Basic Technical Diving Skills

[DeepDiverBob]

It seems like in the last 6-12 months, there seems to be a burst of people getting technical rigs, doubles and so forth, and jumping in the local lakes and quarries. This is all fine and dandy, good to get some practice in before taking on a class. I can name 5 people off the top of my head that are new to the tec set up within the last 6 months. And I have been stressing to them the importance of knowing basic tec skills just to safely dive the set up. Alt air source use, and valve shut downs. In my opinion, these are two very valuable skills that HAVE to be done, and understood before hitting the water. I dont care if its 130 foot in Lake Michigan, or on a 10 foot platform in Cerulean. Things go wrong, and you have to know how to deal with it. I found this story, and wanted to post it, just incase there is anybody here that is about to, or new to, the tecnical side of diving.

*******disclaimer..The above is my opinion. I am NOT an instructor of any kind*******

Heres the accident:
In a hurry to be the first person on the wreck, an experienced diver makes a rookie mistake that costs him his life. March 2004
By Michael Ange

Mark splashed into the water, enjoying the cool embrace. It was a welcome change after the sweltering heat of the boat deck, and he was eager to be first on the wreck below. His BC was deflated, and the weight of his double tanks pulled him rapidly downward. He rolled over to a proper swimming position and touched the inflator to slow his descent. Then his regulator quit breathing. Switching to his backup, he got two short breaths before it stopped delivering air, too. Realizing his error, he attempted to reach behind his head for the tank valves as he sank to the ocean's bottom. Unable to reach them, he struggled to loosen the straps of his BC as he continued to drop deeper. The Diver

Mark was an experienced technical diver and a recreational instructor with a significant number of dives at depths well in excess of 100 feet. He was in his late 30s and in excellent physical condition. The Dive

Seas were calm as the charter boat departed for a popular wreck off the North Carolina coast. Even though the dive was only slightly deeper than 100 feet, Mark chose to use his familiar technical gear setup because of the security offered by the added gas supply.

On the two-hour commute to the wreck, Mark and his dive buddy discussed their plan to collect artifacts. When they were 10 minutes from the wreck, Mark rapidly climbed into his wetsuit and began strapping on gear. The crew dropped anchor, but missed the wreck on their first pass. Covered in neoprene and weighted down by his gear, Mark sat in the sun and sweltering heat, longing to enter the water. As soon as the wreck was hooked, he was the first to the entry door. With a quick wave to the mate, he fell backward into the water. The Accident

By design, Mark entered the water with his BC deflated to allow the weight of the gear to pull him into a rapid descent. He and his buddy planned to meet under the boat between 15 and 30 feet to complete a fast gear check. It was a practice they had repeated on a number of previous technical dives.

By the time Mark's buddy entered the water, Mark had already descended well past the pre-arranged check depth. Although visibility was good, the buddy was unable to locate Mark upon reaching the wreck. He searched for a few moments before ascending with the assumption that Mark had surfaced due to some type of equipment problem.In Mark's haste to get into his equipment, he failed to turn on either of his two tank valves--an error that could have been corrected on the surface had he not been in such a hurry, or during the check stop had he not been descending so fast. Mark was unable to get his air turned on in the water, and his body was recovered from the bottom just a few yards down current from the wreck. His BC straps were partially removed and his backup regulator was clenched tightly in his mouth, but the recovering divers noticed that neither regulator was capable of delivering air. Analysis

Although witnesses--including Mark's buddy--were certain they saw Mark check his submersible pressure gauge, it's likely that he was only reading residual pressure left in the breathing system from his initial gear setup at the dock. After pressurizing his system to check for leaks, Mark would have turned the air off for the two-hour boat ride. In his rush to suit up, Mark failed to turn the cylinders back on before entering the water.

The residual pressure in each of the regulators would have allowed Mark a few breaths as he sank to the bottom. However, his attempt to inflate his BC and slow his descent would have robbed him of some of that breathing gas.

