What causes one to drown while doing SCUBA?

[Ber Rabbit]

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

Interesting, well you need to "unpound" that information. Like one of the others mentioned if you are neutrally buoyant you simply need to inhale to begin your ascent. When you are holding on to another diver you do tend to sink when you first grab them however a couple of good kicks will get you started on your ascent (dropping their weightbelt will start the ascent as well) and you will probably need to start venting air from both bc's (depending on your depth) as you ascend in order to maintain your 30 feet per minute ascent rate. Take a rescue class, there is a lot of good information to be had there.

Dropping your weightbelt at the surface rather than filling your bc during ascent will keep you from sinking in most circumstances. Remember, a recreational diver with no weight is a snorkeler in most cases (exposure protection and gear configuration is a big factor here).
Ber :lilbunny:

 

[Charlie99]

But, by inflating the bc, you could avoid the surface drowning situation like havnmonkey described, right? Can't sink with an inflated bc.
Angela

Not sinking and not drowning are two different things.

Reviewing incident reports, it isn't all the uncommon for a diver to drown while on the surface. You don't have to inhale very much water before you start having a lot of problems. Also, BCDs aren't life vests and aren't designed to keep the face of an unconscious diver out of the water.

 

[miketsp]

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

I'd hate to think about what the other 1% were diving in....

 

[dherbman]

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

I see most students in pool sessions nailed to the bottom for their skills. When it comes time to do ascents, they are fighting negative buoyancy. Prior to doing ascents, I have them get neutral by adding air to their BC. Is it possible that this is what you were instructed to do?

 

[CompuDude]

I'd hate to think about what the other 1% were diving in....

I purposely left that last 1% vague to let people's sick imaginations run free.

>insert Spinal Tap reference here<

 

[havnmonkey]

probably... seems like a situation where the instructor asked " Do ya'll understand" and then 3 out of the 10 students interpreted the info wrong but felt they got it right.

just remember that your fins control where you go not your BC.

 

[dherbman]

just remember that your fins control where you go not your BC.

If you are relying on your fins to ascend or descend, your buoyancy control is not where it should be.

 

[Charlie99]

I'd hate to think about what the other 1% were diving in....

Probably that scary, dangerous chemical, DiHydrygen Monoxide.

http://www.dhmo.org/

 

[BarryNL]

Probably that scary, dangerous chemical, DiHydrygen Monoxide.

http://www.dhmo.org/

Dunno, you ever see those guys who dive in sewage treatment tanks to maintain them. What they dive in is 99% sh**. Man, would you hate to get a leak in your suit then!:11:

 

[Web Monkey]

...
If the buddy runs out of air and you can't inflate his/her BC to ascend and your system alone won't get you both up quickly enough... can you manually inflate the buddy's BC underwater?

You and your buddy should be neutral at whatever depth you're at, so there would be no reason to add air to his BC. A breath or little kick will start your ascent, and from then on, you will both need to vent air from your BCs to control your ascent.

There shouldn't be any reason to need to add air.


Terry