Imported post
<font color='#000080'>I do the vast majority of my "fun" diving with my wife and have done so from day one. We didn't take up diving until the kids had grown up and part of the attraction was that it was something that we could both do and enjoy together. As has already been said there are plenty of other things, that most people do more frequently, that are more dangerous and life threatening. Many of us often drive together, sometimes fly together and numerous other things that put us jointly at risk.
We too have some first hand experience of a diving incident a couple of years ago at the Farnes. My wife experienced difficulty after what we thought to be a successful and comfortable dive on the Somali - 30m nothing overdone, normal ascent with 5m stop, generally a good profile. We had both be diving for a good while with plenty of UK dives under our belts
On surfacing she found it very difficult to breathe, it looked very much like a panic attack and knowing her well I immediately realised that this was something serious and required immediate action. While supporting her as best I could I looked for the nearest boat and fortunately we managed to get her on the deck very quickly. It was obvious that this was nothing to be trifled with and we called the Coast Guard straight away. We headed for shore and were met at the jetty by paramedics and the air ambulance arrived soon after.
After much debate she was flown off to the nearest A&E, it was decided that she did not need to go to the chamber as they were satisfied that this was not a bend. It was later diagnosed, after many tests that it was a flash pulmonary oedema, a very rare and unlikely to be repeated condition from which she has made a full recovery and is diving quite happily again. Throughout the 10 months she was out of the water she was adamant that I continue to dive and that if she didn't get clearance I was to carry on without her. Fortunately she was cleared and we continue to dive together regularly.
This is a very brief account of what happened and it does not really capture the actual emotion of the incident, it was extremely scary at the time for both of us. Although I forced myself to dive the following weekend, to “get back on the horse” it took me some months before I started to get over it. I constantly questioned my actions, whether I did the right thing, could have done more etc., apparently quite a common situation in the emergency service for which they now receive counselling.
My initial feeling was one of relief that I had been there. My Rescue training kicked in and thankfully I did exactly the right things albeit on autopilot. I would not have done anything differently for someone else. However, it was due to the fact that I knew her so well that I recognised the problem very early and took action immediately. I don’t think I would have picked it up so easily in someone I was not so close to. It was the early and decisive action that really stopped this being any worse.
There is no amount of training that could ever prepare you for the real thing. I think that this is really more about what sort of person you are. I have always been someone that would get involved no matter where the incident, car/bike accident in the street, accident at work or diving. You just can’t say until it happens. If you are the sort of person that will get involved you’ll probably do it regardless of who your buddy is.
There are advantages of personal knowledge, medical history normal/abnormal responses. I remember someone on the boat saying she must be bent as her nail beds and lips were blue, highly unlikely as she had put on blue nail polish the day before and her lips are always bluish - this was “normal” for her. I was also on hand to give a complete and accurate medical history to the doctors in A&E.
I have to agree with Lou, the benefits far outweigh the negatives. All you can do in life is be aware of risks and not be reckless.
