What caused that then?

Martin Burnard · November 8th, 2007, 04:09 PM

Took this from another forum, and thought hmmm very true and I bet we all do it and get away with it............................until we don't!

"All on the list can be traced back to the first, complacency. Complacency kills & maims countless people every year on the road, at work, even at home. It can sneak up on anyone do not kid yourself. You have never continued when a something is not right? It is natural to become a bit complacent as one becomes used to an activity driving, diving, whatever. Resist becoming complacent & 99% of the pitfalls can be avoided IMHO."

The discussion was surrounding deaths on rebreathers, and basically saying that the rebreathers are safe it's the user that fails.

This also applies to OC.

Example, a gentle dive for myself, my regular buddy (hi Trotters) and 1 other (Herby known as Bob), a diver with 100 UK dives.

OK I say gentle, but that was me being complacent, as gentle for who? Not Bob but he didn't say he was nervous.

Maybe we should have noticed as he had problems descending to start with...he was breathing heavy, but we were only aware of this on reflection.

Drifting up the wall at the prearranged max depth of 18m was pleasant (but not for Bob who was unused to not seeing the floor). No finning so gas use very low (sac of 9), but not for Bob, finning to hold his position in the water column (should have noticed that) plus concern over current and that it was dark (although he has dived at night before) was pushing his SAC rate up.

Now I checked my gas and as I had loads left, so must every body else (complacent) especially as I am on a 12ltr, Bob is on a 15 ltr (with 20bar extra to start) and Trotters on his twins.

Normally I ask for a gas check from my buddies if I haven't been able to read thier gauge but didn't (complacent). End of the dive we go to do a slow ascent. I have a rummage in the crap in front of me, Trotters draws my attention..... where is Bob? No sign of him... has he gone up, down or out to sea? no idea. Wait 1 minute then surface. He's fine just a bit flustered as he had lost bouyancy and panicked a bit.

Bob was almost out of gas!

In summary I used less than 900 litres, Bob used over 2500 litres.

Complacency alround! All ended well, but it could have been different.

Finished my cup of coffee so back to work.

**MartyC** · November 10th, 2007, 02:17 PM

Very true and so easy a mistake to make, during my recent fundies class we surfaced and Clare ask me how much gas I had - I had no Idea! I new I'd gone in with loads but as I was concentrating on the skills and drills I hadn't been checking, of course Clare had noticed, knew exactly how much gas I had but I had no idea - guess who got a bollocking and then made damb sure I checked from then on.

November 8th, 2007, 04:09 PM	#1 (permalink)
Martin Burnard(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Plymouth, UK Posts: 580	What caused that then? Took this from another forum, and thought hmmm very true and I bet we all do it and get away with it............................until we don't! "All on the list can be traced back to the first, complacency. Complacency kills & maims countless people every year on the road, at work, even at home. It can sneak up on anyone do not kid yourself. You have never continued when a something is not right? It is natural to become a bit complacent as one becomes used to an activity driving, diving, whatever. Resist becoming complacent & 99% of the pitfalls can be avoided IMHO." The discussion was surrounding deaths on rebreathers, and basically saying that the rebreathers are safe it's the user that fails. This also applies to OC. Example, a gentle dive for myself, my regular buddy (hi Trotters) and 1 other (Herby known as Bob), a diver with 100 UK dives. OK I say gentle, but that was me being complacent, as gentle for who? Not Bob but he didn't say he was nervous. Maybe we should have noticed as he had problems descending to start with...he was breathing heavy, but we were only aware of this on reflection. Drifting up the wall at the prearranged max depth of 18m was pleasant (but not for Bob who was unused to not seeing the floor). No finning so gas use very low (sac of 9), but not for Bob, finning to hold his position in the water column (should have noticed that) plus concern over current and that it was dark (although he has dived at night before) was pushing his SAC rate up. Now I checked my gas and as I had loads left, so must every body else (complacent) especially as I am on a 12ltr, Bob is on a 15 ltr (with 20bar extra to start) and Trotters on his twins. Normally I ask for a gas check from my buddies if I haven't been able to read thier gauge but didn't (complacent). End of the dive we go to do a slow ascent. I have a rummage in the crap in front of me, Trotters draws my attention..... where is Bob? No sign of him... has he gone up, down or out to sea? no idea. Wait 1 minute then surface. He's fine just a bit flustered as he had lost bouyancy and panicked a bit. Bob was almost out of gas! In summary I used less than 900 litres, Bob used over 2500 litres. Complacency alround! All ended well, but it could have been different. Finished my cup of coffee so back to work. __________________ I once enjoyed a sado-masachistic frenzy of total tintintabulation leading to a state of metampsychosis... or did I make that up? www.bananafrogcars.co.uk

November 10th, 2007, 02:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
MartyC(Offline) DIRX Supporter Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Goathland, N Yorks. Posts: 154	Very true and so easy a mistake to make, during my recent fundies class we surfaced and Clare ask me how much gas I had - I had no Idea! I new I'd gone in with loads but as I was concentrating on the skills and drills I hadn't been checking, of course Clare had noticed, knew exactly how much gas I had but I had no idea - guess who got a bollocking and then made damb sure I checked from then on. __________________ IF only I could think of something witty to say!