Panic at Depth......

[copperband]

I know this is an old thread, but I just wanted to add my experiences.
Which, from reading all past accounts are almost identical.
I was in Sharm in June of this year, doing my deep dive, the plan was to descend to 40m (shhh) and/or 6mins then ascend. So down we go, I'm keep a beady eye on my depth and time, I was feeling some apprehension prior to the dive regarding nitrogen narcosis, how was I (if at all) going to be affected? So we hit 40m after a 5min descent, I told myself just a minute or 2 longer then we are going up, I had to write some words, backwards on a slate for the Instructor, after that task was completed, I noticed we had hit 6 mins, so im looking at the Instructor, then to my left I noticed the DM had descended a bit further and was gesticulating for me to descend a couple of metres more to be by their side, I look over to the instructor who is also directing me to do the same, im confused now, 6 mins bottom time was the plan, why are we still here? Are they all narked and im the only sane one? DM is still signalling me down, it was then things started going hazy, I descended that 1.6m further (I know that as my deepest dive logged is still 41.6m, and will probably remain so for a while longer yet).
Once there im shown a wrist slate which I didn't read properly as I wanted UP, basically what it said it was along the lines of I shouldn't be there and NOT to succumb to peer pressure, and if I was on Nitrox then the extra depth would mean I could suffer O2 poisoning or could be 'DEAD', not the nicest thing to be reading at 40m +. My mind is now working overtime, all I want is the surface, my heart is beating and faster, not enough air is coming from the reg (so I thought). The ascent feels like its taking hours, I have to place my hand over my reg as I'm starting to be convinced its going to fall out.
We get to 20m and im feeling better, I let go of my reg and it doesn't fall out! Woohoo! Im now happy as the proverbial pig!
Subsequent dives that week had me filled with apprehension again, and I made sure we didn't descend past the 25m mark, I just wasn't comfortable, all I could think about was how I felt the previous deep dive.
Towards the end of the week, my confidence grew again and all was well, until the 2nd dive on the Thistlegorm, which I don't want to go into, suffice to say it was my birthday, wrong boat, and plenty of pi$$ taking as I surface swam back to the correct boat!

Cheers,

Paul

[Pretty Flowers]

A couple of weeks back, I was doing a dive in Brockville. Due to one reason or another, I hadn't been diving since June. Anyway, after coming down the shot, I'm not happy with my mask, as it's a bit foggy, so I decide to let water in it and clear it. No problem, something I've done countless times before and I'm not at all worried about it.

I can't clear it, because the cuff is stuck under my hood. I'm there like a numpty kneeling on the wreck, carefully avoiding the exposed wood, trying to get it clear.

I feel myself start to panic, try to keep calm, but I know that I'm panicing. After what seemed to be an eternity, but probably only 30 secs I signal to my buddy that I want to go up the shot. I end the dive, happy that I didn't consider a rapid ascent, and that I pretty much managed to keep things together. I'd say though that a) I definately need pool time over the winter and b) although at the time I felt really stupid, I'm glad that all the training has paid off. Finally, it really makes me reconsider solo diving... I don't really think I would like to be in that situation again, without a buddy there....

[JohnK]

I get the "panics" from time to time. Strange how 47m in Teneriffe was great but 35 in deep dark orrible stoney isnt - shows how much diving relates to state of mind. If I dont feel right I can the dive - my buddies have never ribbed me about it and I havn`t ribbed them. We all call a dive for whatever reason - its not important - enjoying the dive is !!

[Fiona]

Originally Posted by copperband

Once there im shown a wrist slate which I didn't read properly as I wanted UP, basically what it said it was along the lines of I shouldn't be there and NOT to succumb to peer pressure, and if I was on Nitrox then the extra depth would mean I could suffer O2 poisoning or could be 'DEAD', not the nicest thing to be reading at 40m +.

Paul

I have no idea if this should happen on a deep dive course, my thoughts are that it shouldn't and it is these DM / Instructors which give agencies a bad name.

Maybe they should go back and resit their nitrox course because descending a couple of metres past the recommended MOD isn't going to kill you what ever people say and writing that on a slate is just stupid and they want their arses kicked.

Next time you aren't happy with the change in plan give them the two fingers, alternatively use a different instructor.

[Paul Oliver]

Originally Posted by Fiona

I have no idea if this should happen on a deep dive course, my thoughts are that it shouldn't and it is these DM / Instructors which give agencies a bad name.

Maybe they should go back and resit their nitrox course because descending a couple of metres past the recommended MOD isn't going to kill you what ever people say and writing that on a slate is just stupid and they want their arses kicked.

Next time you aren't happy with the change in plan give them the two fingers, alternatively use a different instructor.

Gets my vote

[sidthejedi]

Had one panic attack when training that I won't forget in a hurry. I was doing Sports diver open water stuff at Gildy, using a SMB. Along with me was the instructor and an observer (a less experienced instructor so a second DL came along to help), who were a established buddy pair known for being rather quick underwater.

I'm not entirely sure where we were going (the plan was they lead I deal with the SMB), but we had set out following one of the ropes at about 14m from the double decker bus towards (I think) the plane and had just disentangled myself from a junction between several different ropes. I was getting short of breath and signalled to stop, partly due to finning too fast to keep up with my buddies, partly because I was negatively buoyant and partially because of task loading. The problem was when we stopped I couldn't seem to catch my breath as I was having to fin to avoid sinking.

