Thanks for sharing that, I'm sure that they must thank their lucky starts you were there, if not then they haven't learned anything. Kudos to you.
The dangers of a solo deep air dive with others...
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Over the years, I've had a number of near misses while diving. Most of these have been equipment or operator related. Although at other times it has been my poor judgement as a result of inexperience. Sometimes s*** just happens that you have very little control of. This was one of those times...
It was 1984. I was in Bonaire for 10 days with a group of relatively experienced divers. The Head Instructor at Captain Don's Habitat and I had become fast friends and he had a day off and invited me to come on a dive with him and his friend (a professional marine biologist from the research station) the following day. The wreck was the Windjammer (The Mari Bahn) which is in 200' of water. No mixed gas was available, so the dive would be on air.
As a past Navy Diver, I had several dives on air past 200', was able to manage narcosis and wasn't worried about my performance or the dive plan.
Two instructors from New York also wanted to do the dive at the last minute and although I was leary of their competence, it wasn't my call. It was agreed that each diver would dive solo and at that depth would not depend upon others to assist them. Six divers from my group would act as safety divers, stages were set and lots of decompression gas was available.
We went to the bottom and split-up. I entered the wreck (which didn't provide a hazard as the wreck is open on one side) and swam through it, then crossed over and down to the bow anchor. I checked my depth at 225' and started a lateral ascent. I noticed two divers relatively close together and identified them as the instructors from New York. They were about 50' from the ascent line at a depth of about 190'.
As I approached the first diver, he gave me the sign "Give me Air."
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This is not what I was expecting... I immediately gave him my octopus. The closest diver to him was unresponsive, although he looked at me, he didn't respond when I tried to wave him over; he was obviously narced.
Before I started the ascent, I wanted to get to the narced diver and tried to move my "air receiver" to be in a position to assist. He froze, but I was able to move him with some difficulty. During this time, the diver experiencing narcosis started to panic and he quickly went OOA.
In my mind, I felt that my only option was to donate my back-air to the two OOA divers and do a free-ascent over to and up the line to the first group of safety divers who were to be at 130 feet. Failing that, I knew the first stage bottles were at 30'. I knew that the two OOA divers would quickly run out of air, but I couldn't do more than that. I could not share air with two divers, one frozen, the other narced. They would be on their own. Hopefully it might give them enough time for assistance to arrive. I started to remove my B.C. ...
I just got my equipment off when help arrived. I was given air and retrieved my kit. Needless to say, I was extremely pleased.
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The two OOA divers were escorted to the first decompression stop. I couldn't even look at them I was so ticked-off. When we surfaced, I was spitting nickels. They shouldn't have been on that dive. Two instructors who should have known better.
When I sat down quietly and started to think about it, I started to shake from nerves. The dive plan was solid and the safety divers did their job.
So what did I learn? ...That regardless of what's said (Solo divers diving at their own risk), that when it comes down to it, I just couldn't only look after myself. I had to help. It could have got me killed.
Although I felt the dive was safe for me to do, even though I wasn't diving in a team, I have a team mentality. I've done deeper dives with people who I don't know, but I talk to them about their experience and feel comfortable with them before diving. I'll never again leave it up to a Head Instructor at a dive resort to do this for me.
I often wonder if those two instructors realized how close to death they came? I wonder if the experience benefited them and/or their students?
You can do everything right, have all the right safety precautions, all the right equipment and although you do nothing wrong, you can bear the brunt of an accident.
Let the flamming begin. :wink:
It was 1984. I was in Bonaire for 10 days with a group of relatively experienced divers. The Head Instructor at Captain Don's Habitat and I had become fast friends and he had a day off and invited me to come on a dive with him and his friend (a professional marine biologist from the research station) the following day. The wreck was the Windjammer (The Mari Bahn) which is in 200' of water. No mixed gas was available, so the dive would be on air.
As a past Navy Diver, I had several dives on air past 200', was able to manage narcosis and wasn't worried about my performance or the dive plan.
Two instructors from New York also wanted to do the dive at the last minute and although I was leary of their competence, it wasn't my call. It was agreed that each diver would dive solo and at that depth would not depend upon others to assist them. Six divers from my group would act as safety divers, stages were set and lots of decompression gas was available.
