Depth Blackout - Page 5

Alex · October 26th, 2007, 01:28 AM

Quote: (Originally Posted by MattDuke)

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.

A very similar story happened to a guy from my club. He dived the Moldavia (on air). He was found near the end of the shotline completely motionless and not responsive (breathing and consious though). Taken up by his buddy. Became completely normal at 36 m and could not understand what was going on.

Regards
Alex

Ahmed Adly, Marlin Inn DC · October 26th, 2007, 08:22 AM

Those two stories just sound completly wiered!
Where were the tanks filled?

Since you say it was a warmup dive, I suppose this person has been deep on air before too. Also, since it was only 36 meters, I would kind of rule out narcosis any way. There are just tooooo many dives done to 40m without incident to blame N2.

MattDuke · October 26th, 2007, 10:10 AM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Ahmed Adly, Marlin Inn DC)

Those two stories just sound completly wiered!
Where were the tanks filled?

Since you say it was a warmup dive, I suppose this person has been deep on air before too. Also, since it was only 36 meters, I would kind of rule out narcosis any way. There are just tooooo many dives done to 40m without incident to blame N2.

At that stage he had perhaps 50 dives below 30m on air, his max on air was 62m if I remember right.

The main issues here were that it was freezing cold, pitch black, and done at 06.00am after 3-4 hours sleep. (The dizzy heights of student diving...) He hadn't had any booze/pot/stimulants the night before, but was tired.

Gas was filled with mine and was fine. Dived the same twinset on the second dive without issue.

It was a very relaxed descent too, no CO2 potential as far as I could see.

He just glazed out. It was one of the most bizarre things I've seen, but it happend and if it had been one of his solo dives (Also popular at the time on wrecks with poor viz in the north east) he would be dead.

Mind you it wasn't he only big learning experience, as the rest of us used Nitrox in Scapa (1995) and he couldn't see the point. Day 3 of 2x35m dives he got bent and had the rest of his holiday in the chamber in Aberdeen.

Who knows, we can only report on what we experience.

Alex · October 26th, 2007, 03:04 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Ahmed Adly, Marlin Inn DC)

Those two stories just sound completly wiered!

There are just tooooo many dives done to 40m without incident to blame N2.

The Moldavia is 45ish, and that guy feels narcosis quite strongly. I belive it is N2.

Ahmed Adly, Marlin Inn DC · October 27th, 2007, 12:01 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by MattDuke)

Who knows, we can only report on what we experience.

I would love to test this out on myself. I can stay awake a few nights, but I will never be able to simulate the cold, dark and dirty water you guys seem to love. I will have to try to knock myself out diving in clear, warm blue seas full of marine life

Dose you friend suffer from any other medical conditions?

The way I see it is that maybe the DCS and the fainting are related.

MattDuke · October 27th, 2007, 02:50 PM

Not sure mate, he left the UK and so do I. (Australia and Norway respectivly)

I do know he had a PFO test after the bend, and that was negative.

He was know for swimming like hell underwater and working hard the whole time to try and see the whole wreck, (Mostly solo, or lose buddy teams) This was contributed to his bend.

He dived for years afterwards in the UK without ill effects, so I doubt I'll ever know.

October 26th, 2007, 01:28 AM	#41 (permalink)
Alex(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Nottingham Posts: 74	Quote: (Originally Posted by MattDuke) 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. A very similar story happened to a guy from my club. He dived the Moldavia (on air). He was found near the end of the shotline completely motionless and not responsive (breathing and consious though). Taken up by his buddy. Became completely normal at 36 m and could not understand what was going on. Regards Alex __________________ "Some of the positions in the Kama Sutra are only possible in a weightless environment..."

October 26th, 2007, 08:22 AM	#42 (permalink)
Ahmed Adly, Marlin Inn DC (Online) New Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: hurghada Posts: 1,078	Those two stories just sound completly wiered! Where were the tanks filled? Since you say it was a warmup dive, I suppose this person has been deep on air before too. Also, since it was only 36 meters, I would kind of rule out narcosis any way. There are just tooooo many dives done to 40m without incident to blame N2. __________________ Life and Death, although stemming from one another, seem to conflict as stages of change. Ahmed Adly, www.deepvoyage.com

October 26th, 2007, 03:04 PM	#44 (permalink)
Alex(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Nottingham Posts: 74	Quote: (Originally Posted by Ahmed Adly, Marlin Inn DC) Those two stories just sound completly wiered! There are just tooooo many dives done to 40m without incident to blame N2. The Moldavia is 45ish, and that guy feels narcosis quite strongly. I belive it is N2. __________________ "Some of the positions in the Kama Sutra are only possible in a weightless environment..."

October 27th, 2007, 12:01 PM	#45 (permalink)
Ahmed Adly, Marlin Inn DC (Online) New Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: hurghada Posts: 1,078	Quote: (Originally Posted by MattDuke) Who knows, we can only report on what we experience. I would love to test this out on myself. I can stay awake a few nights, but I will never be able to simulate the cold, dark and dirty water you guys seem to love. I will have to try to knock myself out diving in clear, warm blue seas full of marine life Dose you friend suffer from any other medical conditions? The way I see it is that maybe the DCS and the fainting are related. __________________ Life and Death, although stemming from one another, seem to conflict as stages of change. Ahmed Adly, www.deepvoyage.com Last edited by Ahmed Adly, Marlin Inn DC; October 27th, 2007 at 03:20 PM..

October 26th, 2007, 10:10 AM	#43 (permalink)
MattDuke(Offline) New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bergen, Norway. (UK 1975-2002) Posts: 104	Quote: (Originally Posted by Ahmed Adly, Marlin Inn DC) Those two stories just sound completly wiered! Where were the tanks filled? Since you say it was a warmup dive, I suppose this person has been deep on air before too. Also, since it was only 36 meters, I would kind of rule out narcosis any way. There are just tooooo many dives done to 40m without incident to blame N2. At that stage he had perhaps 50 dives below 30m on air, his max on air was 62m if I remember right. The main issues here were that it was freezing cold, pitch black, and done at 06.00am after 3-4 hours sleep. (The dizzy heights of student diving...) He hadn't had any booze/pot/stimulants the night before, but was tired. Gas was filled with mine and was fine. Dived the same twinset on the second dive without issue. It was a very relaxed descent too, no CO2 potential as far as I could see. He just glazed out. It was one of the most bizarre things I've seen, but it happend and if it had been one of his solo dives (Also popular at the time on wrecks with poor viz in the north east) he would be dead. Mind you it wasn't he only big learning experience, as the rest of us used Nitrox in Scapa (1995) and he couldn't see the point. Day 3 of 2x35m dives he got bent and had the rest of his holiday in the chamber in Aberdeen. Who knows, we can only report on what we experience.

October 27th, 2007, 02:50 PM	#46 (permalink)
MattDuke(Offline) New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bergen, Norway. (UK 1975-2002) Posts: 104	Not sure mate, he left the UK and so do I. (Australia and Norway respectivly) I do know he had a PFO test after the bend, and that was negative. He was know for swimming like hell underwater and working hard the whole time to try and see the whole wreck, (Mostly solo, or lose buddy teams) This was contributed to his bend. He dived for years afterwards in the UK without ill effects, so I doubt I'll ever know.