H2Andy
Contributor
this happened to a friend of mine; let's call him NotH2Andy.
He was diving with two buddies; let's call them Buddy1 and Buddy2.
The trio decided that they would dive down the crevisse at
Devil's Ear (Ginnie Spring) to look at the entrace to the cavern.
Since they were not all cavern certified, they would not
enter the cavern, but simply look at the entrance.
On this particular day, the outflow from the Ear, which is
considerable most of the time, was downright wicked. in fact,
it was the fastest NotH2Andy had ever seen it. Once the dive
started, it was relatively easy to get down past the log and onto
the rocks at the bottom, from which point the three buddies
pulled and glided to the entrance, NotH2Andy leading.
NotH2Andy turned around, wedging himself into a little alcove
next to the entrance to prevent the current from buffeting him,
as he watched Buddy1 and Buddy2 expertly pull and glide to
the bottom. NotH2Andy then shone his light into the cavern
so his buddies could see inside.
Suddenly, to his horror, NotH2Andy saw a dive knife eerily
whirling with the current, like a maniacal instrument of death
and mayhem. The dive knife was heading straight for
Buddy1. The current was so fast, the the knife was NOT
falling to the bottom, but rather, was rising towards Buddy1.
Buddy1 saw the knife and images of bad kung fu movies
flashed into his mind. the DIR means of stopping whirling
blades of death not popping immediately to mind, Buddy2
simply grabbed it and pocketed.
Buddy2, quite unawares of the coming menace, simply saw
Buddy1 reach for a knife out of mid-water and thought
to himself, "Magic tricks under water?"
Upon conference at the surface, it did appear that the dive knife belonged to NotH2Andy. while no PADI Underwater Investigators were present, the following appears to be
the sequence of events:
1. NotH2Andy's knife is housed in a BC-mounted sheaf that
sits on the left BC pocket.
2. NotH2Andy's dive knife was accidenteally released when
he brushed against the rock.
3. The current then picked up the knife turning it into a vengeful instrument of death.
SOLUTION: When diving in confined areas or where entanglement or accidental contact with rock walls may
occur, do not use a BC dive knife mount that has a quick release mechanism. A line cutter or small knife worn at the waist, or perhaps EMT sheers in a pocket, would work best.
He was diving with two buddies; let's call them Buddy1 and Buddy2.
The trio decided that they would dive down the crevisse at
Devil's Ear (Ginnie Spring) to look at the entrace to the cavern.
Since they were not all cavern certified, they would not
enter the cavern, but simply look at the entrance.
On this particular day, the outflow from the Ear, which is
considerable most of the time, was downright wicked. in fact,
it was the fastest NotH2Andy had ever seen it. Once the dive
started, it was relatively easy to get down past the log and onto
the rocks at the bottom, from which point the three buddies
pulled and glided to the entrance, NotH2Andy leading.
NotH2Andy turned around, wedging himself into a little alcove
next to the entrance to prevent the current from buffeting him,
as he watched Buddy1 and Buddy2 expertly pull and glide to
the bottom. NotH2Andy then shone his light into the cavern
so his buddies could see inside.
Suddenly, to his horror, NotH2Andy saw a dive knife eerily
whirling with the current, like a maniacal instrument of death
and mayhem. The dive knife was heading straight for
Buddy1. The current was so fast, the the knife was NOT
falling to the bottom, but rather, was rising towards Buddy1.
Buddy1 saw the knife and images of bad kung fu movies
flashed into his mind. the DIR means of stopping whirling
blades of death not popping immediately to mind, Buddy2
simply grabbed it and pocketed.
Buddy2, quite unawares of the coming menace, simply saw
Buddy1 reach for a knife out of mid-water and thought
to himself, "Magic tricks under water?"
Upon conference at the surface, it did appear that the dive knife belonged to NotH2Andy. while no PADI Underwater Investigators were present, the following appears to be
the sequence of events:
1. NotH2Andy's knife is housed in a BC-mounted sheaf that
sits on the left BC pocket.
2. NotH2Andy's dive knife was accidenteally released when
he brushed against the rock.
3. The current then picked up the knife turning it into a vengeful instrument of death.
SOLUTION: When diving in confined areas or where entanglement or accidental contact with rock walls may
occur, do not use a BC dive knife mount that has a quick release mechanism. A line cutter or small knife worn at the waist, or perhaps EMT sheers in a pocket, would work best.
