Starting Over After a Few Years and Terrible Experience

[durham64]

Oops, sorry about the gender mix-up.

So, you didn't use the same weight in saltwater as you did in the quarry?

If you're that buoyant (i.e. underweighted), it'd be extremely tough to pull you down unless the other person is well overweighted.

It could also be that you were overweighted but didn't realize that you were, yet you couldn't sink because you were treading water. I had this issue during my OW checkout dive. I kept finning and didn't even realize it. Maybe this is what you were doing and then somebody grabbed your leg, then you stopped finning and sank like a rock.

At this point, it's really just speculation, but next time when you do a weight check, look down and make sure that your legs aren't automatically kicking.

No problem with the gender thing, just letting you know and joking with you.

As to the weight, I am sure I had the same amount of weight at the quarry as I did the in the saltwater. This would account for being overweighted and not realizing it. That said, I don't know why I wouldn't sink on the weight check, unless there was air in the BC even after the DM said he had checked it, which is highly possible.

Finning is a distinct possibility, like you said really just speculation at this point. I will get through this, hopefully and move on the wonders that lie beneath. This is my ultimate goal and whatever I have to do to get there, I will do.

Thanks again!

Holley

 

[The Chairman]

After such a horrible and avoidable experience, may I offer a few suggestions?

• Get pre-qualified by a diving ENT. No use in wasting anyone's time (especially yours) if the damage has not fully healed.
• Go private! Getting a patient one-on-one instructor is best for everyone, but even more so if there are challenges.
• Practice equalization techniques often on land. If you can't clear here, then you definitely can't clear there.
• Insist on a patient instructor. I repeat this twice for emphasis!
• Go warm! Treat yourself to learning how to dive in a warm tropical destination.

Too often the very last skill to be learned by the OW student is control. That should be the very, very first skill to be mastered. No one should ever pull you under water, nor should they have to if you have learned control. There is no excuse for an instructor to lose patience like that. While you don't know who pulled you under, it was more than likely your instructor trying to keep the class together.

 

[fnfalman]

As to the weight, I am sure I had the same amount of weight at the quarry as I did the in the saltwater. This would account for being overweighted and not realizing it.

You'd be at least 4- to 6-lbs overweighted at that point ASSUMING that you didn't overweighted yourself in saltwater. If you had been overweighted in saltwater, you could have been 10-lbs or more overweighted at that point in the quarry. If that's the case then you would have sank like a rock once the air is vented from your BC and somebody held your legs still.

That said, I don't know why I wouldn't sink on the weight check, unless there was air in the BC even after the DM said he had checked it, which is highly possible.

It's hard to tell without looking at your body position and how you held your power inflator over your head. Most newbies think that they're holding the inflator over the head, but they aren't. When I first started, I couldn't understand why I can't vent even though I swore that I held the inflator over my head. It turned out that my body position wasn't quite vertical and while I may have held the power inflator by my head, it wasn't at the highest point and ergo no air went out.

Also, since that your DM/Instructor was preoccupied with eight students, maybe he didn't quite look at you as closely as he should have.

Finning is a distinct possibility, like you said really just speculation at this point. I will get through this, hopefully and move on the wonders that lie beneath. This is my ultimate goal and whatever I have to do to get there, I will do.

Thanks again!

Holley

I would say that finning is a high probability. Practically every newbies I saw (myself included), would automatically tread water. I feel for you and other newbies. You don't have the knowledge to tell if an instructor is junk. I'd say that to talk with local divers and see whom they would recommend as instructor after making sure that your ears are good enough for diving, of course.

 

[eelnoraa]

What a horrible experience. Besides what everyone has mentioned, I will add one more thing. A major switch to a set of brand new (to you) gear during any classes, especially in OW, is not a good idea. But you know know what you don't know, but the shop sold you the gear should have given you the properly advices. At least they should offer you a pool session to get things sorted out before hitting open water.

 

[durham64]

After such a horrible and avoidable experience, may I offer a few suggestions?

• Get pre-qualified by a diving ENT. No use in wasting anyone's time (especially yours) if the damage has not fully healed.
• Go private! Getting a patient one-on-one instructor is best for everyone, but even more so if there are challenges.
• Practice equalization techniques often on land. If you can't clear here, then you definitely can't clear there.
• Insist on a patient instructor. I repeat this twice for emphasis!
• Go warm! Treat yourself to learning how to dive in a warm tropical destination.

Too often the very last skill to be learned by the OW student is control. That should be the very, very first skill to be mastered. No one should ever pull you under water, nor should they have to if you have learned control. There is no excuse for an instructor to lose patience like that. While you don't know who pulled you under, it was more than likely your instructor trying to keep the class together.

Hi NetDoc,

Very good suggestions indeed. One negative to the area that I live in, is there are only 2 dive shops here. Unfortunately, even though this is my hometown, it is in landlocked NW Georgia. That said, I am limited by what is available here.

I have thought about taking the class work portion here and then doing just what you said, maybe going to a warmer location for the pool and OW portion. I found a place, I think it was Key Largo, come to think of it, Ocean Divers, that said you can do the entire process in 4 days. I don't know if you are familiar with them or not, but if you are, any info you could share would be great.

I suppose they would have private instructors as well. But I agree, a private instructor would be the best bet. I don't have any problem with clearing my ears on land or in the air. I have flown enough (use to travel with my job 90% of the time) and have not had a problem there either.

Thanks so much and let me know if you have first hand knowledge about Ocean Divers or any others in the Key Largo area.

Holley

---------- Post added March 26th, 2013 at 04:06 PM ----------

You'd be at least 4- to 6-lbs overweighted at that point ASSUMING that you didn't overweighted yourself in saltwater. If you had been overweighted in saltwater, you could have been 10-lbs or more overweighted at that point in the quarry. If that's the case then you would have sank like a rock once the air is vented from your BC and somebody held your legs still.

