Death

[Tommy Engfors]

After reading these last posts about some not pushing it and still having a BO, I am beginning to think maybe some are more prone, I mean a lot more prone, to BO than others?

Only real analogy I can think of is those guys on americas funniest home videos. They stand there along with whomever is getting married, and suddenly one of them just topples over... yet, all the others who have been standing still the same amount of time, still stand...

Could there be a similar thing with in water BOs?

[cjorca]

I wouldn' t say the some are more prone or have a predisposition to blackouts. I think is just shows that everyday is different and any psycological or physical difference may affect that days dives.
On a liter note, Its snowing like crazy out here in Vancouver
caio
Cali
Enjoy your New Years, have a safe one.

[cdavis]

Very interesting thread,

What is the pattern? I know from experiance that bo's are pretty rare for some types of divers, obviously not for others. Is there a pattern? Is there some minimum where bo is rare? for example, 10 m and 1 minute bottom time?

cjorca, you have seen far more than I, what do you consider a shallow dive and short bottom time? You bo was on a dive, how deep, how long? What is the miniimum bottom time for a bo that you are aware of?

PaulK, you have seen a lot of bo's in the last few years. any general idea of depth and time, or any other pattern? How about minimum depth or time?

Here is an scary thought. Is it possible that I and lots of other divers have been having sambas that we don't remember? It has been 35 years + since I knew I had one. Maybe I just don't remember them.

Thanks for the input.

Connor

[Paul Kotik]

Bill, I want my words to be read ! Please tell me why nobody will read past the first line. I'm a bit thick sometimes. Is it because they do the math, figure out I'm almost and old guy and dismiss it as the rantings of a senile booby ?

Or, does the first line somehow read (NOT AS INTENDED !!!) as though I approve of solo diving ?


Help ! I'm a writer and need to be understood !


Thanks, Bill.


Paul

[Chris M]

It's obvious reading these posts that there is a huge absence of varifiable data, actual numbers, and stats [vs. "a big chunk of..." or the vast majority of...] relating to the topic. Also the circumstances of these 100s of blackouts need to be looked at. Obviously, after attending a short clinic on "freediving safety" or as a carry-over from the scuba-diving buddy system, a lot of people put implicit faith in the security of the buddy system. This sense of security whether justifiable or false [depending on the actual training and experience with real as opposed to simulated situations of the "buddy"] will naturally lead certain trusting individuals to truly "push" their limits, and the result is a higher number of bo's. OF course, we lack actual data, but the anecdotal even in this thread bears this out. Also, there has been more than one occasion of two experienced buddies, simply vanishing [presumably into the depths way below negative buoyancy] in scuba; I don't know about free diving, it's still relatively new territory. Human error or lack of judgement isn't by any means disqualified by the buddy system. Those of you that have made "hundreds" of saves are among a very small minority. Your proficiency will thus be far greater than someone fresh out of a clinic. ETc. etc. more variables without substance... Don't forget to have fun out there! And stay out from under falling aircraft.

[cdavis]

Chris,

You are right on target regarding the lack of analysis of bo, how it occurs in the field, and the patterns that must be there somewhere. I was hoping that this thread might illuminate some of those patterns, maybe it still will. Unfortunately it is a hot button isssue where people have (understandably) strong opinions, makes it hard to discuss the subject. Anyone who could do a careful analysis of the hows and whys of bo would do the freediving community a real service.

Connor