A rapid descent is not uncommon for technical divers; however, Mark sank too rapidly to meet up with his buddy for the vital in-water equipment check. This drill, usually conducted at 15 feet or less, is a standard safety procedure for technical divers.

Another issue, which will remain unexplained, is why Mark was unable to reach his tank valves. The ability to turn these valves on and off is a standard skill for technical and recreational divers. It appears as though Mark's inability to perform this basic skill, coupled with his failure to properly check his equipment, cost him his life. Lessons For Life


Basic water skills are not simply training exercises; they're lifesaving functions and should be practiced routinely.
Divers should always perform a complete check of equipment before leaving the boat--even if it was checked at the dock. To ensure proper regulator function, take two or three deep breaths on your second stage while watching your pressure gauge. If the tank is turned off, or if the valve is not opened completely, the indicated pressure will drop.
Speed kills. The ultimate issue leading to this tragedy was Mark's rushed entry in order to seek potential artifacts from the wreck. Always take time to check your equipment, to have a proper plan and to conduct the plan safely. Nothing on the bottom is worth dying for; however, this particular set of circumstances, referred to by experienced wreck divers as "brass fever," has led to numerous fatalities through stupid mistakes.

[reefraff]

The buddy check isn't a skill unique to technical diving - it's taught to every diver from Day One. If it's performed properly (at the surface at the start of every dive) it will prevent the majority of dive accidents and there is NEVER a good reason for omitting it. Buddy checks save lives and would have in this instance.

Technical divers often make a stop on the way down at 20 feet or so to look for bubble trails and to perform the Basic 5. I think it's a fine idea for recreational divers to add this stop but it doesn't replace the buddy check, it's a supplement to it. If everyone combined a buddy check and the Basic 5 with an extended safety stop that includes a full S-Drill and V-Drill, we wouldn't have many accident reports to read.

Doubles are dangerous. Although they give you some measure of redundancy, their primary purpose is to allow you to execute dives that you wouldn't be able to on a single tank, i.e., push the envelope. Using doubles increases your task loading dramatically, makes buoyancy and trim far more difficult to manage and imposes a serious physical burden. Think thrice before you use them.

[DeepDiverBob]

I agree with everything you said. But the added skill that must be learned is the valve shut down. It doesnt appear that he was able to reach his valves, from what was said in the article. This kinf of strikes home with me, because I had the same problem for a long time, until Ed worked with me, and got it straighted out.

[CaptnDale]

I always take three breaths from each regulator while watching my spg and then momentarily operate my inflators after suiting up. I repeat the process just before splashing because I have had helpful but dyslectic dive masters on charter boats close my valves thinking that they were opening them.

I teach this procedure to all my open water students. I also teach them to do a bubble check before descent.

There just is no excuse for jumping into the water with your valves closed. There is also no excuse for not being able to operate your own valves. In all of my technical classes, I have my students do a valve shut-down drill on each dive. This is way too important a skill for it not to be well rehearsed.

[reefraff]

It isn't just technical divers that forget to turn their air on - everyone should practice reaching their valves, even recreational divers.

I've hopped in the water with my air turned off and no air in my BCD. It was a recreational dive (single tank) and we were 30 miles off the coast of North Carolina in heavy seas. Someone had turned my air off (being helpful) on the boat and though I had checked both regs, I was using an air integrated computer that smoothed the tank pressure reading over a period of several seconds so there was no needle to watch. All the reg check did was empty the air from the system just before I made the five foot drop to the water. Snork. I was able to reach my valves but it was a scary few seconds while I hunted for the valve knob. There were several things I could have done to prevent the problem but that's the way these things go...it takes more than one boneheaded mistake to cause a crash.

[skip]

I dive doubles. Some days reaching the valves is more difficult than others.... The bc, wing, harness are always the same, but the old arms have their days.

I've begun practicing removing my gear and thus getting to the valves much more easily (just releasing the waist strap is usually enough). I can completely remove the doubles and bring it around in front of me in less than 20 seconds.

