Was this a terrible idea, or merely a bad idea?

[CuzzA]

I teach that BOYLES stands for Breath Or Your Lungs Explode, STUPID

Fixed it for you, @NetDoc.

 

[CuzzA]

On the topic of Narcosis... Did any of you watch that documentary, "Black Coral"?

I'll preface this by saying I'm not advocating diving like this, but they had a segment on Narcosis and they talked about the dangers, but they also talked about it being somewhat addictive.

I'm paraphrasing, but one of the divers said, "There's no better drug in the world than air at 200 feet." I thought it was interesting to hear that as it seems like most people try their best to avoid narcosis. Their accounts of deep air did peak my curiosity, but I don't know if I have it in me to test it out.

It was also interesting to note they described narcosis at 160-170' as the most dangerous because you're narked, but you may not really know it. However at 200'+ it is actually a little safer because you KNOW you're narked.

 

[CT-Rich]

I haven't read all the comments, but I think one thing that wasn't in the three pages I read were the judgement call of the DM. If they had seen you on your training and in the water and made the determination that you had the basic skill set to make the dive under supervision, then it was their call. Should all divers be given this chance? Probably not. Do all instructors/DMs have the judgement to make the call... Probably not. That is the rub.

You had a good time and no harm befell you, it's all good.

 

[kelemvor]

On the topic of Narcosis... Did any of you watch that documentary, "Black Coral"?

I'll preface this by saying I'm not advocating diving like this, but they had a segment on Narcosis and they talked about the dangers, but they also talked about it being somewhat addictive.

I'm paraphrasing, but one of the divers said, "There's no better drug in the world than air at 200 feet." I thought it was interesting to hear that as it seems like most people try their best to avoid narcosis. Their accounts of deep air did peak my curiosity, but I don't know if I have it in me to test it out.

It was also interesting to note they described narcosis at 160-170' as the most dangerous because you're narked, but you may not really know it. However at 200'+ it is actually a little safer because you KNOW you're narked.

I've seen others post on scubaboard that they did deep dives specifically because they enjoyed the narcosis. Search the board, it's out there.

 

[george_austin]

A 110 fsw dive in crystal clear warm water? - yeah, piece of cake. Now a 110 fsw dive in cold, dark and green water - no

 

[Nation of Heat]

For one, we do not know that he had a computer

Just to clarify, we both did have computers, and had them through the OW cert as well.

 

[Macan]

Just to clarify, we both did have computers, and had them through the OW cert as well.

Hi Nation, just curious, the DM who led your 110 feet dive, was he/she your OW instructor? If not, is he/she an instructor you dove with before?

 

[Nation of Heat]

Hi Nation, just curious, the DM who led your 110 feet dive, was he/she your OW instructor? If not, is he/she an instructor you dove with before?

Yes....

 

[CuzzA]

Sounds like there's nothing to see here. Glad you got to do the dive.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

On the topic of Narcosis... Did any of you watch that documentary, "Black Coral"?

I'll preface this by saying I'm not advocating diving like this, but they had a segment on Narcosis and they talked about the dangers, but they also talked about it being somewhat addictive.

I'm paraphrasing, but one of the divers said, "There's no better drug in the world than air at 200 feet." I thought it was interesting to hear that as it seems like most people try their best to avoid narcosis. Their accounts of deep air did peak my curiosity, but I don't know if I have it in me to test it out.

It was also interesting to note they described narcosis at 160-170' as the most dangerous because you're narked, but you may not really know it. However at 200'+ it is actually a little safer because you KNOW you're narked.

I knew some divers who "chased narcosis" by diving to over 200 feet on air. I lost touch with them after one of them ran out of air at 210 feet (too narced to remember to look at his gauges). He did a very rapid ascent to 60 feet, where he attempted to switch to his deco gas. Unfortunately he was ascending so fast he reached the surface before he managed to make the switch. Luckily he surfaced in front of an oncoming water taxi, and instead of running him over they picked him out of the water and arranged a rapid transport to the local chamber. Unluckily, he was bent so badly he'll never again get to experience narcosis at 200 feet ... or any depth below the surface, for that matter. Last I heard from him he was physically impaired and partially blind. No idea what happened to his friends ... if they're still diving, they're keeping a much lower profile about it than they used to.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)