We went to the bottom and split-up. I entered the wreck (which didn't provide a hazard as the wreck is open on one side) and swam through it, then crossed over and down to the bow anchor. I checked my depth at 225' and started a lateral ascent. I noticed two divers relatively close together and identified them as the instructors from New York. They were about 50' from the ascent line at a depth of about 190'.
As I approached the first diver, he gave me the sign "Give me Air."
Before I started the ascent, I wanted to get to the narced diver and tried to move my "air receiver" to be in a position to assist. He froze, but I was able to move him with some difficulty. During this time, the diver experiencing narcosis started to panic and he quickly went OOA.
In my mind, I felt that my only option was to donate my back-air to the two OOA divers and do a free-ascent over to and up the line to the first group of safety divers who were to be at 130 feet. Failing that, I knew the first stage bottles were at 30'. I knew that the two OOA divers would quickly run out of air, but I couldn't do more than that. I could not share air with two divers, one frozen, the other narced. They would be on their own. Hopefully it might give them enough time for assistance to arrive. I started to remove my B.C. ...
I just got my equipment off when help arrived. I was given air and retrieved my kit. Needless to say, I was extremely pleased.
The two OOA divers were escorted to the first decompression stop. I couldn't even look at them I was so ticked-off. When we surfaced, I was spitting nickels. They shouldn't have been on that dive. Two instructors who should have known better.
When I sat down quietly and started to think about it, I started to shake from nerves. The dive plan was solid and the safety divers did their job.
So what did I learn? ...That regardless of what's said (Solo divers diving at their own risk), that when it comes down to it, I just couldn't only look after myself. I had to help. It could have got me killed.
Although I felt the dive was safe for me to do, even though I wasn't diving in a team, I have a team mentality. I've done deeper dives with people who I don't know, but I talk to them about their experience and feel comfortable with them before diving. I'll never again leave it up to a Head Instructor at a dive resort to do this for me.
I often wonder if those two instructors realized how close to death they came? I wonder if the experience benefited them and/or their students?
You can do everything right, have all the right safety precautions, all the right equipment and although you do nothing wrong, you can bear the brunt of an accident.
Let the flamming begin. :wink:
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A scary story!
When I started learning to dive in 1998 I remember stories of people in our club diving 80m on air (be them somewhat maverick). Then it changed to 66m max ox tox etc and now people get into a tizz if you are diving deeper than 40m on air - Oh how things have changed.
I was taught by one of these 'terrible' deep air divers - practising many skills such as kit off at depth and swim around and back on a breath - put kit back on = sounds like you had the confidence to do that, when many others would not.
The two guys were lucky - so very lucky - and so were you. Help came. At least there were safety divers and extra gas.
This story brings a brilliant point - what would you do if solo diving and then you came across diver(s) with serious problems that if you help them - could spell disaster for you. (I ws always taught that 60m+ diving is solo anyway due to gas limitations) I truly hope I never have to face that one as I would probably HAVE to help.
I guess the instructors wouldn't remember the incident due to narcosis, unless you reminded them
thanks for posting - thought provoking
When I started learning to dive in 1998 I remember stories of people in our club diving 80m on air (be them somewhat maverick). Then it changed to 66m max ox tox etc and now people get into a tizz if you are diving deeper than 40m on air - Oh how things have changed.
I was taught by one of these 'terrible' deep air divers - practising many skills such as kit off at depth and swim around and back on a breath - put kit back on = sounds like you had the confidence to do that, when many others would not.
The two guys were lucky - so very lucky - and so were you. Help came. At least there were safety divers and extra gas.
This story brings a brilliant point - what would you do if solo diving and then you came across diver(s) with serious problems that if you help them - could spell disaster for you. (I ws always taught that 60m+ diving is solo anyway due to gas limitations) I truly hope I never have to face that one as I would probably HAVE to help.
I guess the instructors wouldn't remember the incident due to narcosis, unless you reminded them
thanks for posting - thought provoking
Thanks for sharing this.
Whilst acutely aware that this took place 26 years ago - a decade before I started diving - and that times and attitudes have changed hugely since then, I can't help feeling that this reads like the back page of one of our UK diving magazines: "It happened to me..." or the like, where more often as not, at least some of the major issues go unnoticed on by the writer. That said:
From the perspective of 26 years later, none of a "solid dive plan", "doing everything right" and "doing nothing wrong" would include air at 200' nor, IMNSHO, solo diving. Nonetheless, I applaud your instinctive desire to assist, the plan notwithstanding. In the circumstances, however, given the degree of risk it exposed you to (ditching all your breathable gas at 200'), might this decision not be an indication of your impaired judgement?