What really matters is clear thinking and there is no better way to learn to think clearly than to practice whatever method or skills you think will help. Some call this motor memory. When the sh** hits the fan, it's nice to be able to just go on automatic. But you gotta do it over and over and over....

Don't waste them "easy" dives! Use them for something helpful!

-skip

[theskull]

Great reminder there, Bob.

That final breathing check before jumping in is a biggie, and ability to reach your valves is a huge plus for rec divers--a necessity for tech divers. As Skip pointed out, one could easily ditch their unit or remove it to turn on the air during an entry as long as they keep their head.

I have even witnessed buddy checks where the buddy said, "yes, your air is on" when it wasn't--a stiff valve can feel all the way open when closed if you don't torque it hard enough. And doubles valves or left-side valves can totally throw off some of the folks who might check your air for you.

Personally, once I've done my breathing and inflation check, if someone reaches to check my valve/s for me I ask them not to. (Well, it really isn't a request, but I do tell them nicely.)

A thorough and thoughtful buddy is an excellent asset, but there is no substitute for taking full responsibility for your own gear and actions. Think like a solo diver--even if you never intend to dive solo.

All y'all dive safe and have fun!

theskull

[Captain Caveman]

Last year me and Steve did a dive on the Mack, the first mate was going around checking gear for the recreational diver buy turning on there air and so forth. When he got to Steves doubles I saw him turn the valves and I asked him what he was doing and he said turning on his air. This is when I stopped him and told him not to touch them. As it turns out he was shutting the Isolator off. ( Steve do you remember this ) . A nother time was in Mexico in a cattle boat that the guy was tunning my air off after I just got MY GEAR set-up. I went threw everything again just to make sure he did not change anything.

[juls64]

Hey, good post. I teach students to breath and monitor their gauge. A self air check. I like the suggest about meeting at the 20 foot mark. I have witnessed a couple of air off scenarios. It has made me cautious almost to the point of being paranoid.

[nauifins73]

the Basic 5

I have thought about how to ask this so I don't sound like a total dummy.....BUT......what is the Basic 5?

I'm hoping this is like a Jeopardy question - I know the answer - it is the question that confuses me. :)

Becky

[do it easy]

I have thought about how to ask this so I don't sound like a total dummy.....BUT......what is the Basic 5?
Basic 5- beer, cable TV, running water, beer, pretzels ;)

A lot of people like to look at their guage while breathing off the reg. I prefer to actually touch my valves and turn them to insure that they are on. I will pump some air in the BC and make sure I can breathe off the backup before I jump in. This is enough to ensure that I don't die immediately. Once I'm in the water, I reach back and manipulate my valves to ensure that they are where I left them. I also check them before I gear up.

In Mexico, the DMs asked us to look at our gauges and breathe from our reg- I would look at the back of my SPG and make sure that the DM saw it. ;)

[SLIM]

So true, I have had a few students that thought that they needed to go and get a set of doubles and learn them before the took a class. Problem is they just go bye what they have heared or read and do not know why it is done that way and learn a bad habit. Then I spend more time teaching them the corect and safe way. Bouancy is Bouancy, your ability to control it is no differant.

With so many that are wanting to spend the big bucks to get into the tecnical realm it just amazez me that so many do not want to spene the money to start off with learning first.

To start with I hear so many that say just move the bands up or down to addjust your trip. If you do that to mine I will be pissed. If you ever rent tanks then you would have to move them. A good instructor will be able to watch and help with adjusitng your gear so that you do not have to move the tank bands. Just litle things like that make a big differnace in one ability to dive doubles.

Yes it is a differant style of diving, many ways to overcome a problem, but first have to be taught how and shown all the ways.

Good topic Bob, I have ran into this many times and think you picked a good one to get out into the public.

SLIM

[ppo2_diver]

I prefer to actually touch my valves and turn them to insure that they are on. I will pump some air in the BC and make sure I can breathe off the backup before I jump in. This is enough to ensure that I don't die immediately.

Did you do this the time you fell into the ice hole on top of me? :)


Basic 5, as I was taught, reg removal/replace, reg recovery/replace, partial mask flood/clear, full mask flood clear, mask removal/replacement. All done while neutral and in good trim of course.

