mikerault
Contributor
Interesting forum here so I thought I would post a few of my learning dives.
Dive 1: Night Dive (1st) in Grand Turk at the Library Site
This was my first night dive. The DM said that turnaround was 1000 psi. We entered the water in about 30 FSW depth from the dive boat no moon, light chop. We went to the sandy bottom then proceeded to the wall (on one side, 30 FSW, the other 3000+ FSW) and proceeded to travel along the wall perpendicular to the boats position. There was no current or surge.
The dive went well right up to the point where I signalled I was at 1000 PSI, the DM signalled OK and that the boat was near...and kept going in the same direction! (away from the boat) I followed along and at 700 PSI signalled him again, only to get the same response! Finally at 500 PSI I signalled I was returning to the boat.
I went back up to the sand and followed the wall at 20-30 fsw until the reg started breathing tough, then surfaced. I was still a good 50 yards from the boat, I couldn't see it but could hear the chop on the side of it. I filled the BCD manually and swam on my back to the boat. 5-10 minutes later the DM and the rest show up.
Lesson learned: You are responsible for your own safety, I should have returned to the boat at 1000 PSI instead of waiting for an ok from the DM.
Dive 2: Lake Lanier, shore dive out to 80 FFW with two buddies, little chop, clear day, 10-15 feet visibility depending on thermocline.
We followed the permanent line out to the bucket at 80 feet then did a turnaround. I was the last one in line and got to close to buddy 2, his fin knocked the regulator out of my mouth and it got stuck back on the tank somewhere (I tried the arm sweep and couldn't get the thing to retrieve) I grab my airII and take a breath (after clearing it) and it is about 30-40% water. I try to slow my breathing but it is still breathing wet. I look around and my "buddies" are no where to be seen. I begin ascending and of course skip the three minute stop, proceeding directly to the surface. On the surface I finally find the primary and put it back in. Submerging I am able to catch up to the other buddies and finish the dive.
When I asked them what happened they said they figured I could handle myself...must be same lake buddies...
Lessons Learned: Validate equipment works before you need it. I added a regular octopus so now have it as well as the airII. Also, don't rely on insta-buddies to do the right thing, especially if you are a competent diver, they may assume you don't need help.
Dive 3: Lake Lanier, 50 FFW, searching and retrieval dive on camera
I was doing a serach and retrieval operation on my lost camera, solo diving. I was doing a square pattern and everytime I came around the far side of the square I would end up getting fouled in a guide rope that someone had apparently cut. Luckily I didn't "birdnest in it" and other than getting frustrated at constantly finding the darn rope instead of my camera, had no serious repurcussions. However, when I stopped later than thought about it I was pretty stupid.
Lessons learned: Don't dive alone, what if I had gotten seriously tangled? I had my line cutter with me, but this was rope, would have been difficult to hack through it with just a line cutter. Bring two cutting devices, one for small stuff and smonething a bit more meaty like a pair of shears. I now carry both. On the next dive there (with a buddy) I traced the line back to its start and cut it, removing it from the water.
Anyway, hope someone learns from my mistakes!
Mike
Dive 1: Night Dive (1st) in Grand Turk at the Library Site
This was my first night dive. The DM said that turnaround was 1000 psi. We entered the water in about 30 FSW depth from the dive boat no moon, light chop. We went to the sandy bottom then proceeded to the wall (on one side, 30 FSW, the other 3000+ FSW) and proceeded to travel along the wall perpendicular to the boats position. There was no current or surge.
The dive went well right up to the point where I signalled I was at 1000 PSI, the DM signalled OK and that the boat was near...and kept going in the same direction! (away from the boat) I followed along and at 700 PSI signalled him again, only to get the same response! Finally at 500 PSI I signalled I was returning to the boat.
I went back up to the sand and followed the wall at 20-30 fsw until the reg started breathing tough, then surfaced. I was still a good 50 yards from the boat, I couldn't see it but could hear the chop on the side of it. I filled the BCD manually and swam on my back to the boat. 5-10 minutes later the DM and the rest show up.
Lesson learned: You are responsible for your own safety, I should have returned to the boat at 1000 PSI instead of waiting for an ok from the DM.
Dive 2: Lake Lanier, shore dive out to 80 FFW with two buddies, little chop, clear day, 10-15 feet visibility depending on thermocline.
We followed the permanent line out to the bucket at 80 feet then did a turnaround. I was the last one in line and got to close to buddy 2, his fin knocked the regulator out of my mouth and it got stuck back on the tank somewhere (I tried the arm sweep and couldn't get the thing to retrieve) I grab my airII and take a breath (after clearing it) and it is about 30-40% water. I try to slow my breathing but it is still breathing wet. I look around and my "buddies" are no where to be seen. I begin ascending and of course skip the three minute stop, proceeding directly to the surface. On the surface I finally find the primary and put it back in. Submerging I am able to catch up to the other buddies and finish the dive.
When I asked them what happened they said they figured I could handle myself...must be same lake buddies...
Lessons Learned: Validate equipment works before you need it. I added a regular octopus so now have it as well as the airII. Also, don't rely on insta-buddies to do the right thing, especially if you are a competent diver, they may assume you don't need help.
Dive 3: Lake Lanier, 50 FFW, searching and retrieval dive on camera
I was doing a serach and retrieval operation on my lost camera, solo diving. I was doing a square pattern and everytime I came around the far side of the square I would end up getting fouled in a guide rope that someone had apparently cut. Luckily I didn't "birdnest in it" and other than getting frustrated at constantly finding the darn rope instead of my camera, had no serious repurcussions. However, when I stopped later than thought about it I was pretty stupid.
Lessons learned: Don't dive alone, what if I had gotten seriously tangled? I had my line cutter with me, but this was rope, would have been difficult to hack through it with just a line cutter. Bring two cutting devices, one for small stuff and smonething a bit more meaty like a pair of shears. I now carry both. On the next dive there (with a buddy) I traced the line back to its start and cut it, removing it from the water.
Anyway, hope someone learns from my mistakes!
Mike
