Pending thunder/lightening storm & diving ?

[DI_Guy]

We all know its not wise to play golf during an electrical storm...

My question is.....

1. Is it safe to start a dive if such a storm is forecasted ?

2. What if you surface and the storm is upon you ?

3. Will neoprene protect you against 2,000,000 volts ? lol (ignore the last question) ;-)

Any comments ?

 

[Kim]

There was a thread about this quite recently but I'm not sure how long ago - you might find it with a search. I seem to remember that it wasn't such a good idea, and that you can get pretty zapped U/W.

 

[MechDiver]

Do a search on "thunder"

 

[DI_Guy]

thanks.... I should have checked the threads first..

basically it says.....

Don't start a dive during a storm ...

If you are diving and one comes upon you, stay down if you can ...

If you have to surface , seek shelter a.s.a.p.

The dive flags, sausages and other surface protrudences (ie: your diving buddy) are the concern...

I knew most of this... makes common sense.

 

[Gary D.]

I was in a MK-5 rig with 3 finger mits when I blew a glove off at the elbow. That flooded the suit right up to my exhaust valve at the base of my chin. Shy of a total flood you do not surface and a total flood is very unlikely.

I continued doing my assigned task when I grabbed a hot 440 volt line. All I can remember to this day is a brilliant bright blue color. When the blue faded I was laid out on the deck of the barge out of the suit with corpsmen checking me out. Man was I weak.

No burns and no lasting problems.

That was 440 volts. Now times that by millions for a sky shot.

Recomendation: DON'T DIVE UNLESS YOU HAVE TO.

Gary D.

 

[DI_Guy]

Right on Gary... I know what you went through.

I work with High Tension power and have had a few 70,000 volt ZAPS over the years and they do lighten up your day. Fortunately I am still here to talk about it.

I never had them when wet or near water and thats why I asked the original question. A lightening strike when diving near the surface would be fatal. I just wanted to know how deep should you be to not be affected by the charge.

 

[texdiveguy]

Common sense---H2O and electricity don't mix!!

 

[Gary D.]

Right on Gary... I know what you went through.

I work with High Tension power and have had a few 70,000 volt ZAPS over the years and they do lighten up your day. Fortunately I am still here to talk about it.

I never had them when wet or near water and thats why I asked the original question. A lightening strike when diving near the surface would be fatal. I just wanted to know how deep should you be to not be affected by the charge.

Depth is simple. As deep into the bar as you can get and as close to a TALL bartender as possible on a wooden stool

The docs said the only reasion it didn't kill me was most likely from being totally flooded. Had the glove not come off I wouldn't have even gotten shocked. Hundreds of divers had been down there but I'm the one that got FUBARed. Cheap a$$ old beat up suit.

Gary D.

PS; Where did the blue come from? Some have said sense it is my favorate color that's what my mind projected. Being in the juice business do you know?

 

[ScubaTexan]

Been there, done that -- not willing to do it again. I could see it coming, and surfacing with an aluminum scuba tank strapped to your back is not a comforting feeling. I don't dive around

 

[DI_Guy]

Depth is simple. As deep into the bar as you can get and as close to a TALL bartender as possible on a wooden stool

The docs said the only reasion it didn't kill me was most likely from being totally flooded. Had the glove not come off I wouldn't have even gotten shocked. Hundreds of divers had been down there but I'm the one that got FUBARed. Cheap a$$ old beat up suit.

Gary D.

PS; Where did the blue come from? Some have said sense it is my favorate color that's what my mind projected. Being in the juice business do you know?

Hi Gary:

Injury from eletrocution is dependent on the potential difference (voltage) and the current ( amps / milliamps ) , the conductivity of the body part, and the path it takes across/through the old bod.. I don't know whether water soaked neoprene mitts would insulate against 440 Volts.

I don't know the path the current took through you so I don't know why "the flooding" helped you. I am just glad you survived it. ( btw. 440 Volts @ 50 amps could have toasted you. )

An electrical arc ionizes the air because of poor electrical contact and current having to go through the air. It creates colours but underwater, I would not have expected to see anything. When I got zapped, I went blind for 20 secs, but I was totally coherent. Maybe the blue was an effect with the retina of your eyes and blood flow and only a partial blackout. I don't rightly know.

Anyway, getting zapped is no fun....