Ive been toying whether to put this is the accidents and incidents thread, or in the basic forum as it does have some salient lessons. MODs please use your discretion and pt where you feel it is best served
Firstly this didn't happen to me, but I was there. Secondly names have been changed to protect the innocent. Sorry its so long but its better that the complete picture is told
Background
The Story starts in Aug with a trip to a Mediterranean Island. We (at the time soon to be, but now wife) were scheduled to dive a well-known wreck. Prior to this the dive op wanted to conduct a check dive the day before. Given the wreck dive was to be around 30m max depth 42m we were happy to go and get wet.
The check dives were from the shore, and no deeper than 11m so as not to impact too much on the next days diving. We were collected and met up with a guy called Fred. Whilst chatting we found out he was 50 a professional physiotherapist and a DM with approx. 500 dives. Hed started his instructor training but stopped as hed decided that he didnt want to teach just to dive. Unlike us who dive most weeks Fred was a vacation diver and hadnt dived for 4 months. this was teh first leg of a months vacation travelling all over the Med diving
So we geared up and had a long walk to the entry point through hotel grounds perhaps 100 150m The temperature was about 30/31C we were okay (The temp in Dubai where we live is 40+ in the Summer so were used to it) however we all partook of the beach shower to cool down before going heading to the water.
Dive 1 completed no probs, we hoofed our kit to the car. We didnt care for a second dive as there was zero fish life and it wasnt very challenging, but Fred was eager so we went in again after a usual surface stop.
Incident
The next day was an early start (06:30) for the 90min drive to the harbour. We all napped en-route. Wifey and I had shared a bottle of wine the previous evening. Fred had gone for a few beers but seemed okay he certainly didnt smell of beer. We arrived at the boat dumped the kit and went for coffee and bacon butties at a local café before heading to the boat.
Soon after we departed for the 10 min ride to the site, we kitted up having already had a dive brief by our guide. Fred was buddied up with Jack a BSAC instructor and expedition leader in the UK armed forces.
The dive was normal, a slow descent to the hull at 18m then down to the props at 25 followed by a slow partial circuit of the wreck, slow ascent, stop at 6m and back on the boat with a dive time of around 40min we were all on Air as Nitrox was by special request. The usual post dive chat went on, Fred was a bit withdrawn claiming he hadn't got into the groove on that dive but hoped the next dive would be better (for him)
About half way through the surface interval Fred mentioned he thought hed trapped a nerve in his arm getting back on board (remember hes a professional physiotherapist) but maybe 15mins later he though it had got worse with some tingling in his finger tip and was going to sit out the next dive. Wifey suggested he have a blast of O2 and a lie down in case that improved things It did the tingling went. At that point he was taken off the boat and sent to the diving medical centre wit our guide)
We had a Fab second dive with Jack leading and this time did some penetration. The guide collected us and informed us that the hospital had done tests, decided that Fred did have a DCS and put him in the chamber.
Summary
Fred spent 5hrs in the chamber and overnight in a private hospital.
His profile was shallower than ours we were at 29m he at 24, he also had a shorter dive and didnt exceed his NDL. There was nothing on his computer which would indicate a reason for this DCS
The day before and on the boat no-one saw Fred drink water and hydrate not to say he didn't, just no-one saw him
Afterthought.
Fred had got his dive insurance via his credit card travel insurance, unfortunately the small print was that he was only covered to 18m (even though he was a DM thus certified to 30) and he was presented with a $26,000 USD bill!
Lessons.
Re-hydrate and Stay hydrated
Check your insurance and DONT DIVE BEYOND YOUR CERTIFICATION DEPTH as most insurers wont cover you
Possibly the saddest part of this tale is that Fred decided that he would probably hang up his fins and give up diving altogether. Maybe he changed his mind - I hope so
Those with medical experience make add further light to the incident and Ill answer any questions I can
Firstly this didn't happen to me, but I was there. Secondly names have been changed to protect the innocent. Sorry its so long but its better that the complete picture is told
Background
The Story starts in Aug with a trip to a Mediterranean Island. We (at the time soon to be, but now wife) were scheduled to dive a well-known wreck. Prior to this the dive op wanted to conduct a check dive the day before. Given the wreck dive was to be around 30m max depth 42m we were happy to go and get wet.
The check dives were from the shore, and no deeper than 11m so as not to impact too much on the next days diving. We were collected and met up with a guy called Fred. Whilst chatting we found out he was 50 a professional physiotherapist and a DM with approx. 500 dives. Hed started his instructor training but stopped as hed decided that he didnt want to teach just to dive. Unlike us who dive most weeks Fred was a vacation diver and hadnt dived for 4 months. this was teh first leg of a months vacation travelling all over the Med diving
So we geared up and had a long walk to the entry point through hotel grounds perhaps 100 150m The temperature was about 30/31C we were okay (The temp in Dubai where we live is 40+ in the Summer so were used to it) however we all partook of the beach shower to cool down before going heading to the water.
Dive 1 completed no probs, we hoofed our kit to the car. We didnt care for a second dive as there was zero fish life and it wasnt very challenging, but Fred was eager so we went in again after a usual surface stop.
Incident
The next day was an early start (06:30) for the 90min drive to the harbour. We all napped en-route. Wifey and I had shared a bottle of wine the previous evening. Fred had gone for a few beers but seemed okay he certainly didnt smell of beer. We arrived at the boat dumped the kit and went for coffee and bacon butties at a local café before heading to the boat.
Soon after we departed for the 10 min ride to the site, we kitted up having already had a dive brief by our guide. Fred was buddied up with Jack a BSAC instructor and expedition leader in the UK armed forces.
The dive was normal, a slow descent to the hull at 18m then down to the props at 25 followed by a slow partial circuit of the wreck, slow ascent, stop at 6m and back on the boat with a dive time of around 40min we were all on Air as Nitrox was by special request. The usual post dive chat went on, Fred was a bit withdrawn claiming he hadn't got into the groove on that dive but hoped the next dive would be better (for him)
About half way through the surface interval Fred mentioned he thought hed trapped a nerve in his arm getting back on board (remember hes a professional physiotherapist) but maybe 15mins later he though it had got worse with some tingling in his finger tip and was going to sit out the next dive. Wifey suggested he have a blast of O2 and a lie down in case that improved things It did the tingling went. At that point he was taken off the boat and sent to the diving medical centre wit our guide)
We had a Fab second dive with Jack leading and this time did some penetration. The guide collected us and informed us that the hospital had done tests, decided that Fred did have a DCS and put him in the chamber.
Summary
Fred spent 5hrs in the chamber and overnight in a private hospital.
His profile was shallower than ours we were at 29m he at 24, he also had a shorter dive and didnt exceed his NDL. There was nothing on his computer which would indicate a reason for this DCS
The day before and on the boat no-one saw Fred drink water and hydrate not to say he didn't, just no-one saw him
Afterthought.
Fred had got his dive insurance via his credit card travel insurance, unfortunately the small print was that he was only covered to 18m (even though he was a DM thus certified to 30) and he was presented with a $26,000 USD bill!
Lessons.
Re-hydrate and Stay hydrated
Check your insurance and DONT DIVE BEYOND YOUR CERTIFICATION DEPTH as most insurers wont cover you
Possibly the saddest part of this tale is that Fred decided that he would probably hang up his fins and give up diving altogether. Maybe he changed his mind - I hope so
Those with medical experience make add further light to the incident and Ill answer any questions I can