.

I learned to stay on their right side - makes giving them back a reg really easy and allows you to move behind if needed.

i see, and that all makes sense to me and i like and will use this advice and method, thanks, oh and for the tiger shark i probley would have peed my wet suit and started taking pictures, i so want to photograph some sharks!!! i know i am a photo nut lol,