Write Up of Near Death in Monterey

[antattack]

A quick look at the SSI web site shows that there are three SSI shops in the bay area and Monterey.

One of them, Wallins, has been out of business for more than a year, so we know it isn't that one.

The other two SSI shops have the same name. So, the name of the shop isn't really a mystery. I've never take a class from the most popular dive shop in Monterey but it seems like a well run shop. I wonder what became of the instructors. I know that with PADI, instructors have to file an incident report if there is an injury during a class. This results in an investigation and follow up actions. I sure hope SSI does the same thing, this needs to be cleaned up so it cannot happen again.

 

[TSandM]

I don't think the person who posted the link is the person who wrote the account -- at least the author's name is Scott, and the OP's username is Jeremy.

Clearly, there was a horrible accident here, and we don't intubate people at random, so the woman in the story really did breathe a lot of water.

Did she do it because the instruction was horrible? Or because her boyfriend would not stay out of the way and let her focus on her class?

We have heard one side of this story, and it's presented in as dramatic a fashion as possible. I suspect there were instructional errors made, some of them serious -- but I also don't think all the problems are on one side of the story. I suspect we had a very experienced boyfriend who may well have been a nuisance from the beginning of the class, may have led his GF to believe her instructors were terrible and shaken her confidence in them.

I base this on having been through something at least a little similar -- I tried to do the mask clearing skill on my OW checkout dives and got a throat full of water. I choked and got terribly frightened and gave my instructor the thumb. She refused my request to surface, and refused it twice. She was RIGHT! I choked through the experience, got the skills done, and learned an incredibly useful lesson, which was that I could work my way through something that made me want to bolt. That probably prevented an accident or injury for me about a year later, when I had to do the same thing on a non-instructional dive.

I don't know what the truth of this story is. We have heard one very well written and very intense side of it. We have not heard the other (and I suspect we won't). Clearly, the student diver went through a horrible experience, and one that may end diving for her. Exactly what the dynamics were that led to this are unclear, and probably always will be.

 

[shake-and-bake]

"One of them, Wallins, has been out of business for more than a year, so we know it isn't that one.

The other two SSI shops have the same name. So, the name of the shop isn't really a mystery."

I hope you're wrong but I doubt it; I came to the same conclusion. But it saddens me, because I was trained (very professionally) by that shop, including OW check-out dives at Breakwater, and know them to be well-regarded in the local diving community. But if they did this terrible thing -- assuming the description of what occurred is accurate -- they must be held accountable.

 

[Rkelleyj]

Clearly, there was a horrible accident here, and we don't intubate people at random, so the woman in the story really did breathe a lot of water.

Yes and yes.

I don't know what the truth of this story is. We have heard one very well written and very intense side of it. We have not heard the other (and I suspect we won't). Clearly, the student diver went through a horrible experience, and one that may end diving for her. Exactly what the dynamics were that led to this are unclear, and probably always will be.

Yes.

Glad it worked out!

 

[SeaHorse81]

deleted duplicate post

 

[Jim Lapenta]

The author of the articel is Scott Cassel. He is somewhat well known and is indeed an experienced diver. And more. I don't know him and until now had not heard of him but I know some of his work. Didn't know it was his but I've seen some of the filmwork. A google search turned up a few things. Whether they add to his credibility or not I leave to each one to decide. I agree with Lynne about the well written dramatic account. I have a question for Lynne that was presented to me and I don't have an answer. Can you please give your professional opinion as a physician on this section:


The second we broke the surface I heard her gurgle and throw-up. She then made the effort to breathe, but all I heard was a horrible and distinct gurgle upon inhaling. Her first breath was used to beg me in a tiny pathetic but heart-wrenching plea “please save me Scott, “please save me, “please save me”. Each syllable was joined by horrible deadly gurgles.

If somebody has inhaled so much water that they’re gurgling, how can they possibly get air through their larynx at all, let alone manage to form intelligible sounds? I wouldn’t think this is possible, but perhaps you know better.

Italics from the article, bold is question that was emailed to me.

Scott Cassel's info:
Scott Cassell - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wi...h-scott-cassell-scuba-diver-attempting-record
The Undersea Voyager Project - The Undersea Voyager Project

And this interesting thread from right here on SB. Seems he may be a factual account person:
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ma...st-giant-squid-found-scott-cassells-blog.html

 

[tech_diver]

Obviously, the conduct of the instructors was outrageous (given an accurate account). Unfortunately, over the years, I have met occasional hate-filled,disfunctional freaks and some of them have been scuba instructors.

What I don't understand is why the writer would go out of the way to mention SSI repeatedly but not name the instructor or the shop? If an agency is responsible for the conduct of its instructors, isn't a dive shop also resposible in some way for the conduct of its instructors?

 

[antattack]

"One of them, Wallins, has been out of business for more than a year, so we know it isn't that one.

The other two SSI shops have the same name. So, the name of the shop isn't really a mystery."

I hope you're wrong but I doubt it; I came to the same conclusion. But it saddens me, because I was trained (very professionally) by that shop, including OW check-out dives at Breakwater, and know them to be well-regarded in the local diving community. But if they did this terrible thing -- assuming the description of what occurred is accurate -- they must be held accountable.

To be fair, they may have quietly taken corrective actions.
The instructors may not be directly affiliated.
The instructors may be from a shop further away.

So, it might not be that very popular dive shop and/or remedial action may have been taken.

It would be nice to know that the system works though.

 

[redacted]

I base this on having been through something at least a little similar -- I tried to do the mask clearing skill on my OW checkout dives and got a throat full of water. I choked and got terribly frightened and gave my instructor the thumb. She refused my request to surface, and refused it twice. She was RIGHT! I choked through the experience, got the skills done, and learned an incredibly useful lesson, which was that I could work my way through something that made me want to bolt. That probably prevented an accident or injury for me about a year later, when I had to do the same thing on a non-instructional dive.

Under what conditions should one diver refuse to allow another diver to thumb a dive?

 

[AaronA]

Wow what a horrible story. I cant imagine living through that ordeal. Thank god she lived. I hope in the end those SSI instructors pay for this.