DIR Explorers - View Single Post

MattDuke · October 25th, 2007, 01:10 PM

Hello,

Just to add my 2p in terms of life experiences.

1.) Passive Panic - 10m, 3m viz, Novice Diver, 5th dive in the sea.

Total meltdown in their composure. Started with erratic movements and clawing at the surface. Lots of are you OK signals from instructor got replies, but she wasn't OK. Ended after 3-4 minutes with a vacant "Glazed" look and complete paralysis. I lifted the diver to the surface where she couldn't remember what had happend, but had an immediate recovery.

2.) Deep water Blackout. 36m, 4degrees C, Dive Leader, 250+ dives.

This is perhaps the interesting one for "Deep Air" fans. It was very early (06.00am) in a quarry in the UK, and me and my chum were doing "Depth warm up" for a trip to scapa and 50m air diving. At 36m my buddy just glazed over. It started with slightly delayed response to signals, and then I thumbed the dive. By the time we had positioned oursleves to go up the shot line he was gone. Gone completely too. Eyes open, peacful, reg in breathing.

At 30m only 6m off the bottom, he came round, and literally did a comical "Shake of the head" as is in: "Where the **** am I?" He then when straight for his depth guage and air guage and was confused how he had come to be back at 30m. I no longer needed to assist him, and we ended the dive without incident.

3.) Shallow water task overload. 4.5m, 10m viz, Diver with 75 dives, DIR-F course.

Interesting one this. On my DIR-F course I did it with my regular NACD trained buddy, 750 dives, and I had a similar number of dives. Our third member was a great lass who is a fantastic "natural" in the water, but none the less still only a few years into the course.

Gas switches. For what ever reason there was just too many things happening at once, and she kept getting the order wrong and consequently started getting REALLY pissed with her self. Me and my regualar buddy are very chilled in the water, and tried to assist and get her to try again, giving assistance and clear signals.

She failed to get the skill a few times, and then it happened again. Glazed. Totally unresponsive to signals and in her own little world. After some time she "Came Back" and we exited the dive. Had a long debrief and discussion and then did plenty of practice dives, where everything went well.

******************
I'm no expert, but my life experiences since 1992, have shown we these three scenarios where people go limp.

The deep air dive would have been a fatality without us being in a buddy team, or if both had been hit with the same. I think that extreme cold, tirdness and darkness have a serious role in that near miss.

Cold water and bad conditions even "Only" 36m on air can be a very hostile place to be.

Hope these experiences are of interest.

Matt.
Bergen, Norway.

October 25th, 2007, 01:10 PM	#38 (permalink)
MattDuke(Offline) New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bergen, Norway. (UK 1975-2002) Posts: 106	Hello, Just to add my 2p in terms of life experiences. 1.) Passive Panic - 10m, 3m viz, Novice Diver, 5th dive in the sea. Total meltdown in their composure. Started with erratic movements and clawing at the surface. Lots of are you OK signals from instructor got replies, but she wasn't OK. Ended after 3-4 minutes with a vacant "Glazed" look and complete paralysis. I lifted the diver to the surface where she couldn't remember what had happend, but had an immediate recovery. 2.) Deep water Blackout. 36m, 4degrees C, Dive Leader, 250+ dives. This is perhaps the interesting one for "Deep Air" fans. It was very early (06.00am) in a quarry in the UK, and me and my chum were doing "Depth warm up" for a trip to scapa and 50m air diving. At 36m my buddy just glazed over. It started with slightly delayed response to signals, and then I thumbed the dive. By the time we had positioned oursleves to go up the shot line he was gone. Gone completely too. Eyes open, peacful, reg in breathing. At 30m only 6m off the bottom, he came round, and literally did a comical "Shake of the head" as is in: "Where the ** am I?" He then when straight for his depth guage and air guage and was confused how he had come to be back at 30m. I no longer needed to assist him, and we ended the dive without incident. 3.) Shallow water task overload. 4.5m, 10m viz, Diver with 75 dives, DIR-F course. Interesting one this. On my DIR-F course I did it with my regular NACD trained buddy, 750 dives, and I had a similar number of dives. Our third member was a great lass who is a fantastic "natural" in the water, but none the less still only a few years into the course. Gas switches. For what ever reason there was just too many things happening at once, and she kept getting the order wrong and consequently started getting REALLY pissed with her self. Me and my regualar buddy are very chilled in the water, and tried to assist and get her to try again, giving assistance and clear signals. She failed to get the skill a few times, and then it happened again. Glazed. Totally unresponsive to signals and in her own little world. After some time she "Came Back" and we exited the dive. Had a long debrief and discussion and then did plenty of practice dives, where everything went well. **************** I'm no expert, but my life experiences since 1992, have shown we these three scenarios where people go limp. The deep air dive would have been a fatality without us being in a buddy team, or if both had been hit with the same. I think that extreme cold, tirdness and darkness have a serious role in that near miss. Cold water and bad conditions even "Only" 36m on air can be a very hostile place to be. Hope these experiences are of interest. Matt. Bergen, Norway.