Todays training was a nice and laid back one because next month is kick their butts in the pool time.
We had a team meeting and went over two applicant letters to replace a member who quit, returned, quit, returned and I think quit again. Then we decided to change our planed dive to a deeper laid back one and decided on a lunch spot.
We get somewhat changed out at the marine building and then head for the marina thats downtown. Take our time getting ready and packing gear down to the docks. Everyone paired up and I was the odd man out. SO I decide to go with two of the guys I have no worries about.
We start down and hit the bottom at around 35. Im taking a few pics as we do a nice gradual decent to between 65 and 70. Man I havent been this relaxed on a dive on months. You just dont realize how uptight you can get working with the FNGs.
So there we are just shy of 70 with relatively good vis. I kneel down on the bottom and pop off a pic when all of a sudden I get the worst case of vertigo I have ever even heard about.
The bottom is over my head, to my right, back over my head. Over to my left and spinning rapidly in every which direction. Im not moving but my mind is. Just like that carnival ride like a Ferris wheel with those spinning little cars on it. WOW, I normally have to pay for or drink my way into that kind of stupor.
I sit there until it subsides and notice the camera is checked out. So I signal the other two Im headed up. At about 30 round two hits. That one was a lot milder than the first but still quite a trip. I just grabbed my computer and stared at it as I maintained my depth. Once it subsided I went to the surface where it hit again. Have you ever seen a camera spin circles around a diver? I even had cruise boats flying overhead.
This is close but milder: Used Carnival Rides for Sale : Spectaculars : : Zipper : 1023
I did about a 100 yard surface swim on my back, back to the shore. It took about 10 minutes for the sensation to quit affecting me but until it did I stayed in the water to eliminate any chance of falling down.
The instant it first hit me on the bottom I knew what the problem was but I have no idea why it happened. I blew out my right eardrum. I had no issues clearing descending, it was the most laid back relaxing dive I have done in a while and my head seemed pressure free down there. The only thing I can think of is my hood fits snugly but does let water in. I very well may have had a reverse squeeze as my hood pressure seemed to lessen briefly when the ear let go.
Anyway we pack up and go for a NON MEXICAN lunch. Its a good thing because Lane B already had a serious problem.
After lunch we go back to marine then I go to ER to have a guy with a fancy degree tell me what I know already. He grabs a scope, looks into my ear and says; Yep, you have a hole and a tear in it, Hurts like hell huh. It doesnt hurt but its sure irritating as can be. So now Im frickin grounded for at least 3 weeks and have to put the drops in 4X a day.
I could see this happening on one of my <30 second 100 drops but not on this slow easy laid back dive. Oh well, Im just keeping my fingers crossed we dont have our usual holiday season emergency dives. But if we do I have all the confidence in the world the guys will do very well on the operation. Besides Ill be there on top to kick their butts if they do something stupid.
Gary D.
We had a team meeting and went over two applicant letters to replace a member who quit, returned, quit, returned and I think quit again. Then we decided to change our planed dive to a deeper laid back one and decided on a lunch spot.
We get somewhat changed out at the marine building and then head for the marina thats downtown. Take our time getting ready and packing gear down to the docks. Everyone paired up and I was the odd man out. SO I decide to go with two of the guys I have no worries about.
We start down and hit the bottom at around 35. Im taking a few pics as we do a nice gradual decent to between 65 and 70. Man I havent been this relaxed on a dive on months. You just dont realize how uptight you can get working with the FNGs.
So there we are just shy of 70 with relatively good vis. I kneel down on the bottom and pop off a pic when all of a sudden I get the worst case of vertigo I have ever even heard about.
The bottom is over my head, to my right, back over my head. Over to my left and spinning rapidly in every which direction. Im not moving but my mind is. Just like that carnival ride like a Ferris wheel with those spinning little cars on it. WOW, I normally have to pay for or drink my way into that kind of stupor.
I sit there until it subsides and notice the camera is checked out. So I signal the other two Im headed up. At about 30 round two hits. That one was a lot milder than the first but still quite a trip. I just grabbed my computer and stared at it as I maintained my depth. Once it subsided I went to the surface where it hit again. Have you ever seen a camera spin circles around a diver? I even had cruise boats flying overhead.
This is close but milder: Used Carnival Rides for Sale : Spectaculars : : Zipper : 1023
I did about a 100 yard surface swim on my back, back to the shore. It took about 10 minutes for the sensation to quit affecting me but until it did I stayed in the water to eliminate any chance of falling down.
The instant it first hit me on the bottom I knew what the problem was but I have no idea why it happened. I blew out my right eardrum. I had no issues clearing descending, it was the most laid back relaxing dive I have done in a while and my head seemed pressure free down there. The only thing I can think of is my hood fits snugly but does let water in. I very well may have had a reverse squeeze as my hood pressure seemed to lessen briefly when the ear let go.
Anyway we pack up and go for a NON MEXICAN lunch. Its a good thing because Lane B already had a serious problem.
After lunch we go back to marine then I go to ER to have a guy with a fancy degree tell me what I know already. He grabs a scope, looks into my ear and says; Yep, you have a hole and a tear in it, Hurts like hell huh. It doesnt hurt but its sure irritating as can be. So now Im frickin grounded for at least 3 weeks and have to put the drops in 4X a day.
I could see this happening on one of my <30 second 100 drops but not on this slow easy laid back dive. Oh well, Im just keeping my fingers crossed we dont have our usual holiday season emergency dives. But if we do I have all the confidence in the world the guys will do very well on the operation. Besides Ill be there on top to kick their butts if they do something stupid.
Gary D.