Interesting reading - Why Divers Die

[A. Berk]

If you look at the incident fatality reports, a number of people who drowned:
1. were found to have plenty of air in their cylinder(s)
2. some had removed their masks
3. some had removed their hoods

In a panic situation, the diver often believes the regulator is not delivering enough air and/or there's a restriction, often resulting in the above!

That's correct... CO2 brings on an urge to breath deeply and our brains and bodies conspire to tell us to get rid of the suffocating mask and mouthpiece.

I remember my 'test' back in 1977, North Sea gas platform, 25m-ish, wearing a Kirby-Morgan 10 band-mask. I had gone from mild exertion to very heavy work within a few seconds and didn't get round to cracking the free-flow on the mask - which would have kept CO2 down nicely. The next thing I know is the mask getting smaller and smaller with each breath and suddenly the most sensible thing to do was pull the thing off my head for some fresh air - mind/body, body/mind, gremlin on the shoulder, do it... don't be stupid, no do it! I wrapped my legs around the platform structure, closed my eyes, opened the free-flow valve to 'Hurricane' force and waited... 20 - 25 seconds and its passed.

Stop, rest, breath deep and keep your head for 25 seconds - thats all it takes to save your life.

A. Berk

[(((scuba-jo)))]

interesting read. was actually reading the NDC diving incidents report for 2007, havent made it the whole way through yet, but the main cause of injuries or deaths seems to be lack of training or just pure disregard for safety. i cant agree more that no-one, no matter how experienced, can have enough training. scuba is indeed a dangerous sport but can in my experience be one of the most enjoyable and rewarding experiences if treated with the respect it deserves. safe diving to all of you.

[Mark Chase]

In truth there are two sorts of people. Those that panic and those that fight.

Good training will make a fighter survive most things. Good training is not enough for someone who panics. Sooner or later they will loose it freak/freeze and get hurt.

ATB

Mark

[LiamS]

If you dive often enough and long enough sooner or later you will be 'tested'. The test is simple, you are hit with an overpowering urge to rip off your mask and reg to take a big lungfull of air - while underwater. Those of us posting on here have either passed it are haven't had it yet!

Berko

i had this test on my 4th OW dive

[tootricky]

Oooh, twice in one thread

[nigelH]

Oooh, twice in one thread

It may be four years old but the list of deaths is salutary. The more diver's look at them and say "but I wouldn't be that stupid" and fix their kit and practises to prove it the more chance they have of still being here at the end of the year.

We all need to know how easy it is to start to slide into the incident pit. Being a super techie doesn't help, more technology just provides more exciting ways to kill yourself. eg: ADV freeflow on a borrowed rig last weekend flooding me with 11% O2 in two meters of water. That would have been a Darwin in anybody's book.

[RogerViking]

i have just returned from a club trip up in northan ireland where a member who shall remain namless wanted to dive he brought two sets of gear and twins which he wanted to try out on a 30m dive . his single setup bc was in a terable state salt scale every where ..he is a exp diver but has been very busy with his job the last few months so hasnt dived . he was given a bolloxing by the DO myself and another instructor all of whom are friends with this person he knew how cheeky and stupid he was. after 3 people helped him sort out his kit and was told to go dive the shallow dives for the first three dives before he would be let on to the deeper stuff. starting the year off a club weekend is not how to do it, i still think sea fitness and shallow diving should be started in the cold months to allow for getting back into the swing of things before the main season kicks off. swiming/diving in the pool will NOT make you sea fit.

[David Tombs]

I have to agree with Mark about people who panic. Panic is an extreem state where the chances of survival are slight. Certainly I do not think that a ''panic prone'' person should dive.

[gingerstu]

Frequently, when divers set out to do a brief task, they treat their gear cavalierly. This 65-year-old diver jumped in to retrieve a ladder he had lost in 20 feet of water. He didn't connect his power inflator to his BC and inadvertently put his weight belt over his regulator hose. He apparently discovered the problem in the water, but a strong current swept him away from his boat, he sank, and he drowned..

That is definately a bad day! Buddy check anyone?

[Dr T]

yep good post...nice one

ash