What causes one to drown while doing SCUBA?

[SparticleBrane]

Ok as to my previous "NCSU" question--
It was just past midnight when I posted that, so I'm sure my brain probably isn't working as nicely as it could.
Somehow "NCSCUBADOOBA" was read as "NCSUSCUBADOOBA"

Sorry for any confusion.

 

[BIGG_BUDD]

(Ok, one more sarcastic one.)

I find that water is the killer in roughly 99% of scuba-related drownings.

Nice!

 

[Jim Ernst]

man you guys are BAD!!! she may have been asking some serious questions, and trying to get more and better education from all of us here on the board, isnt that a big part of what scubaboard is all about?? play nice kids!!!

 

[boulderjohn]

I believe that PADI teaches divers to squirt a little air in their BC to begin their ascent, and then vent as they go (not that I agree with this. Just saying...). Some new divers incorrectly interpret that as meaning to inflate their BC to ascend.

PADI does not teach this.

In the PADI LDS where I work, we all make a big deal about the fact that you do NOT do this.

 

[MoonWrasse]

I sure hope I'm not being insensitive or naive... but...This may be a ridiculous question, but I'm new to SCUBA and have read hundreds of posts here and I just don't understand what currents have to do with drowning deaths.

If at the surface and you have your reg in, you should be ok? right?

Do you get pushed down too deep or carried up too fast?

Do you get your mask swept off your face and panic?

Angela

You will get a lot of info for this taking the Rescue diver class, including preventing yourself from being a victim.

 

[BarryNL]

ooooh, i was taught to inflate my BC to ascend... tell me more...

Kind of wierd - remember you should always be neutral; and due to expanding air you will become more positive as you ascend. Therefore, to ascend, all you need to do it kick up slightly or even just hold a breath (with your diaphgram, NOT your throat closed) for a few seconds and you should start to ascend. Thereafter the expanding air in your BC and suit will mean you need to vent air all the way to keep from ascending too fast.

 

[BarryNL]

I believe that PADI teaches divers to squirt a little air in their BC to begin their ascent, and then vent as they go (not that I agree with this. Just saying...). Some new divers incorrectly interpret that as meaning to inflate their BC to ascend.

Also, I believe that, in some way, panic is the major contributer to most scuba deaths.

Yes, it seems that in the majority of scuba drownings the victim still had plenty of air left. Just a quick browse through the accident reports on the BSAC website soon shows this pattern.

 

[CompuDude]

man you guys are BAD!!! she may have been asking some serious questions, and trying to get more and better education from all of us here on the board, isnt that a big part of what scubaboard is all about?? play nice kids!!!

Charlie99 gave the best, serious answer. Didn't leave anything out that I noticed.

After that, it's all fun.

 

[NCSCUBADOOBA]

Bob, I am not joking. I was told to always inflate my bc to ascend. I'm SSI certified and it was pounded into me to do that. When I'd ascend too quickly, per my dive computer, I'd dump air a bit to slow down.
But, by inflating the bc, you could avoid the surface drowning situation like havnmonkey described, right? Can't sink with an inflated bc.
Angela

 

[BIGG_BUDD]

Once you break the surface, you inflate the BC. Never durng the ascent.