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Advice from Near Accident Victim During Training
Dear Editor,
I would like to share an experience with you on an underwater skill my class and I performed a few months ago.
Being handicapped from several lower lumbar surgeries, followed by a cervical laminectomy and diskectomy, creates a few obstacles to deal with for me, but determination is the key to success.
After putting on the tank, BC and regulator in place, I was proud of myself for wearing the gear as I walked down the hill to the sandy beach at Crescent Bay in Laguna Beach.
Without falling from the plunging waves, I managed to enter the surf zone with some coaching from one of our instructors.
The underwater skill we were going to perform this morning is called the Octopus Ascent. We practiced this task in the pool, before doing it in openwater, of course.
After descending to the ocean floor, and getting neutrally buoyant, our instructor gave my buddy the air supply cut-off signal. Quickly I placed the alternate air source regulator in his mouth while he blew bubbles from his lungs. Everything went smooth and easy.
Now, it was time to change roles—and this is when the going got tough. The instructor gave me the cut-off signal. Slowly I exhaled all the air from my lungs. My buddy had his AAS tangled in the breast strap of his BC. In the nick of time, my buddy handed the octopus into my mouth—but it was upside down! Instead of inhaling air, I inhaled water. I thought this was the end of my life for a moment.
My instructor handed me his AAS, but I shook my head. I was not about to try for air with water already in my lungs. So, I made a quick ascent. Not too fast, though. I didn’t want to get a lung over-pressure.
The most important lesson I learned today is to never take the primary regulator out of your mouth, unless the alternate air is ready and waiting. Another thing I learned is that I could’ve used my buddy’s purge valve for air, had I known it was filled with water. And if you really are out of air, there will still be a breath or two while making the ascent from the pressure change in the cylinder.
Last, but not least—always do a good gear and air check on your buddy before you enter the water, and after entering it, too. Your life, and your buddy’s life depend on it!
Sincerely,
A. D. Grumbois
Anaheim, CA
Praises from Dive Club
Dear Dale,
Your California Diving News is of immense importance to all of us, and the June Scuba Show is a “must visit” to all of us who are interested in the latest gear and gadgets.
Al Kholos
Secretary
The Whalers Dive Club
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