*Floater*
Contributor
I took a cave course with my girlfriend recently and it was her first time using doubles (AL 80's). She had done partial valve drills on them during the previous 2 days, but I think it was the first time she did the full drill. It was just the two of us (we remained in the water after the others had gotten out) at about 4m depth.
As discussed on surfaced I signaled to her to watch me as I did a full valve drill i.e. turn right post off, breathe down primary, switch to backup, clip off primary, turn right post back on, close isolator, open isolator, turn left post off and unclip primary, breathe down backup, switch to primary, turn left post back on... This is how I was taught to do it (including a buddy watching with ready longhose). After I did it and she returned my okay signal I signaled her to do it while I watched.
As she was doing it I noticed that she didn't turn her right post back on, but I decided not to say anything... The result was predictable. She went on with the drill until she had breathed down her backup and switched to primary but couldn't get anything from it because the right post was still closed. She grabbed her backup again but realized that she had just finished closing off her left post. With both her tanks closed off she looked up at me in mild shock and started to signal OOA but my longhose was right there in her mouth before she even finished. Of course we were only at 4m depth in open water, but rapid ascents can be killers...
I decided to let her switch to the empty primary so that she would better remember to turn it back on next time, but maybe I was an a-hole... Anyway, we practiced some reel work and kicks after and then called the dive because were over the approximate planned time already.
Just curious whether people here would let their buddies proceed with the valve drill if they noticed the same mistake?
Also, for what it's worth, my gf adjusted very well to the doubles, though she did have a tough time carrying them back to the truck from the cenote entrances, and during the last few days I did it for her. Also, she's thinking of switching to a smaller backplate. Overall we saw some great caves.
As discussed on surfaced I signaled to her to watch me as I did a full valve drill i.e. turn right post off, breathe down primary, switch to backup, clip off primary, turn right post back on, close isolator, open isolator, turn left post off and unclip primary, breathe down backup, switch to primary, turn left post back on... This is how I was taught to do it (including a buddy watching with ready longhose). After I did it and she returned my okay signal I signaled her to do it while I watched.
As she was doing it I noticed that she didn't turn her right post back on, but I decided not to say anything... The result was predictable. She went on with the drill until she had breathed down her backup and switched to primary but couldn't get anything from it because the right post was still closed. She grabbed her backup again but realized that she had just finished closing off her left post. With both her tanks closed off she looked up at me in mild shock and started to signal OOA but my longhose was right there in her mouth before she even finished. Of course we were only at 4m depth in open water, but rapid ascents can be killers...
I decided to let her switch to the empty primary so that she would better remember to turn it back on next time, but maybe I was an a-hole... Anyway, we practiced some reel work and kicks after and then called the dive because were over the approximate planned time already.
Just curious whether people here would let their buddies proceed with the valve drill if they noticed the same mistake?
Also, for what it's worth, my gf adjusted very well to the doubles, though she did have a tough time carrying them back to the truck from the cenote entrances, and during the last few days I did it for her. Also, she's thinking of switching to a smaller backplate. Overall we saw some great caves.