Regulator Kicked Out of Mouth by New Diver

[rhwestfall]

Reg retrieval is a core concept in OW. I've had a few in 30 years. Not a big deal at all.

 

[chillyinCanada]

I was hit in the head by a hard fin tip on a night dive so I descended a bit to avoid that diver, whereupon, I found myself straddling a large nurse shark. Fortunately, the shark didn't care. I might even have made the 8 seconds.

 

[rhwestfall]

I was hit in the head by a hard fin tip on a night dive so I descended a bit to avoid that diver, whereupon, I found myself straddling a large nurse shark. Fortunately, the shark didn't care. I might even have made the 8 seconds.

and and

 

[doctormike]

I havd always figured there's shared responsibility if you get kicked in the face. The other dive most likely cant see you but you generally can see them, unless you are in limited vis or are "attacked" from above etc. It's kinda like not walking behind a jet airplane when its getting ready for take off LOL.

Good to hear your training kicked in and you handled the situation.

^This.

Yeah, new divers don't have the best trim and they tend to kick wildly. But if you get your reg kicked out of your mouth, that means that you put your face near the other divers moving fins.

They can't see behind themselves, but you can see what's in front of you. It's great that the OP kept calm and put the reg back in, but I don't see how it's the other diver's fault, and I'm not sure what the point is of trying to berate someone underwater using sign language in that situation.

 

[Outbound]

I wouldn't blame the new diver as much as myself for swimming in to see what a DM is pointing at...i just watch the scrambling then once thats done, ill move in for a view..

Know your surroundings.

Good point. Whenever there's an underwater scrum, I stay away. And if I even sense another diver's fins are anywhere near my face, I throw up an arm to protect my reg and mask as I maneuver away. When diving in crowded locations, you either need eyes in the back of your head or you have to develop a sixth sense about who and what is coming too close to you.

 

[maj2]

Good point. Whenever there's an underwater scrum, I stay away. And if I even sense another diver's fins are anywhere near my face, I throw up an arm to protect my reg and mask as I maneuver away. When diving in crowded locations, you either need eyes in the back of your head or you have to develop a sixth sense about who and what is coming too close to you.

Exactly.
My arms are folded in front of me anyway, so whenever I feel things getting more congested than I like, I simply raise one hand up in front of my face. Basically as a face shield.

 

[KLY]

I think some of the guys here assumed that I went into a crowded spot where the group of new divers were. Let me clarify that the group of new divers were not at that spot but were hovering at a distance which I assumed was a safe distance away from the reef. But I guess while I was busy looking at the nudibranch, they somehow got nearer above me, and one diver kicked my regulator out of my mouth.
My post here is for sharing as I felt there are lessons that can be learnt.

 

[doctormike]

I think some of the guys here assumed that I went into a crowded spot where the group of new divers were. Let me clarify that the group of new divers were not at that spot but were hovering at a distance which I assumed was a safe distance away from the reef. But I guess while I was busy looking at the nudibranch, they somehow got nearer above me, and ome diver kicked my regulator.
My post here is for sharing as I felt there are lessons that can be learnt.

Right, and we aren't trying to beat up on you, and we appreciate your post.

But assuming that your dive count is correct, you may be a fairly new diver yourself, and we all can always improve our skills. The one lesson that you might have stressed more in your original post (#2 is sort of in the ballpark) is to always maintain situational awareness, even when you have another task.

 

[KLY]

Right, and we aren't trying to beat up on you, and we appreciate your post.

But assuming that your dive count is correct, you may be a fairly new diver yourself, and we all can always improve our skills. The one lesson that you might have stressed more in your original post (#2 is sort of in the ballpark) is to always maintain situational awareness, even when you have another task.

Agreed. My logged dives are less than a hundred but total dives around 150 dives. Staying in Malaysia, dive season is only 6 months as another 6 months the monsoon season sets in where the best islands are on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia.
You are absolutely spot on about situational awareness

 

[doctormike]

Agreed. My logged dives are less than a hundred but total dives around 150 dives. Staying in Malaysia, dive season is only 6 months as another 6 months the monsoon season sets in where the best islands are on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia.
You are absolutely spot on about situational awareness

See, now THAT'S a good thinking, learning diver. So refreshing to have people listen to each other instead of just being defensive.

Dive safe, buddy...!