I think the big problem is that people who are eager to "tech" dive haven't done an honest assessment of their diving skills and comfort levels. Many read on the internet how to do valve drills and so forth then just jump in the water. People can take a tech class and learn to dive doubles, but the basic skills must be mastered at the recreational level first. That being buoyancy, trim, and propulsion. Many people allow their excitment get the best of them and can't see the signs that they really aren't ready for more advanced level diving. A good mentor or instructor will help put on the brakes, even if that means not making $$$ for a class. Just my 2 psi.

[MgicTwnger]

Good stuff from everyone, lots of food for thought in this thread.

[reefraff]

I have thought about how to ask this so I don't sound like a total dummy.....BUT......what is the Basic 5?

I'm hoping this is like a Jeopardy question - I know the answer - it is the question that confuses me. :)

Becky
You're no dummy just because you haven't been exposed to the idea. The Basic 5 is a set of skills run by the Dark Hordes and some of their Hog brethren as a single drill. Some of it (light handling, long hose, etc.) doesn't usually apply to rec divers but the RSTC version would go something like this:
Partial mask flood and clear.
Mask removal, replacement and clear.
Regulator recovery and clear.
Primary/alternate regulator exchange.
Stationary alternate air drill.This is a free-swimming drill- start in water too deep to stand up in but stick to the quarry platform until you get good at it. Make sure you have your buoyancy under control and your buddy immediately in front of you before you signal him that you are going to start - his job is to help you watch your depth and to immediately provide assistance, if needed. When you get real good at holding your position in the water column and executing the skills flawlessly, try running the regulator drills between the mask removal and replacement...

[Atlaua]

This is an interesting discussion but I tink it misses the mark a bit.

Bob, you are a conundrum to me. You are the second most conservitave diver I've met, on the one hand, you want to, to quote Gene Rodenberry, "go where no man has gone before".

Putting all of that aside, the big issue here is in the definiton. What is tek divng...

Some say it is any dive with a celing (physical or table). Some say I am tek diver because I use a backplate and wing. You seem to define it as "using doubles".

My defintion is that a tek diver is a diver who "pushes the limits and tackles the unknown".

Are there wannabe tek divers, yep. Do people die pretending to be tek divers, yep. Does going to 140' make you a tek diver, no. Does wearing doubles make you a tek diver, no.

Me, I'm a rec diver. Yes, I've exceeded 130'. Yes I prefer a BP/W setup. Yes I've dove doubles. Yes Ive been in an overhead environemnt. Yes I've done that and exceeded "cavern" standards.

Have I gone into deco...yep. I've even gone into deo on my buddy's computer when I forgot mine (I stayed above my buddy, I know I broke the rules...maybe I am a tek diver ;)).

Rec diving is all about rules:

Don't hold your breath on ascent
Don't exceed 60,100,130 feet
Don't do this
Don't do thatAll good rules. Strapping an extra tank on your back ads some complexity. Going under with a camera adds some complexity. Entering a cave/wreck ads some complexity, etc.

Bottom line is know your gear, dive your gear, and be able to work your gear.

Don't play tek, and pushing rec doesn't count. If you want to go tek...make sure you know what the heck you are doing, if you don't, make sure your friends know you want people to learn from your mistakes so we can discuss it.

James

P.S. My point is push rec if you know what you are doing, play tek if you want and you know what you are doing. Being a real tek diver is another matter entirely...it's a risk/rewards thing and you have to be sure what you are doing or your claim to fame will be being a stastistic.....

[juls64]

Me, I'm a rec diver. Yes, I've exceeded 130'. Yes I've been in an overhead environment. Yes I've done that and exceeded "cavern" standards. Have I gone into deco...yep.

Me Too!

(and I when I push these limits, I understand what I'm doing, why I'm doing it and I have a contingency plan.)


Bottom line is know your gear, dive your gear, and be able to work your gear.

Ditto That!