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Well...you did ask!
Iain
Whilst acutely aware that this took place 26 years ago - a decade before I started diving - and that times and attitudes have changed hugely since then, I can't help feeling that this reads like the back page of one of our UK diving magazines: "It happened to me..." or the like, where more often as not, at least some of the major issues go unnoticed on by the writer. That said:
From the perspective of 26 years later, none of a "solid dive plan", "doing everything right" and "doing nothing wrong" would include air at 200' nor, IMNSHO, solo diving. Nonetheless, I applaud your instinctive desire to assist, the plan notwithstanding. In the circumstances, however, given the degree of risk it exposed you to (ditching all your breathable gas at 200'), might this decision not be an indication of your impaired judgement?
Should have known better than to do what? Do the same dive that you did?
Well...you did ask!
Iain
26 years ago, you couldn't get hold of mix. Deep air diving was perfectly acceptable (and there are still some who do it today). Its just that now, as He is so accessible, there is just no need to do deep air.Thanks for sharing this.
Whilst acutely aware that this took place 26 years ago - a decade before I started diving - and that times and attitudes have changed hugely since then, I can't help feeling that this reads like the back page of one of our UK diving magazines: "It happened to me..." or the like, where more often as not, at least some of the major issues go unnoticed on by the writer. That said:
From the perspective of 26 years later, none of a "solid dive plan", "doing everything right" and "doing nothing wrong" would include air at 200' nor, IMNSHO, solo diving. Nonetheless, I applaud your instinctive desire to assist, the plan notwithstanding. In the circumstances, however, given the degree of risk it exposed you to (ditching all your breathable gas at 200'), might this decision not be an indication of your impaired judgement?
Should have known better than to do what? Do the same dive that you did?
![]()
Well...you did ask!
Iain
People were trained in diving air and trained to deal with narcosis, plus there is a certain amount you can train to dive air deeper than commonly accepted. I know the Navy used to have high o2 exposure tables etc. Like I say - today there is not really any excuse for the additional risk, but back then I don't see an issue with it.
But, numpties thinking they can deal with it without training for it - clearly can be a nightmare.
I decided that I'm even if I'm not responsible for my buddy or anyone else, I still have the capability to donate gas to someone if I had to.
Thanks DCBC for that post. Most of my dives are solos at 25-30M and i also have had to help out other divers who i dont know he got seperated from his buddy at 25m and panicked a bit and guzzled his air. When i found him he was frantic waving his arms about whilst fining at full pelt towards me signaling OOA. Donated my main air and intergrated consoul to relax him whilst i breathed of my 1.5L pony. and took him to safty stop then surface. Altho it went well since then i now have a bigger pony.
Your post makes me think... Do i go to twins and a pony? or say sod it It is my dive and thats why I dive solo and look after number one.
.Your post makes me think... Do i go to twins and a pony? or say sod it It is my dive and thats why I dive solo and look after number one.
If you are asking the question then you already know the answer my friend.Thanks DCBC for that post. Most of my dives are solos at 25-30M and i also have had to help out other divers who i dont know he got seperated from his buddy at 25m and panicked a bit and guzzled his air. When i found him he was frantic waving his arms about whilst fining at full pelt towards me signaling OOA. Donated my main air and intergrated consoul to relax him whilst i breathed of my 1.5L pony. and took him to safty stop then surface. Altho it went well since then i now have a bigger pony
Your post makes me think... Do i go to twins and a pony? or say sod it It is my dive and thats why I dive solo and look after number one.
if it was UK I would ask if you missed an M off the end
I have noted on a few occasions at 35m that my buddy's behaviour is markedly different: swimming off and not checking around for me very often, unaware of surroundings etc. Narcs seem to be more visibility orientated than depth in my experience (or combination of both) When I see this kind of behaviour change I put the camera away and concentrate on the dive.
Back to OP and the point about was your judgement impaired: undoubtedly yes- but by human compassion or narcosis? I could not judge you for giving your backgas away although doubt I would do that TBH. Maybe narcosis gave you the false confidence that you could free ascend from 65m to 35m and still be ok... in fact, not maybe; probably. That said, I could not swim past two heavily narc'd divers and fail to help = at 60m or 6m. I often find myself checking others underwater - it's a natural thing if you are a compassionate person.
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