It's hard to tell without looking at your body position and how you held your power inflator over your head. Most newbies think that they're holding the inflator over the head, but they aren't. When I first started, I couldn't understand why I can't vent even though I swore that I held the inflator over my head. It turned out that my body position wasn't quite vertical and while I may have held the power inflator by my head, it wasn't at the highest point and ergo no air went out.

Also, since that your DM/Instructor was preoccupied with eight students, maybe he didn't quite look at you as closely as he should have.

I would say that finning is a high probability. Practically every newbies I saw (myself included), would automatically tread water. I feel for you and other newbies. You don't have the knowledge to tell if an instructor is junk. I'd say that to talk with local divers and see whom they would recommend as instructor after making sure that your ears are good enough for diving, of course.

fnfalman,

I think your analysis is probably right on point. Everything you have said makes perfect sense. I guess those are indeed some downfalls to the Newbie genre. It is a shame that, sometimes, you just don't get what you pay for.

I'm sure, some of it was my fault, but if you are being trained, which is what OW certification is all about, I had put too much faith in the instructor. And as you mentioned, the instructor was probably overwhelmed by the number of students he was trying to supervise.

I will keep on keeping on!

Thanks,
Holley

---------- Post added March 26th, 2013 at 04:11 PM ----------

What a horrible experience. Besides what everyone has mentioned, I will add one more thing. A major switch to a set of brand new (to you) gear during any classes, especially in OW, is not a good idea. But you know know what you don't know, but the shop sold you the gear should have given you the properly advices. At least they should offer you a pool session to get things sorted out before hitting open water.

Hi eelnoraa,

The funny thing, or not so funny thing, is that all the equipment I switched to, between dives, was purchased from the aforementioned Dive Shop that was providing the instruction and checkout dives. So they knew exactly what was going on. I totally depended on them to tell me what gear I needed, and they of course were too happy to hook me up with it all. Wetsuit, BC, dive skin, booties, carry bag, all of it.

In retrospect, I should have been more aware myself, but I guess I placed blind faith in what they said. Oh well, you live and learn. I ended up selling everything after the accident, so I would be starting anew with equipment as well.

Thanks for your suggestions, they are much appreciated!

Holley

 

[The Chairman]

I had put too much faith in the instructor.

That happens way too often. A great instructor puts you in control from the start. A good instructor gets you there in a roundabout way. An adequate instructor will make sure you don't hurt. It's sounds like you had a less than adequate instructor so any faith in them was indeed, misguided.

 

[TSandM]

I found a place, I think it was Key Largo, come to think of it, Ocean Divers, that said you can do the entire process in 4 days.

Holley, if there is one piece of advice I can give you, it's not to sign up for such a compressed class. To do the entire OW process in four days requires four long days and has no time for backtracking to accommodate someone who simply can't move ahead yet. Given that you have already had a bad experience, you might expect a bit of anxiety at one point or another -- this is one of the reasons we have all been saying that you should have a private class this time. You want to be set up so that, if you hit a snag, you have time to go home and practice something or just chill about it before attacking it again. 4 day classes are machines -- they take the students in one end and spit them out the other, and the discards fall by the wayside.

 

[durham64]

Holley, if there is one piece of advice I can give you, it's not to sign up for such a compressed class. To do the entire OW process in four days requires four long days and has no time for backtracking to accommodate someone who simply can't move ahead yet. Given that you have already had a bad experience, you might expect a bit of anxiety at one point or another -- this is one of the reasons we have all been saying that you should have a private class this time. You want to be set up so that, if you hit a snag, you have time to go home and practice something or just chill about it before attacking it again. 4 day classes are machines -- they take the students in one end and spit them out the other, and the discards fall by the wayside.

TSandM,

Thanks for your comments and to remind me again of the proper course of action here. I am guilty of getting way ahead of myself in my enthusiasm to return to diving. And you are so right, I know beyond a doubt that I will have some anxiety, so I need to quell my excitement and find someone who can walk me through each step and have the time and patience to help me deal with any stress.

Thanks so much!

Holley

---------- Post added March 27th, 2013 at 02:40 PM ----------

Hi Everyone,

I finally got an answer from DAN in regards to the mechanics that could cause an eardrum rupture and blackout at the same time. Just thought I would share this with you all.

About DAN | Join DAN

Dear Holley,

Thank you for your e-mail and interest in DAN. The pressure increase from a depth of as little as 8 feet of water on down is adequate to cause perforation of the ear drums in the absence of proper equalization. When the perforation occurs the sudden change in middle ear pressure and the introduction of cool or cold water in the middle ear can cause what is known as a vaso-vagal response which cause a temporary loss of consciousness. We are truly glad that you had a positive outcome. In a gratefully small number of cases we have seen less than positive outcomes. We hope that whoever pulled you down to that depth realizes this was ill-advised and should not be repeated. If we can be any further assistance do not hesitate to contact DAN.

Divers Alert Network

Marty McCafferty, EMT-P DMT-A
DAN, Medical Information Specialist
(800) 446-2671 ext. 286
(919) 684-2948 ext. 286
(919) 493-3040 Fax

Hope this helps to explain what happened from a medical perspective.

Holley

 

[261311]

Thanks for sharing the official word

 

[durham64]

Thanks for sharing the official word

261311,

You are very welcome. I knew that I couldn't explain it from a medical standpoint and not many people had ever heard of a bilateral eardrum rupture, in correlation with a blackout, in somewhat shallow water. Whew, that was a long description. Anyhoo, that is what the medical professionals at DAN had to offer!

Safe diving, everyone!

Holley