[theskull]

This is an interesting discussion but I tink it misses the mark a bit. . .

I don't think Bob missed the mark at all. Diving doubles doesn't make you a tech diver, but it is the entry level configuration of tech diving.

Tech diving requires a redundant air supply and the ability to use it properly. Without the correct setup, training, and practice, tech configurations only complicate your diving without adding anything to it.

theskull

[crpntr133]

Wow, for a second there I thought I was going to be thrown into the tech group just because what I dive. I wouldn't consider myself tech at all. Experienced rec, yes.

I have a story to tell on myself and it falls in line with this thread. I just started diving doubles and have several friends that dive them as well. So I have been getting myself and the rig lined out for now. Later I plan on taking a class or two with the doubles and go through all the drills and so forth.

Two weekends ago I made two mistakes. I was diving with a group of single tank divers and I knew that even with a partial fill that I could outlast the rest of the group. Knowing this I didn't pay much attention to my gauge (mistake #1). About half way through the dive I noticed my mask starting to leak with every inhale. Didn't think much about it but this is my weak link. I told myself that I was going to work this out. I glanced down at the SPG and all was well. Well, about three breaths later I noticed that the regulator was getting really hard to breath. So I motioned my buddy for OOA. We buddy breathed and surfaced. I told him what was up and we surface swam to the dock. After going through what it could be I got the bright idea that it just might be the isolator valve. YEP, I forgot to open the valve. Both tank valves were open but not the isolator. So the one time that I looked at my gauge and I thought it had moved, it hadn't.

Luckily this happen at 35' and all ended well.
Yes, I know I should have been able to switch to my octo but with knowing that it most likely wasn't actually OOA I wasn't taking any chances. Point is that I didn't know what to look for. Now I know that if the SPG isn't moving then the isolator valve isn't open.
I can however reach my valves without any troubles. And I know what way to turn them. I still think that is crazy that someone will say that the right post is backwards. You still turn it counter to open.

[Atlaua]

I have a story to tell on myself

I know Bob started this thread with the intent of not pushing tec too fast. But looking at the responses I think the real leson to lean is...(to misuse a PADI acronym) Stop. Think. Ack.

Someone pointed out that it takes a number of failures to turn an incident into an accident. I couldn't agree more. Usually that last failure is panick.

I'll relate a few stories of my own.

Puerto Rico. I put sunscreen on my face on the boat. 10 minutes into the dive, a small mask leak turned that sunscreen into a toxic mix that stung the crap out of my eyes. I was tearing up to the point I couldn't see. It reminded me of being in the fast lane in traffic on my motorcycle when a bug hit my eye (under the face shield) and blinded me. Somehow I made it to the right sholder in that incident an it allowed me to be calm enough to remove my mask, scub my face, and finish the dive with sore, but working eyes.

Puerto Rico (same trip). Started the dive, got down to about 60 feet and bam, the o-ring on the HP port for my SPG blows on the first stage. I stoped, realized I was leaking air, got the DM's attention and through a series of points and thums up told him I was aborting but to go on with the group. He buddied up with my wife and I surfaced with about 1000 psi, turned the tank off and went to the boat.

Puerto Rico (did I mention this was the same trip?). This is my first time using the BP/Wing out of the pool. In the salt water I only need a single 2 pound weight with the 6 pound BP. We head out on a night dive and about half way through I realized I'm bouyant. I dump air and, hmm, my wing is empty. Then I realize I forgot the weght belt. (Problem 1 in the chain). No problem, the OP hangs weight at 15 feet so I can just grab one for the safety stop. The dive seems to go on forever and the DM eventually says surface with the boat nowhere to be found. (Problem 2). Turns out the strobe on the anchor line had failed. I give him a "where's the boat" signal and he give me another surface. Again I ask where the boat is and he asks me to follow him and then points me to the anchor line. Which I followed to the weight.

