Curt Bowen
Contributor
MikeFerrara:I wonder what agency standards say about the correct way to get into (and out of) a strong siphon.
Thats the good part, we dont follow agency standards, we make our own and the agencies follow our ideas.
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MikeFerrara:I wonder what agency standards say about the correct way to get into (and out of) a strong siphon.
cdiver2:Curt could you define we for me please
Curt Bowen:The technical divers out there doing the exploring and equipment innovations.
If you did not know, much of the equipment divers use today was designed by cave and wreck divers looking for better and safer ways to explore.
Example SPG''s, BCD's, HID lights, Reels, Scooters, sidemount harnesses the list goes on and on.
MikeFerrara:I have to admit that I haven't been in such a down welling. Aren't they usually along a wall? If they are wouldn't you use the wall? What about your bc and/or swim perpendicular to the current to get out of it?
If none of that works and you're correctly weighted, I wonder how effective droping a few more pounds would be.
How many times have you had to drop weights in a down welling?
MikeFerrara:Hopefully, folks reading this will realize how important it is not to be too heavy and to be practiced in basic skills so they can handle simple problems without dumping weights and blowing for the surface.
Most of the divers that I've seen hurt did it to themself by blasting for the surface becaused of a percieved problem or lack of control while trying to manage a problem.
Uh, it wasn't one of the inflators that's just been recalled was it?!?mania:Inflator didn't work.
My weight belt came off by accident two years ago doing a swimthrough - I'm not completely sure but I think I caught the clasp with my glove while reaching down for my gauges (I normally keep my gauge tucked into my cummer band). My buddy saw me headed for the ceiling and grabbed me - she had no problem helping me out of the overhead (it wasn't a very long way through) - we both just dumped all our excess BCD air and ended up a bit positive together - it was easy enough to swim down a little and keep it level. This was about 25 meters down so I presume my 5mm wetsuit was quite compressed. Once we were clear we headed up - the last bit did go quite a bit quicker though! We weren't that long into the dive (about 10 mins) so there weren't any DCS problems. I treated the last 10 meters as a slowish emergency ascent (there wasn't really much else to do!) I can assure you though that feeling a sudden loosening around the waist and seeing your belt fall away beneath you isn't too good. I DO use a crotch strap and now put it on over the belt - just in case. If I did really need to dump it the strap has a single fastener at the front - no problem.cdiver2:In over 30 years of diving I have never had or seen a weight belt come of accidentally.
ArcticDiver:I've been in two downwellings, both on walls. In both cases I was properly weighted. The first time I was able to navigate away from the wall and escape the downwelling.
By these comments you make insulting assertions. First, that I overweighted for normal diving. That was not the case with me. Proper weighting is for a normal dive; not for an emergency created by a substantial down force. Second, you certainly imply that I was deficient in my basic skills. You have never seen me dive. You say you have never been in this situation. So, there is no basis for your comments. When you've been there you are entitled to critique my skill and emergency handling ability. If you ain't then as gently as I can put it..Hands Off. I suspect that goes for any other diver as well.
You also, imply that I was blowing for the surface. Your assumption is an insult to me and to everyone else who has faced and handled such an emergency. People are individuals. If you want to make individual criticism make sure you have some individual basis upon which to make it.
You also say that this was only a percieved problem and that I lost control due to a lack of skill. Hogwash!
If you didn't mean this as a personal insult then put such pontifications in a general post. Then I and the rest of the viewers can discuss it in that context. This is as mild as it is because I think your cyberdiving has, in this case, gotten a little ahead of your cerebral computer.
Most of the divers that I've seen hurt did it to themself by blasting for the surface becaused of a percieved problem or lack of control while trying to manage a problem.
KimLeece:My weight belt came off by accident two years ago doing a swimthrough - I'm not completely sure but I think I caught the clasp with my glove while reaching down for my gauges (I normally keep my gauge tucked into my cummer band). My buddy saw me headed for the ceiling and grabbed me - she had no problem helping me out of the overhead (it wasn't a very long way through) - we both just dumped all our excess BCD air and ended up a bit positive together - it was easy enough to swim down a little and keep it level. This was about 25 meters down so I presume my 5mm wetsuit was quite compressed. Once we were clear we headed up - the last bit did go quite a bit quicker though! We weren't that long into the dive (about 10 mins) so there weren't any DCS problems. I treated the last 10 meters as a slowish emergency ascent (there wasn't really much else to do!) I can assure you though that feeling a sudden loosening around the waist and seeing your belt fall away beneath you isn't too good. I DO use a crotch strap and now put it on over the belt - just in case. If I did really need to dump it the strap has a single fastener at the front - no problem.