Trip to Stoney Cove 3rd March 2010 - An interesting day or a comedy of errors.
This was the first dive of the year and it showed, with a result of 2 freeflows and an out of air situation.
The trip was organised to allow 2 members to plan and execute a simulated decompression dive as part of the dive supervisor qualification.
The first dive went as planned until we started the ascent when one of the divers' regulators freeflowed after filling the dsmb. That terminated the dive and we had to share air to the surface.
The second dive went the same way, OK until the ascent when another regulator free flowed and another diver ran out of air and had to borrow some on the way up.
The serious bit.
These incidents were dealt with in a calm and workmanlike way and no one suffered any ill effects. It could have been much more serious had they happened In a less benign setting.
Lessons to learn.
Take your responsibilities to yourself and the divers around you seriously and keep safety high on your list of priorities.
Cold water diving is more demanding on kit and behaviour than nice warm water diving. Ie use EN250 cold water rated regulators.
Kit should be checked and any faults rectified before the dive.
Keep close enough to your buddy so that you can monitor their demeanour and give prompt assistance should the need arise.
When an incident occurs, keep calm and use your skills and knowledge acquired in training to get out of the situation safely.
Training
The above highlights the need for continuous and regular practice in skills related to safety and rescue. To this end the club will shortly be offering a safety and rescue module available to all members primarily as a precursor to the SAA diver rescue course aimed at club diver level.
The divers names have been left out to protect the guilty.