Mermet Springs. My first time to Mermet and I jumped in the water with another MWD member in doubles and a fairly new diver we had met up with. We're on the back side and I'm near to turning the dive when the newbie does it for me. I see that he has much less air than I do so I figure, cool we'll surface on his air and I'll have plenty left. 20 minutes later I'm starting to get really low and I notice, oops, Mr Doubles has been sharing with newbie. Not wanting to make everyone surface in the middle of nowhere I soon found a line I recognised and followed it to about 10 feet. There I sucked my tank dry (intenionally) on a safety stop.

Table Rock Lake. I'm a DMC working an advanced class. The Big I asks me to go tie off a float in 15 feet of water for our deep dive. Problem is he gives me about 100' of rope. I tie off and try to tuck away the excess as best I can to prevent problems then go to surface. Immediate I realize I'm tangled. This is probably as close to panick as I've ever been underwater...I get the adrenaline rush...I'm alone I'm underwater and I'm tangled. (The near panick is probably a result of a certain cavern instructor doing his best to make me fail by tying me up in all sorts of nasty ways an telling me to get out of it but that's another story.) So after about 5 seconds of near panick, I stop, I think (hmm, I'm only in 15 feet of water, I could ditch the pack and surface with no problem)(hmm, I've got plenty of air, lets make that option two and calmly try to get untangled). It only took a few second to untangle and surface normally, but if I had panicked I could have tied myself up to the point of no return.

I think Bob's post was ment to say "don't push tec" and I'll reiterate that he missed the point. Or rather his story didn't reinforce it well. Mark didn't die because he "pushed tec diving to fast":


Mark was an experienced technical diver and a recreational instructor with a significant number of dives at depths well in excess of 100 feet. He was in his late 30s and in excellent physical condition.


Mark died because he didn't react properly to a bad situation. IMHO, and I'll admit this is speculation, but that's all accident reconstruction is, by 15 feet he knew he was out of air. The report indicates he tried to escape his rig, which was the right action. What isn't known is wether he tried too late or he was too panicked to perform the task.

You can dive 1000 dives and train 1000 different scenarios. You can add 1000 predive checks but you can't stop all mistakes. Yes it's important to try to avoid accidents, but it's also important to avoid exceeding your comfort level. Anyone can panick, but your more likely to do so if you're already aprenhisive. Stay within your comfort zone and you'll be better prepaired to deal with the oops's.

James

[DeepDiverBob]

The point I was making is that some people are pushing tec too soon. I have seen it on more than one occasion, and quite a few of them are people I consider to be good friends, and I dont want to see any posts or news stories of my friends bodys being recovered. The story I posted along with my opinion was to show that someone with a great deal of experience can make mistakes, and things go wrong. How is someone that doesnt know the basic skills going to stand a chance?

I know when I got into my doubles at first, I spent a few nights at the pool with them with Terry. Then when I was ready for the open water with them, I was asking theskull question after question after question. (I guess I still do, dont I.)

The most important point I was trying to get at, without saying it, is this thing called life, we only get once shot at it. Do we want to risk not seeng our wives, kids, and other family members again, just because we wanted to stay at 100 foot at Mermet for 30 minutes? Take the time and learn the basics. Like anything else in diving, it can be very safe and enjoyable, if done properly.

[skip]

Basic 5- beer, cable TV, running water, beer, pretzels ;)

A lot of people like to look at their guage while breathing off the reg. I prefer to actually touch my valves and turn them to insure that they are on. I will pump some air in the BC and make sure I can breathe off the backup before I jump in. This is enough to ensure that I don't die immediately. Once I'm in the water, I reach back and manipulate my valves to ensure that they are where I left them. I also check them before I gear up.

In Mexico, the DMs asked us to look at our gauges and breathe from our reg- I would look at the back of my SPG and make sure that the DM saw it. ;)


I was taught that taking 3 breaths off the reg while looking at the pressure gauge would not only tell you if the tank was on, but if it was partially closed. If the needle valve moves while you breath off the reg, you got a problem and you can now fix it before getting into the water. Being able to reach your valves is critical, but refusing to check your gauge too is a bit asinine. And don't tell me no one has gotten confused and turned their own air off.... go ahead and check your valves yourself, but don't refuse to engage in a safety check that is so simple.

