Back to Florida, & a problem.........

[divegyrl]

well I was back out to Florida last week for work, so needed my underwater fix.......

I only dived on Wednesday this week, they had small craft warning with seas that were 3-4m high (always sounds less in metres!) so it was the first day for dive charters to go out since last Saturday (not just the UK that gets blown out then!)

Back out with Narcosis Dive Charters Captain Ray & Sue DM; they knew I liked to dive wrecks so they took us out to Governor's River Walk Reef - In 17-25m of water, just south of the Palm Beach inlet. Sunk in February and March of 2002 and one in early 2004, these 4 wrecks were part of a US Customs Drug bust. All 4 wrecks used to be used for drug running in the Miami River. The wrecks are the Shasha Boekanier, Gilbert Sea and the St. Jacques, then we were to drift onto the Mizpah -She was sunk in 1968 and lies in 30m of water, the Mizpah is a 55m Greek luxury liner with 3 levels to explore and 1m of soft corals covering the ship, from bow to stern.

The idea is to drop us, negative buoyancy and then drift unto the wrecks, so we get dropped, hit 26m and nothing! We headed north for 5 mins then I started feeling not 'right'
I was on 34% less than 1.2 PPO2, but I was getting visual narrowing, nausea, dizziness, tinnitus, a sense of impending doom with anxiety and all made me think 'OH F*CK, O2 toxicity!'
I wasn't going to die on a recreactional dive in Florida, so I let the DM know I was heading back up! I took my time...... 6 mins from 25m and when I hit the surface saw everyone else there too, no-one had found the wreck. I had no symptoms, thought I couldn't have been tox'ed (I checked my own mix) maybe it was just 'jet lag', so I did the remaining 3 dives......

back to do Breakers, Pauls, Flower Garden & Trench reef again, from 17-20m, all the usual suspects, no sharks nor turtles though, the viz was pants between 1 & 7m....... 6 of us got separated from the group (the DM lost all 10 of her charges!) & I ended up being 'mom' again! (must STOP doing that!)

I enjoy my pootles in the warm waters of South Florida, I'm not challenged when I'm there, but that 'OH F*CK I WANT TO BE ON THE BOAT' let me know that I too can be a statistic, and not for anything I was doing wrong....... a sobering moment, but I survived & had the ability to get me back on the boat plus I knew that I HAD to get out of the water............ thanks to Juz who made me the diver I am today......rather be on the boat wishing I was down there than down there wishing I was on the boat!

Yep, I've been to 70m in the warm blue waters of the South China Seas on trimix, yep I got narc'd at 55m on the Andeman on air out of Dover, dived narc'd & in control in many many situations but always got back........ I love to dive, I love what I can do, but the sea is a cruel mistress & will 'bite yer bum' when you least expect it!

Be safe out there peeps!

Blanaid

[Tom Winters]

Well, if it's any comfort, Ray is the closest dive operator to the decompression chamber in West Palm Beach.

[divegyrl]

thanks Tom, I always check........

I'm just hoping it was 'one of those things', I had no problems later & did my first dive after that to 19.7m so 1.02 PPO2 for 45mins, in theory I was still loading my OTU's,

by the end of the day, my PADI EAND RDP's had me at 85% total O2 exposure....... need to check my TDI tables to see it I was being a muppet!

should I have given up after the first dive? was I being selfish getting back in? I got back out after my dives, didn't make anyone have to rescue me........ but.......... I'm still so glad I got out when I did!

Blanaid

[Decodiver]

Originally Posted by divegyrl

should I have given up after the first dive? was I being selfish getting back in? I got back out after my dives, didn't make anyone have to rescue me........ but.......... I'm still so glad I got out when I did!

Blanaid

Hi Divegyrl,

I have had those symptoms twice in 16 years.

First time after 12 years of diving, gave up smoking.

2nd time recently gave up the dive, bailed out OC at 60 metres.

Next day went diving felt fine. Dehydration can sometimes be to blame.

Were you wrong to do a second dive? I on both occasions erred on the side of caution, got back in the next day and was fine.

You were dead-on to call the dive when you did though.

Cheers

Dave Cooper

[divegyrl]

Originally Posted by Decodiver

Dehydration can sometimes be to blame.

You were dead-on to call the dive when you did though.

Thanks Dave,
I drank lots the night before & loads on the day (don't you just love wetsuits!) Narcosis has cold drinking water on tap so I'm always drinking when on his boat.
I think I was right to call it too, glad I had the presence of mind to do it when I did!

Blanaid