Skip safety stop to assist diver to surface?

[LeadTurn_SD]

Here is a scenario I witnessed last weekend

A diver panics, bolts to the surface and is revived with rescue breathing from the near drowning.

If you are the "buddy" and you are at a depth where the PADI tables mandate a safety stop do you skip the stop to chase the diver up? (Safety stop not deco stop!)

A three minute delay assisting this diver could have changed a near drowning to a drowning!

If you do skip the safety stop, should you drop back down for a 4-1/2 minute stop (1.5 X 3) after passing off the injured diver to someone at the surface?

YES!!! In any emergency situation, I would not hesitate to skip a safety stop.... heck, if I think you are just having a "bad hair day" I'll skip a safety stop to make sure you are ok.



"Safety stops" are a relatively recent procedure, as is the 30'/min ascent rate. Millions of ascents have been made within NDL limits using 60'/min ascent rate and no farging safety stop.

The bulk of my dives were in the pre-safety stop days. Using USN Tables..... so less conservative, faster ascent rates, and no safety stops.

And no, I would NOT go back and complete the safety stop.... it is not a deco stop!

Best wishes.

 

[parzdiver]

If it is just a safety stop I would go through it, ascend at a safe rate and help the other diver.

Safety stops are not "decompression" stops.

I must disagree with this statement. All diving is decompression diving since you on-gas and off-gas. A safety stop IS a decompression stop since you are stopping to off-gas and add an additional safety factor, however it is not a REQUIRED decompression stop. I recently read "Deco for Divers" and there is some compelling evidence regarding the great benefit of the safety stop.

 

[funrecdiver]

Of course I would skip a recreational safety stop to help a buddy to the surface in a medical emergency, as long as I was safely within no decompression limits on the computer, and that is generally "always" for me, so no problem at all.

You should, however, be more concerned with your ascent rate, and insure both of you ascend safely and avoid air expansion injuries.

 

[idocsteve]

I must disagree with this statement. All diving is decompression diving since you on-gas and off-gas. A safety stop IS a decompression stop since you are stopping to off-gas and add an additional safety factor, however it is not a REQUIRED decompression stop. I recently read "Deco for Divers" and there is some compelling evidence regarding the great benefit of the safety stop.

You're arguing semantics and stating the obvious, nothing more.

 

[Louie]

If the dive was a "No-decompression" dive then you are under no decompression obligation and it would be reasonably safe to skip the 3 minute safety stop.

You should ascend SLOWLY as in a scenario such as a distressed diver on the surface, the reaction of many divers is to rush to the surface to give assistance.

An injured rescuer is worse than useless and lowers the chances of a successful rescue for the first casualty so remember the "never put yourself in danger" rule.

 

[Dyno Bill]

I can be real accurate in this question, I have done it without any hesitation. It is at best a roll of the dice and the first time you did it that day was stepping over the entry gate.

 

[nolatom]

I think I would risk a chamber ride if it actually meant drown or no-drown to a fellow diver. But I hope it never comes to that.

Since we agree the safety stop on a "green" computer is low-risk to skip, I would skip.

 

[LIVES4SHARKS]

The safety stop is not mandatory, but a cushion for safety. When bringing up an unconscious or distressed diver, you take them up in a controlled manner to the surface. In an OOA or a life and death situation, time is of the essence. Do not hessitate to get that diver to help.

Carolyn:shark2:

 

[tflaris]

YES!!! In any emergency situation, I would not hesitate to skip a safety stop.... heck, if I think you are just having a "bad hair day" I'll skip a safety stop to make sure you are ok.



"Safety stops" are a relatively recent procedure, as is the 30'/min ascent rate. Millions of ascents have been made within NDL limits using 60'/min ascent rate and no farging safety stop.

The bulk of my dives were in the pre-safety stop days. Using USN Tables..... so less conservative, faster ascent rates, and no safety stops.

And no, I would NOT go back and complete the safety stop.... it is not a deco stop!

Best wishes.

+1

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ptyx]

Blow the stop.

If you're worried, get O2 on the boat (or shore) when situation is under control.