Lessons learned in the Bahamas - An intimate account of our most dangerous enemy.

[ivan]

hi

Thank you so much for this story guys it is such a good warning for me. The way you guys were diving ie drifting and doing dives one at a time is the exact same method that my buddy and myself do back home most of the time. We have never had a blackout but I know it can happen any time.

Connor I have a question for you, were you able to see Ted at 120ft from the surface ?. This is my main concern for where I dive because when I or my buddy goes down they/I usually disappear after 15-20m and whilst the boats drifting they are gone, and you don't see them until they come up because you have normally drifted to far, or the vis doesnt allow.

Another important factor is the use of a depth line. When my buddy and I go for a pb we dont use a depth line its just a go for the bottom mission. I think from now on it is important to use a depth line and try and stick to it, this should at least allow us to know where each other are when surfacing.

Thank you again for the wake up call.

cheers

[unirdna]

Naw, I don't mind if we make this into a story - might need to clean my account up a bit though - my tenses jump around a little . I'd think there must be dozens of such accounts already published.....maybe not.

Thanks for all the thanks and 'welcome-backs' folks. I've been doing a lot of reading as to the cause of my incident since posting this story, and I keep bumping into the same thing I suspected and Eric confirmed - Surface interval was way too short. Especially, since we were NOT shallow-diving.

Dive safely, everyone.

(and lob Connor some karma - he's earned it )

Ted

[icarus pacific]

Udaman, Tedski.

[ramstam]

I'm stoked on the picture posted with the story, my new wallpaper for a couple days.

[cdavis]

Ivan,

Vis must of been about 130 ft. I could see Ted's fins and hands. If he had been over sand, he would have been easy to see. In a funny sort of way, being able to see him induces a false sense of complacency which I definately fell victim to.


Diving down a line is new to me, only started last year after discovering on DB how other people used one. When going for depth or sightseeing deep, I like it a lot, makes it easier to orient and streamline going down and provides some safety coming up. If something goes wrong pulling up the line is a lot easier (but not faster) than swimming. Also helps your buddy keep up with you.

Thanks for the good words and karma

Connor

[Erik]

Great story dudes. BO is humbling. Some aren't so comfortable talking about near-death experiences, so it's good to hear your end of it. I'm glad you're still around Ted.
The "void" is WAY too comfortable of a place to taunt fate.
Cheers,
Erik Y.

[naiad]

Ted, Connor and Frank, I gave you all some karma - you deserve it!

Lucia

[cdavis]

Some further thoughts:

Surface interval was clearly a big factor, but it wasn't the only one. This seems like a classic example of a lot of mostly little things going wrong and together creating a serious situation. We were pushing too hard to dive while the wall was in sight, which wasn't long. Our surface intervals were too short, Frank's leaving the water and my spearo background contributed to that. Ted lost track of time in the fasination of a new and beautiful place ( it is really spectacular) and possibly a little bit of unexpected narcosis. I got complacent, lost track of his dive time and did not try to call him back at a minute plus or so. I wasn't ready or alert when he cleared the surface. I hadn't fully practiced ALL safety procedures prior to the days diving(or drilled the other guys). Both of the latter led to poor and slow technique, which could have been serious. It came out ok, the main thing was I was in his face when he bo'ed.

I haven't dove with a watch in years and don't want to, but this kind of diving may demand one. Might as well get a D3. It sure would have been a good safty tool in ths situation.

Thanks all and good diving.

Connor

[harpune1]

scary, i hope you payed the dinner for your friends too

anyway have some karma

[Jon]

Big round of Karma to Conner for saving my little buddy's @$$!


It's hard enough to find good freediving buddies around here I can't afford to loose any that I already have- especially ones as nice as Tedski.


Jon

[flyboy748]

Great story guys. Safety and rescue procedures are rarely needed, but when they are it's nice if they're practiced up!

I think I'm gonna try to get everyone to run through rescue procedures on our next dive.

Aaron

[dallasdiver]

Ivan
This device that Allun posted a picture of on the post "Have you ever been entangled/stuck?" is great for low vis situations and to keep track of your buddy. I made a replica of it for about $25.

here is the lanyard i now use...
1m thick strimmer wire crimped onto two steel rings. velcro wrist strap (made for DIY - hanging ladders) with quick release shackle and toggle. the toggle sits in the palm of the hand or between thumb and forefinger. you can release it with one hand without even looking. this set-up has worked very well for us....

Alun has attached this image:

[dallasdiver]

Sorry, I don't know how to get image to attach.