The vis wasn't great, I was stressed and I could feel my world getting rather small. Who am I kidding - very very small. At this point for some reason I started coughing hard enough that I spat out my reg. Got it back in my mouth and cleared of water, but my breathing was getting faster not slower. At this point we started ascending, but in doing so I was finding it harder to breathe, not easier. By now things from my end were getting out of hand very fast and we ended up making pretty fast ascent to the surface as I was panicing and wanted out - not a ridiculous speed, but at the same time not the nice gentle slow ascent at the end of a normal dive. Well I got to the surface and it took a good couple of minutes before I was breathing normall again - by the time I was at the waters edge I was ok, if a bit shaken.

What really got me was that as soon as I got out of the water it was like I had a disease. No-one was particularly interested how I was, what I thought had happened, what was happening. It's a strange procedure to leave someone sat alone after such an incident for the next hour, with the most contact being a quick glance up from a huddled conversation to check if I was walking towards them. Maybe I was being paranoid, but after an experience like that I think I can be excused.

At the end of the day I can say I've had first hand experience at how steep the sides of the incident pit are, without needing a trip to the pot. Since then I have dropped about 6 kilos of lead which has helped an awful lot, and am trying to become more assertive underwater, both by telling my buddy to slow down if I am starting to get short of breath, or by binning the dive if I am really uncomfortable. Trouble is that the incident has really reduced my options for buddies within the club - you give the experienced divers in the club the choice between going and diving a 30-40m wreck off the south coast or taking someone like on a fairly shallow dive (max 25m) with a chance it might be aborted early and you can see how I don't get the chance to go on many club trips.

Ok that has turned out a little longer than I thought. Apologies but I wanted to get that off my chest.

[Paul Oliver]

Hi Sid

A valuable lesson for people to learn from. Hopefully you will get some more diving in and progress your experience level again so you can join in more of the diving.

I would suggest a chat with the DO to try and get something arranged.

I have been in similar situations to you several times, as in very out of breath, these have been caused by a hard surface swim before descending, pulling myself down the (tied off) shot against a strong current and finning against a very strong current on the seabed.

Each time i thought i would not get my breathing under control, but after a few minuets i have managed this, but have had to force myself to remain calm and get control of the situation. In each case i can remember this i was an experienced diver (AD) but still had to force myself to remain calm.

Now you have the weights sorted i bit more experience and i suspect you will be fine. The best thing (in my opinion) after any incident like this is to review it then get back into the water with the right person.

[DaveB]

In my service diving we have a procedure called "Trouble Drill", which I think is a good idea. Without going into specifics, which are very kit related, if you feel yourselve out of breath or 'concerned' (iow panicy) you should do the following:

1. Stop what your doing (work, swimming etc)
2. Give a stop/unhappy signal to your buddy.
3. Breath slowly and deeply.
4. Check your air - I would suggest you watch your contents guage for about 6 deep breaths.
5. If still having trouble signal OOA and use your buddies AAS. Ascend safely.

There is no magic in this, but if adopted as an Standard Operating Procedure it gives you something to do that you can practice, and will give you an indication of equipment/air problems. As part of my (now lapsed) continuation training I would have to preform "Trouble Drill" on most dives, which helps reinforce this as a sensible response to a problem. Narrowing down an unknown and uncomfortable situation to something familiar that you can do, because you have practiced it, can be all the help you need.

[Jen]

I had a panic situation earlier this year, at around 25 meters my mask kept flooding and it seemed every time I cleared it I snorted up water. I'm sure I didn't as I've not done this before or since. I was also new to my drysuit so my buoyancy was all over the place.

Anyways my panic started to rise as I failed to clear the mask time again, my heart felt like it was pounding out of my chest and really sucking on my reg. I then convinced myself that I would pass out due to hyperventilation so feeding the panic.

Started to look to the surface and new I was in trouble. As I couldn't see I didn't know if I was ascending or descending either.

Luckily I started shouting at myself ... 'What the f*ck are you doing ... is this where you want to die?'

'No' I shouted back then started to think how I was going to get out of this. I remembered the stop, think and act.

I grabbed onto the wreck so that was my buoyancy sorted and the 'stop' part. Thought about the mask issue and just pushed it into my face, I hung onto the wreck like this for a while till I had calmed down. Spotted another diver in the water and headed straight for them, they sorted out the mask problem and I continued the dive feeling a lot calmer.

I didn't mention anything on the surface as I felt like I had handled it ok. I dived several times again afterwards without a problem, however out of the blue the panic returned some months later for no reason. This time I swam to the most experienced in the group and signalled I had a big problem. We were swimming in the blue at the time and he took me shallower and towards the reef where I calmed down and again continued the dive.

This time I did talk about it and the previous time to everyone and was given lots of advice on how to tackle the situation. I could also see a pattern in the panic ... no visual reference, so I'm going to be practicing lots of no vis references scenarios over the winter with spawn one and hopefully get these panics under control.

Great thread btw.

[Pen Simon]

Originally Posted by Jen

Spotted another diver in the water and headed straight for them, they sorted out the mask problem and I continued the dive feeling a lot calmer.

I may have read this wrongly, but I read into this that you were not diving with a buddy who may have seen your initial distress and aided you earlier?