Should I report this and to whom?

[busted]

When I was a paratrooper in the Army occasionally someone would freeze in the door and we would help him out and they would usually be better on subsequent jumps. However, I do not see what the hurry was to get you under the water before you were ready. This is supposed to be a fun form of recreation. I don't remember anywhere in my OW course that there was a time limit to get under the water.

 

[crabbi]

Well, it's ages since I last updated this thread... apologies!

The acupuncture was of no use whatsoever.

It is now 15months since the incident and I am still taking Betahistine. If I don't, then the Vertigo comes back.

Went to see another ENT specialist yesterday and he told me that the damage was permanent and that the only way to improve (re the vertigo) is to gradually wean myself off the Betahistine and do things that will trigger a 'dizzy' response to re-train my brain to react properly and balance. He suggested sports such as Tennis, squash etc...

I have taken up Kendo and hope that this will help.

Unfortunately he also told me that his advice was to forget about diving again. This wasn't what I wanted to hear, but it was what I thought he would say... Really upsetting actually... but not a lot I can do.

I am now doubly determined to go after the c**t who did this to me... and I am only frustrated by the fact that he is probably still diving and teaching people.

I have talked to my solicitor again and am pursuing the Personal Injury claim... a very slow process...

I will update you again with progress as and when.

I wish all of you who have been so kind and understanding to me over the last year all the very best... look after your ears and please look at the advice of some very knowledgeable people in this thread.

Dive safely and God bless....

crabbi

 

[Warren_L]

I am a noob PADI Open Water diver... just qualified last week actually.

I did my closed sessions and academic work at home and then went to a warmer location fro the open water dives.

Arrived Sunday; dives 1 and 2 Monday; dives 3 and 4 Tuesday... passed.

Prior to these dives, I had never dived in the sea at all, nor had I dived in a wetsuit.

The sea where I dived was extremely salty (tasted like battery acid!!) and I was using a shorty for the first time...

So ... what's the beef? Well, firstly, I had to use 12 kg of weight to descend and I was made to feel like a freak by the instructor (although subsequent conversations with divers has led me to believe taht the amount of weight needed varies enormously depending on variables such as body mass, salinity, experience etc...)..

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Without reading any of the responses thus far (judging by the number of pages, I presume a lot of people will say the same thing)... I can tell you that the instructor was wrong in what he did. You NEVER force anyone down for the exact reasons why you experienced inner ear problems. As an instructor that works through the same agency, I can assure you that his actions were not that of a prudent instructor. I would detail the incident in writing, and forward to the PADI office and let them deal with it.

 

[MikeFerrara]

I would detail the incident in writing, and forward to the PADI office and let them deal with it.

My prediction based on several years as an instructor is that the agencies priorities will be to protect themselves first and the instructor second.

 

[Michael Schlink]

Mike's right (again) If the instructor violated the agencies standards they'll likely run from this one. The instructors liability insurance may not get behind him either. It would be interesting to keep an eye on this one. It just absolutley sucks that crabbi can't dive, I'd be looking for a rope and and a tree for the instructor to play in. But down here in Texas we have a different outlook on things.
Crabbi, very sorry to hear about your ear problems-

 

[Warren_L]

My prediction based on several years as an instructor is that the agencies priorities will be to protect themselves first and the instructor second.

Mike, you may very well be right. But by not doing anything you instantly rule out any possibility of them actually surprising you and doing the right thing. Tentare non nuoce.

 

[ScubaFreak]

Sorry to hear crabbi, just spent the last 15 mins reading thru the thread, i dont think there's anything I can say that hasn't been said. I must admit that i am surprised at the extent of the damage considering the ear drum ios still intact. But like someone mentioned some people can be prone to ear injury.

Best of luck anyway mate, keep us posted

SF