Ladies and Gentlemen;
One part of the ScubaBoard mission is to provide sound and safe counsel to not only new divers, but also to experienced ones.
The author of this thread, in my opinion, generated this thread with good intention and in the best interest of new divers.
The ability to manage one's gas consmption and be aware of that consumption is of paramount importance in our hobby; the failure to learn or to understand gas management can lead to a disastrous end.
The author seeks only to give good advice to new divers to broaden their knowledge about their ability to understand this vital concept.
This thread is being reopened because of it's critical aspect in scuba diving.
I encourage you to enter into the discussion of gas management and how you feel it should be taught and at what stage in a diver's education it should be taught.
I also encourage you to discuss this in a civil and intelligent manner. There is no room here for personal argument or bickering.
Thank you.
The Kraken
I agree with all of the above, based upon my cursory knowlege of the subject of diving in general.
Whilst that is minimal, I *DO* have direct, personal and professional experience with hypoxia.
While that doesn't go into the subject at hand directly, it DOES go into what the experience that generated the topic drives to.
I won't go into gas management or not, or flatulence management either.
I *WILL* go into hypoxia et al.
My personal experience is based upon a military one, wearing a chemical protective mask (aka gas mask) in a military environment. My basis for posting this is, experience in hypoxic environments.
I'm QUITE interested in diving and consider it highly on my top ten list of things to do in the next year or so (depends on economy and all).
First experience, ask for a few others if you have a driving, overwhelming need to be bored, is direct.
We were in training, in a military environment where we were tasked to take custody of an area of uncertain lineage. Hence, we had to assume an environment of nuclear, chemical or biological compromise.
We went into said environment equipped with our masks and appropriate attire (chemical suits and full gear).
I had an acute attack of intellectual flatulence (brain fart) and nobody to correct my gear check.
I had a primary blockage on my outlet valve: it was seized. Hence, full recirculation of my outgasses.
Not a good thing, we all can realize.
When the leader, who was 50 meters ahead of me went down, I was called to respond.
I had noted earlier, a bit of condensation on my lenses. No idea why, but continue on. First warning sign that was ignored. Bad idea.
I ran to respond to the situation. Worst idea, considering, with perfect 20/20 hindsight the first point...
I started at the 25 meter point or so, with gray out. It rapidly progressed to thumbnail and arms length vision when I figured out something was wrong. I also had a massive panic attack feeling.
Somehow, two or three working brain cells communicated to the pea we call my brain that it's hypoxia:
Tunnel vision in advanced stages. Panic. Confused thoughts and processes.
I literally tore an M-17 protective mask in half getting air to my starved lungs.
Think a DIVER would do less in an O2 starved environment? Frankly, I suspect one would try to breath water at that point.
Worst part: It was MY fault. Bad equipment check on my part.
Under water is FAR more hostile. Better to be better educated and drilled to exhaustion, than to have a burst of intra-cranial flatulence!
Or at least, pick out a good coffin first!