Lake Muroc Diver
Contributor
Since theproblem I faced must have been experienced by other divers I wanted to post sodivers can learn from my problem. I am a SOCAL kelp diver. I wear a 7mm suit and my own gear. I had anexceptional opportunity to dive on one of the best reefs in the world. I won'tmention the island since I do not intend to create any flack for the great divebusiness I used for my week long dive adventure...
I arrived on the island, my dive gear did not. So on day two, I went with mydive buddies to rent a full kit and get close to the famous reefs.
The gear was average, in good condition but not my gear. I had the divingschool BC, cheap computer, integrated weight and a so-so regulator. What I didnot have was the most important. I did not have a 7mm wetsuit.
I asked my dive buddies, both master divers and one time dive instructors,about a good guess for my weight needs. They both guessed, seemed correct to meso, with the full Kit we went on the dive boat.
The first dive was a dream come true. Warm water, perfect reefs with every fishin the book populating the reef, and no current, 100 foot visibility,absolutely perfect we dove to around 100 feet max and an average of 75',following the local dive master. When we arrived at the boat the fun started.
I had 500+ PSI in the bottle and started my double 3 minute safety stop. I wasunsure of the computers safety stop function. My computer has a countdown timerthat I would reset for the second 3 minute whenever I get to 100'. So as I amtoying with the buoyancy, computer buttons and trying to hold my depth, I was yo-yoinging my depth 27'-12'. (I was under weight about 7-10 lbs I found out later) Ihad to swim down to stay underwater. Since my dive buddies were also waitingwith me I felt confidant that although I was unsteady with my depth, I wassafely losing the N2 in my tissue.
After the 6 minute hold was up we took turns at the ladders to get out. On theboat I was trying to check my dive time and saw a "loc"on the display. It cleared and I made the second dive. About 45 minutes intothat dive I got an alarm, and"loc". I surfaced after a 3- 5 minutestop. Got out and skipped the third dive.
When I showed the computer to the dive master, he got serious and stopped mefrom diving until the computer cleared. I lost a full day of dives because thecomputer did not record my YO-YO stop as a safety stop.
The dive shop was worried that I was too risky despite the fact that I wasdiving with 3 other divers with computers that I stayed close to.
The lessons are:
1. Learn the computer before you dive.
2. Get the weight set; a little heavy is better than a little light.
3. If the computer says you blew a safety stop, that is what the dive shopwill use as the rule. (And that is a good rule).
Eventuallythe computer reset, 36 hours after the dives.
If youlose 2 out of 5 days on a dive trip you will be unhappy. If you pop out of thewater too soon due to buoyancy problems, you will be worse than unhappy.
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