Two weeks ago, while flounder hunting and separated from my SOSD buddy, I got tangled up in 20# mono. I calmy deflated my jacket and went to the sand at 65 fsw to break it free. I didn't need to use my knife, but I had it. In the process, my tank strap released and my tank started free-floating behind me. I still had 1200psi. I did a normal slow free ascent, stopped at 15' and then surfaced. I knew I was somewaht near the boat, and it was an easy swim back.
On the boat later, my buddy asked me why I didn't take my jacket off on the bottom and re-attach my tank. I said that didn't occur to me, but it was a skill I need to practice. I vaguely remember doing that in OW class in the pool.
So I headed to the quarry with a buddy yesterday to practice. My tank strap was still giving me fits, it slipped out twice before I even got in the water. Well, it came loose early in the dive, possibly from the 5 foot stride drop from the platform. When we got to our first stop, a sunken school bus, my buddy had to take some "flat Stanley" pictures for his niece (thats another whole story). While he was doing that, I just decided to practice my skill, since it really was a practical application. On the bottom, at 25', I successfully took ot off, re-attached my tank and put it back on. It was surprisingly easy. Then my buddy appeared after taking his pictures and we went inside the bus. He signalled to practice the skill and I tried to communicate that I had already done it, and it was his turn. So he did it, not as easily, he uses an integrated weight system and I use a belt. He was buoyant, but his tank and BC were negative, which made it a little more difficult. After he finished and had it back on securely, I decided to practice one more time, this time more flawlessly than the first.
Towards the end of the dive, we were exploring the old rock crusher. I was following my buddy when my tank bumped an overhead beam. Once again, it came free from the strap. I swam away from the structure, now confident in my ability to fix it. I had about 700psi, and was kneeling on the bottom at 30 feet. When I removed the BC, much to my surprise, it was extremely buoyant. I let all the air out, but it was still positive from the tank. I struggled with it for a couple of minutes, but could not control the buoyant tank. At 500 psi, I decided to make a free ascent, BC and tank in tow in my hand, and still buddyless. I held on tight, knowing full well that my BC would head for the surface, and I would head for the bottom if we parted ways. I swam slowly at a 45 degree angle in the direction of the platform, surfacing at at very reasonable pace. At the surface, I had no trouble re-strapping my tank and donning my BC for the surface swim back to the platform. My buddy surfaced soon after.
During the SI, we diagnosed and remedied my strap issue.
The second dive was uneventful, save one incident. I poked my head into an old airplane and my second stage hose got caught on something and ripped my reg out out my mouth. I slowly backed up, recovered it and put it back in my mouth.
I learned several things from my intanglement incident in the ocean and these two quarry dives.
Remain calm and think before acting.
Assess the situation and make the safest possible plan.
Think of things that can go wrong and practice the remedies, or at least rehearse them in your mind.
Be a better buddy.
Never get in the water with a suspect piece of equipment (My tank strap)
Ok...let me have it :14:
On the boat later, my buddy asked me why I didn't take my jacket off on the bottom and re-attach my tank. I said that didn't occur to me, but it was a skill I need to practice. I vaguely remember doing that in OW class in the pool.
So I headed to the quarry with a buddy yesterday to practice. My tank strap was still giving me fits, it slipped out twice before I even got in the water. Well, it came loose early in the dive, possibly from the 5 foot stride drop from the platform. When we got to our first stop, a sunken school bus, my buddy had to take some "flat Stanley" pictures for his niece (thats another whole story). While he was doing that, I just decided to practice my skill, since it really was a practical application. On the bottom, at 25', I successfully took ot off, re-attached my tank and put it back on. It was surprisingly easy. Then my buddy appeared after taking his pictures and we went inside the bus. He signalled to practice the skill and I tried to communicate that I had already done it, and it was his turn. So he did it, not as easily, he uses an integrated weight system and I use a belt. He was buoyant, but his tank and BC were negative, which made it a little more difficult. After he finished and had it back on securely, I decided to practice one more time, this time more flawlessly than the first.
Towards the end of the dive, we were exploring the old rock crusher. I was following my buddy when my tank bumped an overhead beam. Once again, it came free from the strap. I swam away from the structure, now confident in my ability to fix it. I had about 700psi, and was kneeling on the bottom at 30 feet. When I removed the BC, much to my surprise, it was extremely buoyant. I let all the air out, but it was still positive from the tank. I struggled with it for a couple of minutes, but could not control the buoyant tank. At 500 psi, I decided to make a free ascent, BC and tank in tow in my hand, and still buddyless. I held on tight, knowing full well that my BC would head for the surface, and I would head for the bottom if we parted ways. I swam slowly at a 45 degree angle in the direction of the platform, surfacing at at very reasonable pace. At the surface, I had no trouble re-strapping my tank and donning my BC for the surface swim back to the platform. My buddy surfaced soon after.
During the SI, we diagnosed and remedied my strap issue.
The second dive was uneventful, save one incident. I poked my head into an old airplane and my second stage hose got caught on something and ripped my reg out out my mouth. I slowly backed up, recovered it and put it back in my mouth.
I learned several things from my intanglement incident in the ocean and these two quarry dives.
Remain calm and think before acting.
Assess the situation and make the safest possible plan.
Think of things that can go wrong and practice the remedies, or at least rehearse them in your mind.
Be a better buddy.
Never get in the water with a suspect piece of equipment (My tank strap)
Ok...let me have it :14:
If you're diving with a buddy though, don't get separated.
I'm sure he'll repay me later.
