I did a lobster dive the other night...
In a group of six, I happened to be the first to 500. No big deal, some of the others were cold anyway. We regrouped and started our surface swim to shore. One subteam (two guys) decided to drop and swim in underwater. Well, ok. The remaining four of us get to shore, and are watching the other two as they surface again. They look like they are about where we were when we were able to touch bottom.
Suddenly we hear shouting.Three of us proceed back into the water. The yelling diver was suffering extreme cramps. I put his fin on my shoulder and grabbed his knee and kept upward pressureon his leg, while the other two divers towed him towards shore. As we were heading shoreward, we heard sirens and saw lights. As soon a we could stand, he did. This relieved the cramp tremendously. I asked him if he wanted to signal OK to shore, or if he wanted a lifeguard to come out. We signaled OK.
I proceeded in to the beach as the other two walked him in. The rescue squad asked if anyone was missing. I told him that we were all here and that the distressed diver was having cramps.
And we all lived happily ever after.
#1 The dive is not over until EVERYONE is out of the water.
#2 If you go back in to assist, take ALL of your gear. I thought that the diver was in chest deep water, and left my fins on shore.
#3 Having one guy on shore to talk to rescuers was a good thing. He was able to give some info.
#4 Eat bananas, or other sources of electrolyte, and drink plenty of water, especially if you have been working all day.