-skip

[crpntr133]

My story could have been a lot worse if I had pushed into tec. I was limiting my depth until I felt comfortable. Now that I can reach all valves I might go deeper but nothing over 60-70'. I have been to 65 but it was with an instructor that dives doubles. We were trying to get me use to buoyancy in doubles by doing swim throughs.

Since we are focusing on training and not pushing your limits till you are trained. What class would those that are tech trained recommend? I am thinking of something with doubles and maybe a bit of deco.

[DeepDiverBob]

My story could have been a lot worse if I had pushed into tec. I was limiting my depth until I felt comfortable. Now that I can reach all valves I might go deeper but nothing over 60-70'. I have been to 65 but it was with an instructor that dives doubles. We were trying to get me use to buoyancy in doubles by doing swim throughs.

Since we are focusing on training and not pushing your limits till you are trained. What class would those that are tech trained recommend? I am thinking of something with doubles and maybe a bit of deco.

Depends what agency you want to go with. In the St.Louis area, the DSAT Tec Deep class is very popular. That is the one I just completed.

[crpntr133]

Don't care about agency. I am switching from PADI to NAUI already.

[skip]

NAUI has a tec diver class (intro to tec) to introduce recreational divers to technical diving; it's a prerequisite for the more advanced courses (adv nitrox, decompression, etc.). Use of doubles, long hoses, etc., are covered and permitted but not required - depends on student/instructor desire. PADI has one I'm sure, and then there's TDI, IANTD, and other's I'm sure. But if you are switching to NAUI anyway....

-skip

[CaptnDale]

Don't care about agency. I am switching from PADI to NAUI already.
Very few in the tech diving community care about agencies. Even certification levels take a second place to who your instructor is (or was) and how you handle yourself in the water. It does not take long for another diver to size you up and decide if you are someone they want to dive with.

[do it easy]

And don't tell me no one has gotten confused and turned their own air off.... go ahead and check your valves yourself, but don't refuse to engage in a safety check that is so simple.

Just to be clear, I was ribbing the DM. I did it when she wasn't looking and then did it backwards when she was. If she hadn't asked, I would have simple done my own drill of physically turning the valve.

I agree it is a simple check for a single tank. With doubles, it won't work as intended. It wouldn't have helped crpntr133 with his isolator.

[Scuba Pete]

Tech diving definately intrigues me. I can see myself going down this road in another year or so. I'm in no hurry to do it though, the caves aren't going away and new stuff is sinking in the deep dark waters all the time. In the mean time, I try to read up on any subject I can find info on. Like right now, I'm trying to tackle some heavy documents on decompression theory. Not that I'm planning on doing deco dives right now, but since every dive is really a deco dive I like to know what's happening to my body.

I try to practice some basic skills on my dives, although one of my dive buddies isn't really too keen on practicing. He's safe in the water, but just doesn't see the merit in working on various skills while diving. I'm working on that though, so hopefully he'll see the light.

I guess what it really comes down to is that I need to find someone that'd be willing to give me a little mentoring here and there as I progress with my diving. I think I'm cautious enough to keep myself from getting into a bad situation, but it never hurts to have someone more knowledgeable give you a sanity check every now and then.

[DeepDiverBob]

I guess what it really comes down to is that I need to find someone that'd be willing to give me a little mentoring here and there as I progress with my diving.

I know there are a bunch of us willing to help out in this area. If my plans for Penny Royal fall through for this weekend, I will be more than happy to go to Mermet with you, and do some basic stuff. To celebrate the occasion, I might even bring my single tank stuff, to keep it simple.

[theskull]

. . . I try to practice some basic skills on my dives, although one of my dive buddies isn't really too keen on practicing. . . .

Single tank or doubles, tech or rec, the better prepared you are for the problems that will occur the safer you will be. As has already been mentioned in this discussion, it is rarely the first problem that injures a diver--it is the additional problems that occur while trying to solve the first problem and even more so the panic that can occur that take reason and procedure out of the picture.

