iamrushman
Contributor
sorry to hear such sad news...
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Condolences to his friends and family.....if in fact he did jump in with his air turned off that's a horrible mistake, but I will never understand how someone dies that way....how can someone be so negatively buoyant as to not be able to swim their rig up ,I cant imagine that ever being the case with me.
Indeed, very sad.
As to negative buoyancy, I agree it should not be the case where one can't swim to the surface. But it's not an uncommon problem, especially related to OW training. Without picking on any particular cert agency, my own experience, and observing some others, has been that overweighting to keep a diver down is not uncommon. It's understandable since an instructor with his/her DMs may have a group of scuba trainees with wide ranging dispositions (e.g., dads with kids, folks uncomfortable in the water) and one of their primary goals is to get the diverse group through the training process without causing a major incident. It's my impression that rarely do get OW trainees refused certs because their buoyancy control or trim was not up to par. As long as there is an inherent conflict of interest between cert agencies as commercial enterprises and the need to train some folks much longer than others -- or disqualify them -- an OW cert just means that.
This is not to say that overweighting played a critical role in the diver's death. But pre-dive drills and safety checks which are heavily emphasized in cavern/cave training are not given the same urgency in OW training. Every diver is left to learn their significance through experience. I too have jumped in the water with my air turned off. The inflator hose not connected. Overweighted when trying a new drysuit, sinking to the bottom of the pool. They say it's cumulative effects that eventually may kill you. In my case, other factors were in my favor that allowed the mishaps to be corrected without escalating further. I've been following my own set of pre-dive procedures which, so far, have served me well. And what-if practices. But I continually have to guard against complacency.
No, it would seem that this sad event was due to not ensuring his tank valve was turned on before the dive. It's that simple, no boat crew or buddy to blame here. Turn it on, breathe from it a a few times, check your SPG - pretty simple. All the other stuff about positive entry, ditching weights, swimming up and/or ditching your rig is only a factor if you don't do that simple pre-dive check which everyone shoudl be doing every dive, especially if you are diving solo. Sorry to say it but Darwin Award. What a shame.
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A question for all divers? How many divers can reach their tank valve to be able turn their air off and on (with BCD on) while under the water?
How many have tried it?
With a lot of luck and an ability to not be able to panic (and perhaps a shallow bottom) one might just be able to turn their air on in this situation. I know I can with twins, but it is not easy for me. Also it would appear the diver did not drop his weight belt allowing him to swim to the surface. All things we should practice to a "regular" basis.
No, it would seem that this sad event was due to not ensuring his tank valve was turned on before the dive. It's that simple, no boat crew or buddy to blame here. Turn it on, breathe from it a a few times, check your SPG - pretty simple. All the other stuff about positive entry, ditching weights, swimming up and/or ditching your rig is only a factor if you don't do that simple pre-dive check which everyone shoudl be doing every dive, especially if you are diving solo. Sorry to say it but Darwin Award. What a shame.
No, it would seem that this sad event was due to not ensuring his tank valve was turned on before the dive. It's that simple, no boat crew or buddy to blame here. Turn it on, breathe from it a a few times, check your SPG - pretty simple. All the other stuff about positive entry, ditching weights, swimming up and/or ditching your rig is only a factor if you don't do that simple pre-dive check which everyone shoudl be doing every dive, especially if you are diving solo. Sorry to say it but Darwin Award. What a shame.
I have forgotten to put on my fins on one occasion and my weight harness on numerous occasions (usually happens when helping others gear up) but I have never forgotten to breathe from my reg several times whilst checking my SPG before falling overboard............it's a no brainer.