[ShinyD]

The club I belong to mandates that all members complete both a swimming fitness test and a rescue scenario in the pool over the winter, which I did last week.

It's the first time I've tried a rescue scenario using the wing and found it a right sod to get out of as I was removing my gear at the pool side (deep end).

The wing is adjusted to be comfortable (not too tight, but not too loose either) in the drysuit and I still struggled, nearly dislocating my right shoulder in the process of getting my arm out. I was wearing a 2mm wetsuit, and so would find it even harder in a drysuit.

I'm one of only 2 members in the club with wings and take a load of grief from one older member in particular who views them as potential death traps, turning unconscious divers face down in the water. I've pointed out that a correctly weighted and trimmed diver with a wing will - should - remain near vertical in the water if unconscious and that all BCDs carry a warning that they are not lifesaving devices and should not be relied on as such.

Needless to say fate took a hand and it was this guy that was supervising the rescue. He took great delight in pointing out the difficulties I had in getting out of the wing.

I passed the scenario with a very sore shoulder afterwards, but wondered if there was some technique for removing a wing equipped with a one-piece harness in deep water with more grace!