drjtprice
Contributor
You are 100% correct. My comment was that training excersizes do not use realistic situations. IE convulsing diver grab then from behind take them up. CONTROLLED OOA calmly donate our reg and go up. all very simple and not demanding at all. As you mentioned ocean divnig in your comment. many situations of just getting a diver back on a boat in a somewhat mild sea state is exhausting at times let alone while doing a rescue. When you watch the videos of rescue training events where the victim is coming at you and you have to evade to gain position to safely take charge of the victim and return to the surface, you cant help but think how difficult it would be in a current or if not in good physical condition or as one posted a disabled diver. When I did my rescue towing the diver took a lot of energy to get them to shore in a reasonable time. A fatigued diver is one thing ,,,a hurt or unconscious or a panic stricken diver is another matter. Classes seem to avoid those situations. Stripping gear of the victim while towing is another very exhausting phase of rescue.
The biggest part of rescue for me was learning to recognize problems bilding and preventing the situation from becoming critical in order to avoid the need for rescue. Recognition and prevention through intervention can be learned form reading. Early intervention deters uncontrollable stiuations form developing.
When I was a Dive Coordinator (NASDS, similar to DM) on the the Bottom Scratcher or Sand Dollar the hardest typical rescue is one you don't train for - when a diver gets too close to the island (San Clemente) then gets tossed up on the rocks and is being beaten about. You need to get to them, get them back in the water - all in the waves and surge. The scenarios help in that you get more skills, but you are unlikely to encounter many of them.