Question about Coast Guard rescue swimmers

[SNorman]

I just watched the move "The Guardian" (if you haven't seen it, it's about Coast Guard rescue divers, jumping out of helicopters, etc).

I'm sure much of the movie was Hollywood BS. I'm curious now though what exactly is the protocol for these guys. In the movie the swimmers jumped from the helicopter or platform with MOF... then put their mask on after they hit the water. Is this for real? If so why?

 

[muddiver]

Recreational diver boats are about 2' to 4' above the surface of the water and you will not lose your mask and fins jumping from that height.

A SAR bird (helicopter) will hover about 15' to 20' above the water so as not to wash the survivors and the rescue swimmer away with the rotor wash. You can't jump from that high with you mask and fins on without losing them and hurting yourself. You fins hitting the water will probably breack you ankles above about 10'.

 

[somewhereinla]

It seems that it is mostly Hollywood BS... Almost everytime you see K.C. in the water he has his mask on his forhead which is what you learn not to do in OW.

 

[SNorman]

Yeah, I kind of gave them a pass on that because I think it's common to have the actors remove the mask when they don't need it so you can see their face.

So, they don't jump with fins either? I think they had them on in the movie. So, do they jump in with their mask on their forehead though? And just hold on to it and assume it's going to get pulled off?

 

[Gary D.]

What it boils down to is you can't compare your recreational training with any other training. Recreational diving is the only organization I know of that has that mentality.

In other areas of diving the mask might and often does spend a lot of time on the forehead.

This is well over 10’ and with Duck Feet sometimes they ended up by your knees.
http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/31989/cat/500/ppuser/2714

No signs of distress here.
http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/9986/cat/500/ppuser/2714

Or here;
http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/35319/cat/500/ppuser/2714

There are conditions where you will go in with your mask and/or fins off and put them on later.

Just because something is a general practice in recreational diving doesn’t mean the rest of the world plays by those rules or recommendations.

Gary D.

 

[SteveC]

The diver on the left in the last photo may not be in distress, but he definitely about to loose his mask.

 

[bridgediver]

damn Gary. Where'd you find my picture?

 

[Gary D.]

The diver on the left in the last photo may not be in distress, but he definitely about to loose his mask.

What do you expect with a Scott on the dock and two Dago's in the water?

Gary D.

 

[SNorman]

Just to clarify, my question wasn't really related to the MOF debates we have about SCUBA. Just curious why that would be a better way to maintain a hold on your mask. Also it seemed like the masks were put on and cleared underwater immediately after submerging, cause as soon as they came up their masks were on. ?? Sorry for all the Q's though, man the movie just got me really interested in rescue swimmers.

 

[Desert_Diver]

What it boils down to is you can't compare your recreational training with any other training. Recreational diving is the only organization I know of that has that mentality.

In other areas of diving the mask might and often does spend a lot of time on the forehead.

This is well over 10’ and with Duck Feet sometimes they ended up by your knees.
http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/31989/cat/500/ppuser/2714

No signs of distress here.
http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/9986/cat/500/ppuser/2714

Or here;
http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/35319/cat/500/ppuser/2714

There are conditions where you will go in with your mask and/or fins off and put them on later.

Just because something is a general practice in recreational diving doesn’t mean the rest of the world plays by those rules or recommendations.

Gary D.

Gary-

In the second picture, the boat is flying a flag with a dark background with a white "X" on it. Is this a Navy signal for divers in the water? Or something else?

Thanks,

Art