Raja Ampat diver death

[JonnieB]

You are not allowed to wear gloves in Raja Ampat.

Yes I saw that in the thread so my comment. If divers have to occasionally climb up reef walls, both the divers and the reef benefit from gloved hands. Also, they're an essential piece of thermal protection on some dives.

 

[Joneill]

Yes I saw that in the thread so my comment. If divers have to occasionally climb up reef walls, both the divers and the reef benefit from gloved hands. Also, they're an essential piece of thermal protection on some dives.

There is no need for thermal protection on one's hands in Raja Ampat. Also, wrt to gloves: if you "generally avoid places/jurisdictions/operators that disallow them", you are really missing some spectacular diving. That said, I suppose one could carry a pair in a pocket for use in an emergency such as what happened in this accident. I doubt anyone would have an issue if used in an emergency reef wall cling/climb to save a life?

 

[Dan]

I don’t mind the no glove policy. There are lots of hydroids on those wall/reef. Just an accidental brush your bare skin against hydroid would lead to itches and blister like poison ivy. Using stick to anchor yourself on rock/dead coral/sand would avoid the accidental brushing against hydroid.

DAN & Wild Singapore have articles about stinging hydroid,

Marine Envenomations: Jellyfish & Hydroid Stings

Stinging hydroid (Hydrozoa)

Fact sheet with photos on flora and fauna of Singapore's intertidal shores

www.wildsingapore.com

 

[JonnieB]

There is no need for thermal protection on one's hands in Raja Ampat. Also, wrt to gloves: if you "generally avoid places/jurisdictions/operators that disallow them", you are really missing some spectacular diving. That said, I suppose one could carry a pair in a pocket for use in an emergency such as what happened in this accident. I doubt anyone would have an issue if used in an emergency reef wall cling/climb to save a life?

I wouldn't presume to know the thermal protection needs of other divers...I had a client in Phuket who insisted he needed a full 7mm wetsuit to dive our 29° water

 

[JonnieB]

I don’t mind the no glove policy. There are lots of hydroids on those wall/reef. Just an accidental brush your bare skin against hydroid would lead to itches and blister like poison ivy. Using stick to anchor yourself on rock/dead coral/sand would avoid the accidental brushing against hydroid.

DAN & Wild Singapore have articles about stinging hydroid,

Marine Envenomations: Jellyfish & Hydroid Stings

Stinging hydroid (Hydrozoa)

Fact sheet with photos on flora and fauna of Singapore's intertidal shores

www.wildsingapore.com

Not to hijack the thread, but gloves also provide protection when decending and ascending anchor lines, which are often encrusted with sharp barnacles and other marine life. They also assist in gripping rope lines during zebra boat tows and exiting the water on wet slippery metal ladders. In times when it's necessary to push off coral reefs/walls or make a hold fast, a gloved had is better for the diver and reef. I don't understand the argument that allowing gloves incentivises divers to touch/handle marine life or reefs more. Careless or bad divers are going to do it anyway and if they do, THEY should be warned or have their diving restricted...not experienced and conscientious divers.

 

[Joneill]

Not to hijack the thread, but gloves also provide protection when decending and ascending anchor lines, which are often encrusted with sharp barnacles and other marine life. They also assist in gripping rope lines during zebra boat tows and exiting the water on wet slippery metal ladders. In times when it's necessary to push off coral reefs/walls or make a hold fast, a gloved had is better for the diver and reef. I don't understand the argument that allowing gloves incentivises divers to touch/handle marine life or reefs more. Careless or bad divers are going to do it anyway and if they do, THEY should be warned or have their diving restricted...not experienced and conscientious divers.

No lines used for ascent or descent in Raja Ampat - you generally backroll off a tender and climb up a small ladder to get back on (without your gear). I have honestly never felt the need for gloves in any tropical destination that I've dived - needing gloves would mean that I was touching things that I shouldn't be touching. I would also say that a well placed pointer is better for the reef than grabbing or pushing off with a much larger gloved hand.

I do understand that gloves might be useful in some situations/locations - but Raja Ampat is not one of them.

 

[Dan]

I use the stick as tank banger to draw attention of my dive buddy.

 

[Dan]

Another question about Steve’s gear. He was found with his 2nd stage regulator fell off his mouth. Did he have a molded mouthpiece on his 2nd stage regulator, like mine (see the picture, below)? If he indeed had a molded mouthpiece on his 2nd stage regulator, the regulator would still stuck in his mouth and kept water from entering into his lung.

Before having the molded mouthpiece, on 2nd stage regulator, I used to experience jaw fatigue after an hour long dive. I also had bit a chunk off a regular mouthpiece making it difficult to keep it on my mouth. Such molded mouthpiece has relieved my jaw fatigue. What a great invention!

 

[Twiny]

I use the stick as tank banger to draw attention of my dive buddy.

Hi, ask yourself how tec divers call themselves (they do not have pointers)

 

[Tedestam]

Many diver here keep talking about reef hooks or even pointers to get out of an extreme downward current ... I do not think it would really help. As you said after waiting a few minutes, the current strength should be less and allow for lateral movement.
What is your opinion about reef hooks to handle extreme downward currents ?

Personally I can not remember ever having to use my hook in those circumstances (I usually don't carry a pointer). Instead I usually stay at a lower point of the reef, or behind a coral bummie/obstruction. I hold on to a rock or find a dead coral.

A hook or pointer may help if there is a rocky smooth surface with only small crevices/holes in the rock. If I were to use a hook for this, then I would not let the line out but hold on to the hook itself to avoid myself bumping against the substrate.

Since we are talking about hooks, as a general advice; be vary with those curly reefhook lines because they have metal inside them which can get rusty. This usually happens over time when the plastic gets old and it cracks, allowing water inside. If you see that the metal inside has a black segment, then it may snap in a strong current, or if several people have to hold on to the same line.

I am not sure if the current always come in pulses, but at least they tend to do that when you are close to, or inside, a current line. Current lines are created where the topography causes the main current to change direction and makes a strong current heading away from the reef. You can sometimes see current lines very clearly form the surface. However if you happened to jump in at slack or the beginning or falling/rising then the current will increase in intensity, even if it is coming in pulses.