So the more practiced your responses are to an out-of-air, buoyant buddy, or lost mask are, the better are your chances of solving the problems without creating additional ones. And the most basic skills of buoyancy control, buddy awareness, situational awareness, and familiarity with your gear are just as crucial. There are many ways to practice your skills during a dive without turning it into a training exercise that your buddy may not find "fun".

Keep up the great attitude and become a great diver,

theskull

[Scuba Pete]

I'd like to think that i'm familiar with my gear. Other than my computer, I'm still using the same gear that I had last summer.

Do any of you know someone that has the strangest things happen to them. Not because they're a bumbling idiot, or they have two left feet, it's just because strange things just happen around them. Well, if you haven't, then you will when you finally meet me. I've either broken or sprained every appendage on my body, plus many parts that don't move. I'm the only person I know (besides my little brother) that's managed to knock themselves out running down a flight of stairs. My brother has me beat only because he did it on the eiffel tower and had to get around 20 stitches....I only had a headache, memory loss and a nice sized lump.

Because of this, I try to think of everything that could happen to me during a dive (some people, /cough bob /cough, think that I worry too much). Then I try to think of how I would get out of it if it happened. I've learned it's best not to discuss everything that crosses my mind, like having the valve break off mid dive and launching you backwards away from your dive buddy at an astonishing speed. But by the time I finally get around to getting in the water, I'm calm because I've gone through them in my mind and discussed what I would do if one of the more likely events (reg failure, lost mask, ruptured bc, etc) were to happen.

I've been playing in the water for my entire life, whether it's swimming in a pool, lifeguard in a water park, body surfing in the ocean, snorkling in the BVI's and now scuba, so I'm comfortable moving around in the water. Getting a little water in the face because my mask has been kicked off won't freak me out. It happened in my first dive of my open water class. I haven't experienced a true free flow or reg failure yet, and I hope it'll never happen, but I think that I would be able to act without panicking (sp?). Same with an OOA situation, but I watch my gas like a hawk, as well as my buddies gas.

[DeepDiverBob]

Do any of you know someone that has the strangest things happen to them. Not because they're a bumbling idiot, or they have two left feet, it's just because strange things just happen around them. Well, if you haven't, then you will when you finally meet me.

Just the person I want to go to 160 foot on air with...lol

[Scuba Pete]

Just the person I want to go to 160 foot on air with...lol
I don't think I've ever been narked yet. On my deep dive for AOW, we only got down to around 85-90 fsw, and I actually completed the little puzzle quicker than I did on the land. So I'm either the guy from WKRP in Cincinatti or we weren't deep enough to get me narked on that dive.

[crpntr133]

post deleted

[CaptnDale]

I don't think I've ever been narked yet. On my deep dive for AOW, we only got down to around 85-90 fsw, and I actually completed the little puzzle quicker than I did on the land. So I'm either the guy from WKRP in Cincinatti or we weren't deep enough to get me narked on that dive.

Unfortunately, that is the nature of narcosis. Everyone is impaired. Not everyone knows it. It tends to be obvious to their diving partners when they do stupid things and don't realize it, and to the individual diver when task loaded. While concentrating on a single task, especially one that has just been practiced, it is usually not apparent.

[crpntr133]

Unfortunately, that is the nature of narcosis. Everyone is impaired. Not everyone knows it. It tends to be obvious to their diving partners when they do stupid things and don't realize it, and to the individual diver when task loaded. While concentrating on a single task, especially one that has just been practiced, it is usually not apparent.

Unless you are looking at your PG for several seconds trying to figure out what your pressure is. :D I know someone that did this and then said he wasn't narced.

[CaptnDale]

Unless you are looking at your PG for several seconds trying to figure out what your pressure is. :D I know someone that did this and then said he wasn't narced.

Exactly, you stare at it until you think you know what the gauge is telling you and then, as soon as you look away, you can't remember what your pressure was. This has happened to me in the 185 foot range on air - but of course, "I wasn't narked." I don't do those those dives on air anymore.