Scare tactics advertising

[Dive 'N' Dolphin]

Three of us were diving in Bonaire two years ago when we saw at a distance what looked like a diver prone (basically dead) on the bottom.

Each of us had a different reaction.

Our photographer grabbed a camera in each hand and you could hear him thinking of PHOTO OP !!!!!

Our....just finished rescue divers class.....guy went into the IM GONNA SAVE HIM mode.

I just thought......cool.....some new gear possibilities.

Life is just perception.

So enough with the suspense, was he dead or was it something totally diffrent? Did your photo guy get his picture?

 

[ScubaCatgirl]

Yeah! curious minds want to know the full scoop, lol

 

[Tagerisatroll]

Reminds me of a documentery i watched about cave diving the film makers were going to find some missing divers, and find out what went wrong. They found them all jammed in an air pocket. Only thing that they could figure went wrong was they silted up and lossed the line. But I thought the whole thing was so interesting I wanted to learn to dive. I was like 12, Still a little hestant about getting that overhang cert LOL and decide if evercave dive I'll use two reels LOL.

 

[Lost_At_Sea]

That sucks.

 

[agilis]

This diver was clearly certified and well trained. Notice, please, that his mask is down in the correct position, not up on his forehead. And I think that's a log book in his pocket. DIR all the way.

 

[Kevrumbo]

This video was from the Red Sea Forum a couple of months ago
(Warning -gets a little spooky at the end):
http://www.wetasschronicles.com/BlueHole.mpg

I started this thread to describe a very infamous dive; the Blue Hole's arch. My objective is to put a scenario to people willing to do it.

The Blue Hole is literally a hole in the reef that is around 56 meters (184 feet) wide and its max depth is around 120 meters (394 feet). On the southern side of the site, there is a saddle (eroded lip) located at 7 meters (23 feet). The most important feature of the Blue Hole is the archway, which is located at 56 meters (184 feet) and exits into the bottomless open sea.

Unexperienced recreational divers may deal with this dive as an ordinary cave dive. One could just think it's pretty simple; drop to 56 meters (184 feet), cross the arch, then ascend to the saddle at 7 meters (23 feet) and re-enter the Blue Hole.

Unfortunately this is not true. Here's what you should take into consideration:
1. First of all, you have to correctly locate the arch. The arch is not directly below the saddle. It is on the eastern side of the site not the southern one.
2. You should drop down at the correct place because the reef curves around and you many not be able to see the arch. Searching for the arch at depth is not a brilliant idea.
3. One way to locate the arch is to drop down to 30 meters (100 feet) at the western side of the Blue Hole. You'll find a sandy gully. Following this sandy gully will finally lead you to the arch, but at 75 meters (247 feet). Not a brilliant idea either.
4. A blue glow becomes visible at 52 meters (171 feet). This is not the proper depth to cross the arch at. You have to desend other 4 - 5 meters (13 - 17 feet) to seamlessly cross the arch because the roof is actually located at 55 meters (181 feet).
5. Now you're trying to cross this 26 meters (86 feet) long, 25 meters (82 feet) width hole. If you're not 100% sure of your buoyancy at depth, don't do it.
If you can't cross these 26 meters (86 feet) in a horizontal path, you'll either hit the arch's roof or go much deeper than you should.
6. Depending on sea conditions, you may experience poor visibility and poor light conditions so take a torch with you.
7. Now the most dangerous part, the strong downwards currents that could be experienced at the exit of the arch. More fining means more gas consumption and more stress. Returning back means exactly the same plus more decompression.
8. Make an if - then scenario and follow it. For example:
A. If I consume more than 20% of my gas before locating the arch, I won't enter.
B. If I face strong downwards currents, I won't panic and I'll alter my fining (dolphin kicks instead of frog or flutter, for example) to safetly cross the arch.
9. Now that you crossed the arch, you need to do several mandatory decompression stops. You need to be sure of your capability of carrying over controlled stops. It is highly advisable to plan the dive using computer software before execution. Write your plan on a slate and use a dive computer as well. Never attempt to do this dive without a dive computer.

Finally, a personal proverb I always use; risk doesn't kill, stubbornness do. Don't do it unless you know you're capable.

Asser Salama

Good Map/Survey of Divesite here:
http://www.divernet.com/travel/0602dahab.htm

 

[mislav]

How low can you get?

I just came across this image on
http://www.antares.com.br/~cbpds/cprop.htm

the official underwater federation sports site for Brazil.

The accompanying legend says
"Avoid accidents, do a course in an official CBPDS/CMAS school"
"This guy obviously didn't".

It's not only low, it's tasteless as hell.

 

[trucker girl]

This is a tangent but my first dive experience was in Hawaii a few months after 9-11. We had gone for a 5 day deal out of California and my husband wanted to get certified. We didn't have time for that so I called around to find out what our options were... enter: Discover Scuba.

Now, I had no desire to dive but my husband told me I really needed to give it a try because we would probably never get this chance again... so I did.

Let me tell you, this was a PADI shop on Oahu and it was well before I knew anything about diving or standards or safety. Looking back, I am appalled... These guys took us onto the dive boat straight from our hotel rooms. No instructions, no video, no class room, no practice. My husband is asthmatic, our friend is diabetic (and has an electric pump with an inserted tube that was inserted when we got on the boat and he took out just before we went under). I, of course, am in peak physical condition at all times (hey- quit laughing or I'll kick you in the shin!).

The dive master who took us down was rolling his eyes at us and said, "I can't believe that people who have never even snorkeled would want to try diving." Our instructions consisted of, "keep breathing and if you feel sick, throw up through the regulator."

The sheer terror of breathing underwater almost cancelled the dive for my husband and I. I calmed down once I saw the other divers at the bottom (about 30-40 feet) and he followed after me. I aclamated well, my husband was another story.

This was something he really wanted to do and it turned into an experience in terror. We came up from the first dive and had choppy water on the way to the second. He was feeling queasy from the boat in addition to being scared to death under water but he decided (partly, I think, because the dive master was laughing at us) to go for the second dive.

When under water he tried to tell the guy he wanted to go back up. He was scared and sick and just wanted out. Now, I know they couldn't just let him pop back up to the surface (which was not something any of us knew at the time), but it is my opinion they should have taken us all up and called it done then and there.

Instead, the dive master added more weight to my husband's belt and forced him to stay down until his air was at 500 psi.

Needless to say, my husband has zero interest in diving and I am constantly in search of a dive buddy.

Talk about scare tactics...

 

[Gary D.]

Now who wants to be a PSD?

That should have never been posted on this forum at least without a warning.

Gary D.

EDIT:
This response was intended for Miketsp's post not Trucker Girls post. Her's just got posted before mine. It seems that I have upset some people with it because they are thinking I was refering to her. NO, I was refering to the pic that was posted.

Gary D.

 

[SNorman]

Wow, my first reaction was "haha!" but then after a few seconds I'm thinking "wow, that's creepy!". I hope I don't end up like that.