9 replies to this topic

[Diverbrian]

I know that we have some divers here that sometimes push limits. This could be on vacation or in our regular local diving adventures.

I saw a link that I found about a year ago. It reminds me of the cost and I keep it in mind when I feel bulletproof. Then, I feel less bulletproof.

We are all friends here. I would hate to be writing an article like top one about anyone here. I posted a slightly sanitized version on another board. The sanitatization will work here as well. The point gets made on these articles. You will see what I did (basically cleaned up one cuss word). The page is off the old AquaCorps website if anyone cares to look.

http://www.palmerent...dMachismo1.html

Thanks for accepting my sappy concern, but I recently read an incident report which highlighted the need for us to remember the reason for limits.

Edited by Diverbrian, 23 May 2004 - 10:51 PM.

[Marvel]

Thanks, Brian.

[Jro]

Sobering, thanks for sharing Brian.

[canuckdiver]

excellent post Brian!

A couple of the stories there I had heard before, but the one from Shek Exley really hit home, as he is one of my heroes.

Losing your own brother to the "deeper,harder,longer" mentality is a pretty sobering experience.

[bandit]

It makes for interesting reading and food for thought. At the same time, not all limits are equal just as all divers are not equally experienced and trained. Many of these stories are the basis for more modern techniques and equipment usage.

No deco limits are just guidelines that will get you out of the water with about a 98% success rate of not getting bent. All dives are actually decompression dives. Surfacing too fast from a non-deco dive is more dangerous than a well executed decompression dive in my opinion.

The reality is we assume a risk as soon as we put our heads underwater. We do everything we can to minimize the risk through equipment and, hopefully, training and practice, but nothing short of staying dry will eliminate that risk.

I saw my buddies 1st stage reg blow out at 60 feet last week. I offered my octo and he waved me off. He finished the dive by turning the tank valve on and off to breath while continuing to shoot video as we worked our way back to the exit. It was a point of pride to him to be able to handle his problem underwater. I was there simply if all else failed (of course he could have just surfaced as well). Learning to think and act calmly underwater is the key.

Could we have handled that blow out at 180'? Yes. First of all we could have made our ascent to 120' and switched to our Nitrox regs, even with the free flow. 2nd, we planned our dive to use the rule of thirds, so we could have shared air to the 120' switch without a problem. If the blow out had occurred on the Nitrox reg, again the rule of thirds would have gotten us out of the water with gas to spare. Good planning is the key to making these types of dives with minimal risk. Believe me, we analyzed it from as many directions as possible before committing to the dive.

[Diverbrian]

Bandit,

I agree with what you say nearly 100 percent. My point was the attitude, not the activities involved. The stories from Marty Synderman and Cathie Cush are the ones that I concentrate on.

One is a guy who rolled the dice one too many times on O2 tox issues. No level of skill will protect you from that. Proper planning will about 99.9 percent of the time. The sobering part of that one was the perspective from which it is written. I would hate to be the friend/relative/SO of someone that did this type of stuff. His suffering was over when he tox'ed out. The loved ones suffering is just getting on a roll.

The other wasn't anything really negative at all. Marty discusses what he and his buddies do right to protect themselves. That is important to me as I am a photographer as well. I do not run myself low on air to get photos but many of us do.

I just read a post on another board written by a gentlemen who nearly tox'ed out and I nearly gagged when I saw the depths and mixes. Then his excuse was that he was simply "pushing limits".

How many of us do repetitive deep dives to get photos off live-aboards or try to do four or five dives a day in Coz., Bonaire, or Grand Cayman in order to get pics? How many of us do equivalent things?

I just wanted all of us to think a bit before we take trips with "complimentary diving" involved and we run our dive plans to one minute away from NDL on the last dive of the day for four or five consecutive days.

Thanks again.

[jeadiver]

Brian:

I read the post in the other board also and couldn't believe the guy was taking the chances he was. He wasn't pushing limits, he was being stupid. Thanks for this post, I had read the Gary Gentile quote before, I just don't remember where. The other insights were excellent, sobering and on target.

Again, thanks.

Joe

Edited by jeadiver, 24 May 2004 - 02:44 PM.

[triggerfish]

thanks Brian.

mistakes are one thing. stupidity is another. and sometimes, it's just that your number comes up, even if you did everything right.

[Divegirl412]

Thanks.

[mcm007]

Awesome, nice articles.. A bit humbling too....