Stoney Dive Cockup No.2

[desertrat]

Got to Stoney around 7:00 and didn't make it onto the bottom car park by around 30 cars! Midweek dives there from now on I think. Apologies to Mattbin as I'd offered him room to leave his gear on the bottom car park and never made it there myself.

Anyway we were diving as a three (Steve, Nigel and myself) so we got kitted up and made the walk to the bus stop. The first dive was to be the Staingarth with a swim through the wheelhouse if we were all comfortable (which we were). We had a cracking dive and aside from Nigel having a few ear problems, buoyancy and everything else was perfect. Dive time 32mins max depth 19.2m.

Nige decided to call it a day after his ear problems so after a huge surface interval (2hrs 40mins) due to having to get fills etc. Steve and I went for a second dive down to the blow off preventer and hydrobox. We’ve been getting progressively deeper over our last few dives with a max depth so far of around 23m, so on this dive we'd decided that if we were both comfortable we were going to try two things. Firstly go over the second drop off and go a little deeper (30m max but shallower if either one of us signalled to ascend). Secondly we were going to launch a dsmb just for practise before we surfaced.

The dive went very well up to a point, we got the the blow of preventer and hydrobox and all was well so we dropped over the edge to our agreed max depth of 30m where we looked around for a minute, resisted temptation to follow the rope any further (presumably it goes to the deep hydrobox but I'm not sure). We started a very slow ascent and came up the wall to 8m, there was no ledge here so we decided to launch the blob from a hover. First mistake made! Neither us of had launched one before so doing it while hovering was a bit much, we dropped slightly as Steve launched the blob (it launched fine as it happens) but in the process kicked up a lot of crap from the bottom. I then ended a couple of meters above Steve trying to avoid the reel line in the now very crap viz and also keep an eye on the computer to make sure we did the safety stop. I lost control of my buoyancy at this point and ended up fluctuating between 8m and 3m while trying to hold the safety stop and avoid the line. After seven minutes of faffing around my ears had had enough and I had a splitting headache so we surfaced and swam back to the bus stop.

I felt real crap for two hours after the dive and was slightly concerned that I may be mildly bent after my antics given that I couldn't shake the headache and my legs were going very cold (we hadn't gone anywhere near no deco limits though). I started to drink like a fish as it suddenly dawned on me I'd had very little to drink and was probably dehydrated to boot. It was only when we were driving home I realised that my under suit (which I'd left on to stay warm) was damp which was making me cold so we stopped and I got changed.

I started to warm up after this and the headache started to pass so panic over but some valuable lessons learnt.

1. If your going to try something new do it in 6m sat on the road first!
2. Drink plenty and get a good nights alcohol free sleep the night before diving!(I’d been at a wedding reception, drunk a couple and only had 4.5 hours sleep, which I'm sure didn't help)
3. Stay slightly below and clear of anyone launching a blob!
4. Make sure your dry and warm post dive!

All in all it was a good day with a slightly shaky end, I did spot a guy with a strange looking CCR on his back that turned out to be Digger, he'd bought three support divers with him as well. I did keep my eye out for Mattbin but I don't think I saw you mate (we’ll have to make better arrangements next time). Sorry about the length of this report but I figured if anyone could learn from my mistakes it was worth it.

Constructive criticism gratefully received.

The cockup

P.S. 54 views of my first empty post cause I hit enter by mistake sorry folkes

[MATTBIN]

Report duly posted, slagging off removed
No worries about the bottom park, didnt know what van you were going to be in anyway. Got my lazy backside there at 10 (ish) I think.

Matt

[NeilP]

Launching your DSMB - it'll come with practice.
It's pretty rare that I do a dive without deploying one (if I'm on a shore dive I don't), but I'm always trying out new methods.

Using your exhaust bubbles to inflate instead of an octo or airgun is good practice - takes about 3 breathes.

It's good practice sending one up from mid water though - you never know when you might need to do it!

-NEIL

[D.D.J]

hi, glad you enjoyed your first dive

[MATTBIN]

One of the strengths of YD is that we can all post screws ups and not get roasted, long may that continue.
Definition of a good dive - I got out of the water, no bends and heart still beating, everything else is a plus.

Tongue in cheek mode off, I have a buddy self inflating dsmb - nice bit of kit, prevents a lot of faffing. Dsmb deployment, I practiced mine tied off to the Staney until I was happy I knew how to launch, then pinned to the floor at 6m, then mid-water, if I really have to. To be honest I dive to the max depth of my real so mid-water isnt often required. Too much skill required at the moment for my poor bouyancy control Ascending without visual reference - not my best skill so I usually either lob the blob and reel up slowly or come up a wall.

As you say next time we'll make it a bit more organised and meet up.

Digger's RB - dont look at it, you will turn to Stone.

Matt

[Tim Ingmire]

I used to find that when doing a two person DSMB deployment to have one of you just concentrating on holding your position in the water whilst the other does his tasks - this gives the active person a visual refence.

So:

1. Buddy 1 with the blob and reel gets it out / puts it togther and pulls a little line out (always keeping on eye on your buddy) - Buddy 2 just hovers.
2. Buddy 2 takes the blob pulls it away from Buddy 1 and inflates it. Buddy 1 just hovers.
3. Buddy 2 lets go of blob and both buddies make an ascent.

When you get more practiced you can still use the basic technique but do the whole thing yourselves. ie Buddy1 deploys DSMB keeping an eye on Buddy 2 who is just hovering - Buddy 1 then relaxes and stays put whilst Buddy 2 deploys his at a suitable distance (to prevent tangling of line) and of course keeping one eye on Buddy 1. Both then make the ascent.

And then, you get to have a go all on you own once you really feel confident in your bouyancy.