36 replies to this topic

[Walter]

No offense intended Kevin, but neither you nor Marvel are ready for the Hydro. I'd suggest trimix on that wreck.

[Marvel]

No offense intended Kevin, but neither you nor Marvel are ready for the Hydro. I'd suggest trimix on that wreck.

No offense taken by ME, Walter! I already know I'm not ready... (but, we're gonna work on that, right?)

[Walter]

A few years ago three very good friends told me they were planning to dive the Hydro and invited me to dive it with them. I declined the invitation and asked them to reconsider as they weren't ready for that dive. I recommended a trimix course before attempting the dive. One had approximately 200 dives, another around 120, but still unsure of herself and with just OW & nitrox cards, the third had just over 100 dives. They refused to back out, so I helped them develop a dive plan.

The plan was for them to stay together as a group at all times. They would descend the line, go no deeper than the main deck, explore no more than 5 minutes, then ascend along the wreck and make their ascent together up the line making decompression stops we agreed on.

They made the dive. They descended together down the line. At about 120 feet, one diver started to feel uneasy and decided that was deep enough for her. She signaled to her buddies she wasn't comfortable descending any further. The other two divers left her at 120 by herself and continued down to the main deck. After a short exploration of the main deck, they dropped over the side and continued down to about 175. After a short swim along the sand, they ascended to the main deck, explored a bit then ascended to the wheelhouse. They hooked back up with the buddy they'd abandoned and made their ascent with decompression stops.

They trashed their entire dive plan at depth as a result of the affects of narcosis. They abandoned their weakest member leaving her as a solo diver (she wasn't ready for solo diving either) at a depth she'd never before experienced while she was feeling uneasy. All three of them could have easily died on this dive.

The Hydro is not a dive to undertake lightly.

[idive2]

The Hydro is not a dive to undertake lightly.

no offense taken walter and your correct it is the type of dive
that has to be taken seriously. The two divers that left the diver on the line
to proceed with the plan without the woman are two divers i would never dive with again. The two divers who proceeded without the third diver are not only ignorant
but were very disrespectful of the third diver. In the 2 1/2 years i've been diving
I've learned it's probably gonna be someone elses decisions that gets me in trouble rather than my own....thanks for the word of caution and your story emphasizes the importance of chosing buddies you really can trust to do the right thing !

Kevin Falconer Fort Myers, FL

[idive2]

They trashed their entire dive plan at depth as a result of the affects of narcosis.

walter, hard to believe the decision was made as a result of narcosis
particularly since i would assume that at the end of the descent
not enough time had elapsed to start any narcosis ...... I'm goin' with
ignorance on this one !

Kevin Falconer

[scuba_jenny]

The two divers that left the diver on the line
to proceed with the plan without the woman are two divers i would never dive with again. The two divers who proceeded without the third diver are not only ignorant
but were very disrespectful of the third diver. <snip>and your story emphasizes the importance of chosing buddies you really can trust to do the right thing !

Kevin Falconer Fort Myers, FL

Kevin...you want me to comment on this????

[Walter]

Kevin,

It was the result of narcosis. They are both very responsible people. I wouldn't hesitate to trust my life to either of them on the surface or at relatively shallow depths.

Narcosis hits quickly. They were not aware of any symptoms of narcosis at any point in the dive. That doesn't negate the fact three intelligent people were downright stupid at depth.

My point was to instill in you the concept that this dive is inherently dangerous. When you are certified in the use of trimix is the time to consider this dive. This dive can kill you. I want you to stick around a long time, buddy.

[idive2]

Kevin...you want me to comment on this????

hey pipe down........we'll call you if we have any beach
diving issues that need deliberating !

Kevin Falconer Fort Myers, FL

[idive2]

Narcosis hits quickly. They were not aware of any symptoms of narcosis at any point in the dive. That doesn't negate the fact three intelligent people were downright stupid at depth.

walter, your point was well taken and I don't know these people that you discuss
but if i were the diver left alone on the line I wouldn't be so quick to accept the "narcosis" defense. I think there are many intelligent divers
that do stupid things, there are also many different personalities in this
sport and sometimes these actions are as much a result of a personality
or attitude as they are their training.

Kevin

[scuba_jenny]

Kevin...you want me to comment on this????

hey pipe down........we'll call you if we have any beach
diving issues that need deliberating !

Kevin Falconer Fort Myers, FL

Buddies are buddies no matter where you dive

[Walter]

The odd thing is she wasn't upset over being left alone. She was narced too. I was upset when I heard about it and other friends were upset, but all three of them were proud of their "accomplishment." They weren't aware there was a problem until they gave a dive report and got serious negative feedback.

Anyone can go deep. It's no accomplishment. The accomplishment is to get the proper training ahead of time and make all your dives safe ones.

[idive2]

Anyone can go deep. It's no accomplishment. The accomplishment is to get the proper training ahead of time and make all your dives safe ones.

walter, proper training is essential unfortunately proper training
does not always turn out divers with good judgement and good
decision making skills. No one makes perfect decisions in every
situation but the ones that make the foolish decisions in critical
situations, below 100 fsw for example, are the ones that you may
want to reconsider as your buddy.

Kevin

[idive2]

Buddies are buddies no matter where you dive

your right jenny, but i think there are divers that don't make the proper adjustments as dives become more dangerous. your attention to proper
buddy procedures needs to be "ratcheted up" as you move from
a shallow reef dive to say a penetraion dive or very deep water dive.
If you ever dive with me below 100 fsw you will receive as much concern as you've ever had from a buddy, no one can know what their buddy is thinking but
if you dive with me as much thought is being put into your safety as mine !

Kevin Falconer

[scuba_jenny]

Buddies are buddies no matter where you dive

your right jenny, but i think there are divers that don't make the proper adjustments as dives become more dangerous. your attention to proper
buddy procedures needs to be "ratcheted up" as you move from
a shallow reef dive to say a penetraion dive or very deep water dive.
If you ever dive with me below 100 fsw you will receive as much concern as you've ever had from a buddy, no one can know what their buddy is thinking but
if you dive with me as much thought is being put into your safety as mine !

Kevin Falconer

Kevin. I think you are missing something here that I am nonchalantely trying to say TO YOU....
I have done a couple beach dives with you, and we have discussed what happened after the dive. Do I need to put it out here for all to read?

Reflection, my friend, reflection on what happened during those two dives. How could I expect anything different from you at depth?

[idive2]

Jenny, are you flirting with me ?

Kevin