We all have two mask containers with us all the time. I always store my mask in the foot pocket of my fin. Takes up less space in the gear bag, it's always handy and it protects the mask.
You're doing it WRONG
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Doof
Contributor
All this talk about signs of a distressed diver makes me remember this one time...
I was sitting on the beach, waiting for my girlfriend to change into her bathing suit so we could dive. I watched this team of 3 divers surface out a ways from shore and start talking. Two of them descended again and the third began swimming towards shore.
He got to about 2 yards from the shore and stopped. I watched him take his snorkle out of his mouth, remove his mask and put it, oh, so calmly, into his catchbag. He did the same for both of his gloves and his hood. He then clipped his catch bag off onto his BC.
What happened next? This guy started crying out for help. And it wasn't a clear voiced "Help!" It was more of a strangled type of scream. It was so unclear that I actually yelled back out to him "Do you need help?" to which he replied "YES!!!"
This guy was clearly terrified.
Needless to say, I swam out to him (along with my girlfriend who had just shown up, just as this guy began screaming) and began towing him to shore.
On the way, he told me that he was having difficulty breathing during the dive and that there was something wrong with his regulator. Seems every time he took a breath his SPG needle would drop to zero and then climb back up. Well, to my girlfriend and I, this was very obviously due to his air only being cracked open. We were taught this repeatedly from day one. He apparently was never taught this, or didn't remember. I confirmed my suspicions by checking his valve. Sure enough, it had only been cracked open. I explained to him what the problem was.
He was extremely grateful for my help, even though, as it turned out, I only had to tow him about 30 feet before we could touch bottom.
The lesson I learned that day? All the "rules" go out the window when dealing with a panicked diver. There's no telling what they're going to do. Up until the point where this guy started screaming for help, I would have thought by looking at him that he was nothing more than a diver stripping off some equipment and packing it away to make his exit a little easier. He was that calm.
I was sitting on the beach, waiting for my girlfriend to change into her bathing suit so we could dive. I watched this team of 3 divers surface out a ways from shore and start talking. Two of them descended again and the third began swimming towards shore.
He got to about 2 yards from the shore and stopped. I watched him take his snorkle out of his mouth, remove his mask and put it, oh, so calmly, into his catchbag. He did the same for both of his gloves and his hood. He then clipped his catch bag off onto his BC.
What happened next? This guy started crying out for help. And it wasn't a clear voiced "Help!" It was more of a strangled type of scream. It was so unclear that I actually yelled back out to him "Do you need help?" to which he replied "YES!!!"
This guy was clearly terrified.
Needless to say, I swam out to him (along with my girlfriend who had just shown up, just as this guy began screaming) and began towing him to shore.
On the way, he told me that he was having difficulty breathing during the dive and that there was something wrong with his regulator. Seems every time he took a breath his SPG needle would drop to zero and then climb back up. Well, to my girlfriend and I, this was very obviously due to his air only being cracked open. We were taught this repeatedly from day one. He apparently was never taught this, or didn't remember. I confirmed my suspicions by checking his valve. Sure enough, it had only been cracked open. I explained to him what the problem was.
He was extremely grateful for my help, even though, as it turned out, I only had to tow him about 30 feet before we could touch bottom.
The lesson I learned that day? All the "rules" go out the window when dealing with a panicked diver. There's no telling what they're going to do. Up until the point where this guy started screaming for help, I would have thought by looking at him that he was nothing more than a diver stripping off some equipment and packing it away to make his exit a little easier. He was that calm.
dfk68
Guest
Most people have made excellent points about the myth that mask on forehead = panicked diver. I know they teach this in rescue diver class but they seem to have left it out of panic diver class.
Now, lets talk about weight belts.
The only decent reason that has been posted for a right handed release is a left handed release on the BC. Where are you people buying your BCs at? Except for backplate/harness systems buckles are not used on BCs anymore. A quick glance of the web shows most BP harnesses have a right hand release. I know mine does. So where is this left hand release buckled BC? I think my father still has the horse collar BC I used in my OW class in 83, that probably has a left hand release.
I may get blasted for the next one but I don't mind.
For the DMs that wanted to know when the weight belt was rigged different, do you also go around and become familiar with everyone's integrated weight systems to? For that matter, would someone please explain why one diver would remove the weight belt from another diver at depth??? The only reason I can think of is out of air. I would much rather you share a reg than send me bolting to the surface to catch another breath! Well, I guess body recovery would be another reason to take weight off.
Hope I don��t seem too harsh, I am suffering from dry gill syndrome.
Cheers
Now, lets talk about weight belts.
The only decent reason that has been posted for a right handed release is a left handed release on the BC. Where are you people buying your BCs at? Except for backplate/harness systems buckles are not used on BCs anymore. A quick glance of the web shows most BP harnesses have a right hand release. I know mine does. So where is this left hand release buckled BC? I think my father still has the horse collar BC I used in my OW class in 83, that probably has a left hand release.
I may get blasted for the next one but I don't mind.
For the DMs that wanted to know when the weight belt was rigged different, do you also go around and become familiar with everyone's integrated weight systems to? For that matter, would someone please explain why one diver would remove the weight belt from another diver at depth??? The only reason I can think of is out of air. I would much rather you share a reg than send me bolting to the surface to catch another breath! Well, I guess body recovery would be another reason to take weight off.
Hope I don��t seem too harsh, I am suffering from dry gill syndrome.
Cheers
bwerb
Hoser/English Translator, eh
In a rescue situation to ensure positive bouyancy of the victim, knowing how to instantly remove a weighbelt has it's definite advantages.
"Except for backplate/harness systems buckles are not used on BCs anymore."
Not true. Many BC's now have cummerbunds, but buckles on nylon webbing is all I use on my vest style BC's. Cummerbunds create drag, I dive in current too often to wear a cummerbund.
"I think my father still has the horse collar BC I used in my OW class in 83, that probably has a left hand release."
I'll bet it doesn't. Most have two clips that hook into rings and no buckles. The back pack that holds the tank will have a left hand release, just like a BC.
Not true. Many BC's now have cummerbunds, but buckles on nylon webbing is all I use on my vest style BC's. Cummerbunds create drag, I dive in current too often to wear a cummerbund.
"I think my father still has the horse collar BC I used in my OW class in 83, that probably has a left hand release."
I'll bet it doesn't. Most have two clips that hook into rings and no buckles. The back pack that holds the tank will have a left hand release, just like a BC.
Doof
Contributor
I would think that a cumberbund would sit flatter than a buckle, thus producing less drag.
But then, I've never seen a BC with a buckle either, so maybe the design is totally different?
But then, I've never seen a BC with a buckle either, so maybe the design is totally different?
A cummberbund is almost as thick as a buckle, but much thicker than the nylon webbing. While it replaces the buckle about 3 inches, it replaces the nylon webbing for 3+ feet.
sheck33
Contributor
Unless you are solo diving it is far more than an individual activity. Participants are not only responsible for their own safety but have a large potential of influencing YOUR safety. If i dive with a diver that has some weird personalized non-standard setup it will make handling an emergency more difficult. Then again of course i'd be stupid to dive with that person in the first place.
There are very good reasons for gear standardization.
seaangel
Guest
ScubaPro Classic Plus BC, jacket style with both. Personally I like mine I feel very secure in it. and have had no problems diving in all types of conditions in it.
That's an excellent BC. I use the Classic Sport. It's much more "classic" than the Classic - no padding, cummerbund or weight integration.
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