Panic at Depth......

[John Gulliver]

Interesting postings on this issue. I'm sure Hobby and others are quite right about people's mindset and psychological vulnerability to stress and panic differing. However, mind and body are inextricably linked and I firmly believe that a healthy body is a prerequisite for a healthy mind. A recreational diver doesn't need to be a highly trained athlete but he does need to be reasonably fit. Regular exercise and a healthy diet  strengthen both body and mind. Fewer pints and bacon sarnies and some form of exercise 2 or 3 times a week should make you better able to cope with any problems you meet while diving. And that is particularly important for us oldies. Here endeth today's sermon. :wink:

[MATTBIN]

OH John how can you say that after the mixed grill you had on Sunday!! Enough to feed two people, and dont give me that old waffle that you didnt eat it all either.
Matt

[Hobby]

It's a good,and all to often overlooked point John.My fitness is far from what it should be at present,kitting up etc.sweating cobblers in a dry bag as you make your way to the water all have an effect.This may be more so now with people carrying much more kit than before in some instances.Last year at a popular dive site,(I know the guy who runs a dive shop on the seafront)a bloke was kitting up.Huffing and puffing with his kit his mates were having a laugh with him.Alas as he got in the water he suffered what turned out to be a massive heart attack and died at the spot.While tragic this was quite possibly avoidable.How many divers do not dive for a period eg winter in the UK,then come summer, expect to throw their kit on and jump straight in.They probably would'nt do it without making sure their regs were OK but neglect themselves.This is all before we leave the surface,and as you say the last thing you want at the start of a dive is feeling like you've spent a rampant night with Pamela Anderson,altough that may be preferable!Take care,Hobby.

(Edited by Hobby at 11:19 am on Dec. 6, 2002)

[John Gulliver]

Bugger! I hoped you and Lou wouldn't read my posting, Matt. OK, I confess. I DID overeat on Sunday, but I really did leave quite a lot.

[MartinS]

Have been diving nearly 5 years, done nearly 40 dives (all bar 5 UK sea dives), nitrox qualified.
A couple of weeks back, did some diving over the weekend - 28M on Saturday, no problems, Sunday did a dive (didn't exceed 22M but could of gone deeper) and 20 minutes into the dive got a really strong urge to bolt for the surface. The viz was 8-10M, my buddy was only a couple of metres away, the dive was a nice easy drift. I was strong willed enough to hold myself back from the urge to bolt, and in a minute or two, felt right as rain again.  It's never happend before and was a bit scarey - anyone got any ideas why/what caused this?  The air was clean, although I did find out that my cylinders were out of O2 test (doh!) - does this sound related?
Sea temperature was 18 degrees, 32% mix, no problems clearing on my descent, hood, drysuit etc.
Regards
Martin

[Fiona]

<font color='#0000FF'>Martin

You say you have done 40 dives in 5 years, that's only about 8 a year, when did you last dive before this one? &nbsp;

Maybe you were just a bit apprehensive about diving if you haven't dived for some time.

Fiona

[Andy Phillips]

Hi,

I had this, rather strangley with roughly the same number of dives, it actually happend on dives 43, 44 and 47 (I used to log em then). I remember it very well, it almost stopped me from wanting to dive. I can not for the life of me work out why it happened, two of them were in the Red Sea on the Thistlegorm and Tiran, the third was on the Kyarra in the UK.

All I can tell you is it has not happened since and as you know it it is a horrid feeling.

I guess what I am trying to say is that it will most probably pass, I ended up putting it down to a severe attack of mortality. I now reguarly dive to 60M and beyond with no problem at all.

I doubt it helps but it is the best I can offer.

Andrew

[MartinS]

Hi
Fiona:
I dived the morning before to 28M quite happpily, and prior to that it was the end if June, so three months. I only ever get excited about getting wet, so am sure apprehension isn't something I was feeling. I appreciate that my average number of dives is low, but with a wife and family it's not alwys easy to find the time and/or money to dive as often as I'd like. I dived again (although much shallower - above 5M) less than two hours later and had no similar feelings. I dive regularly in the pool and without doubt (with the exception of the few blue water dives I've done) the viz was the best I have had in the UK. Still none the wiser, but thanks anyway.
Andy:
Very strange - I wish I knew what it was, but can only hope it doesn't happen again. &nbsp;I just have to relax and not let it worry me, so just need to put it out of my head and get on with what I love doing most - diving!
Thanks again
Martin

[Doug Parker]

You had too good a time of it on the Saturday. &nbsp;Perhaps you weren't 100% sure of your buddy which caused you to be slightly anxious. &nbsp;It only takes a couple of niggling little problems to escalate into panic. &nbsp;At least you kept your head and didn't bolt. It does you good now and again to have a livener, it's keeps your feet on the ground and stops you getting complacent. &nbsp;You should have been more worried about the Saturday dive.

[Bob Cooper]

Martin

This is narcosis. &nbsp;Absolutely no doubt in my mind, classic symptoms. Don't let people tell you that &quot;narcosis starts at 30m&quot; or that they &quot;have a personal narcosis tolerance level of XXm&quot;. &nbsp;That's all rubbish. &nbsp;It affects different people in different ways and at different depths. &nbsp;You were particularly susceptible at that particular time. &nbsp;Think about what you had to eat prior to the dive, your hydration level and whether you had a good nights sleep. &nbsp;This may give you some clue as to your susceptibility.

Hope this helps.

Bob