Helmets While Diving Anyone?

[QKRTHNU]

After reading the "death in Palau" thread I got to thinking.

Everything we do from the moment we wake up and get out of bed has potential risks. Bottom line....... Life is Dangerous!

I'm new to diving, just got certified in Feb 03'. But I'm getting to the point where I'm not a Noob in the whole Life thing (26yo). I realize that I'm not indestructible like I once thought.

I've been snowboarding for several years. I've busted my head plenty of times. I've now decided that I'm going to purchase a helmet.

Did you know that before helmets were required wear for soldiers more of them died from accidental head wounds (falling down etc.) than from actual battle.

When Diving I would think the possibility of a head wound is pretty high, even in tropical reef diving, let alone wreck/cave diving.

It's one thing to bump your head and go unconsious while on land. It's a whole new level of risk underwater. :wacko:

Do any of you wear helmets / hard-hats?

There is actually a helmet listed on www.liesurepro.com. I don't know that it's specifically designed for SCUBA, looks more like a Spelunking helmet to me, but it must work.
http://s1059kxm.leisurepro.com/webapp/commerce/command/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=78151&prmenbr=946

Are there any other helmets out there specifically designed for SCUBA?

Thanks!

[WreckWriter]

DiveRite makes a helmet.

WW

[detroit diver]

I don't think the risks from banging your head while boarding or skiing are remotely close to those for scuba diving.

I don't think a helmet is necessary for most types of diving, including cave diving. If your skills are practiced and perfected, you should not be bumping into anything.

And for gosh sakes, please don't hang a light on one of those things. On the last Florida dive I went on, the DM had one of those stupid helmet lights. Every time he looked at us, he blinded us. So the next time, I just shot my HID in his face. No problem after that!!

[MikeFerrara]

Sump divers often use them. Partly because they will be dry caving after passing the sump. Because they need their hands free to see the cave with they usually use head mounted lights also.

[cyklon_300]

[QUOTE]QKRTHNU once bubbled...
[
When Diving I would think the possibility of a head wound is pretty high, even in tropical reef diving, let alone wreck/cave diving.

And the wound would be from head-banging the coral, rapid ascent from directly underneath the boat, sticking your face in a moray's hole, or ????

Why do you think this is a high probablilty injury?

ps: I DO wear helmet when cycling...has saved me serious injury twice...damn cars.

[runvus4]

Many types of commercial diving has high risk of head impact (and contaminents in the water as well), thus they use their diving helmets for hardhat diving to protect their head. In most normal recreational diving, the chance of head trauma is really really low. If you are going to dive in an area of high current that may cause you to bash against something beyond your control (like the Palau reef hook dive), then sure a helmet is a great idea. Same if you are diving somewhere that things have a good chance of dropping on you, eg because of unstable rock formations or drunk people at the pier tossing bottles.

[detroit diver]

MikeFerrara once bubbled...
Sump divers often use them. Partly because they will be dry caving after passing the sump. Because they need their hands free to see the cave with they usually use head mounted lights also.

That might be the only case that I would think a helmet is necessary.

[detroit diver]

Taken to the extreme, here ya go:

http://people.ee.ethz.ch/~uanliker/test/events/helm.html

[Waterborne]

I needed that today, thanks DD:D

You know, with the amount of money spent on all those little lights, an 18 watt HID can light probably wouldn't be far off.

When Diving I would think the possibility of a head wound is pretty high, even in tropical reef diving, let alone wreck/cave diving.
I don't see this a reason for concern, the possibility is slim. If you are bumping into things and creating opportunity for a head wound, I think you have some skills that need to be worked on. Work on the skills, don't try to solve a problem that should not be there with unneccesary gear.

edit- I do wear a helmet for the rescue work that I do but that doesn't count for rec diving. You haven't lived until you pullled fiberglass and wood splinters out of your head.

[GUEdiver]

The DAN report would show any recorded deaths due to head trauma. I haven't gone through it in that much detail to remember seeing anything along those lines. Like others have mentioned, I don't think the probability is high enough to justify its use. Although while getting back on the boat after my very first ocean dive in 1991, the lady on the tag line behind me ignored the DM's order to wait several feet clear of the diver ahead (me). As I was riding the ladder up and down in rough seas, taking it one step at a time, she got under me, and the bottom of my tank glanced the side of her head. Luckily, she suffered only a nasty lump and the startling removal of her mask by the bottom of my tank. The DM chewed her out for ignoring the rules in the rough seas. That's the closest thing I've seen to a serious head injury in the water.

Safe diving to all, helmet or not!

[Bob3]

I'm particularly fond of helmets like the one pictured to the left.
The one I normally use is pictured in my profile, complete with a lot of scratches & a couple dents.

Using scuba I've been smacked in the head by an anchor only once. I doubt if a recreational helmet would've made much difference though.

[diverkim]

For recreational diving, especially above coral reefs, why should one wear a helmet? It would create more drag and therefore be a drag.
It would be pretty daring for one to don a helmet among a boatload of recreational divers.:out:

[Lead_carrier]

If you do penatration on some wrecks IMHO I think it would be foolish to not use a helmet but to each their own. On some wrecks it isn't necessary. A lot of the older wrecks are rusty, jagged edged and falling apart. For recreatational dives on reefs, etc. I can't see that a helmet would be of very much benefit at all.

[Divesherpa]

I would recommend a skull and crossbones type harley helmet. You could even get one of the funny guys with the point like Colonel Klink.

That would be awesome. Then you could exhale and drift slowly into the sea pen and not hurt yourself.

As a side note, I have bumped my head a few times in caves and a few times in wrecks. Hell, I've even bumped my head in the shower. They were all my fault.

[jonnythan]

The helmet at LeisurePro is is a Protec Full Cut whitewater helmet. It's completely unsuitable for "spelunking" - cavers wear climbing helmets with suspension systems and 4-point straps. Most people also consider that helmet to be pretty unsuitable for whitewater, too.. the plastic is very thin and the padding is minimal.

I can't really imagine a diving scenario where a helmet would be a good idea. I don't think I've ever been moving fast enough in the water where a head on collision with something would have caused me any injury through my hood (I've been caving with just a 7mm hood, and those things can take a fair amount of abuse ;)).

Also, that helmet can be purchased for as little as $30.. with the Protec logo instead of the NiteRider.

[Scubaroo]

As jonnythan said, a neoprene hood can take a lot of abuse - not to mention keeping your noggin warm!

[captain]

Some of the divers who spearfish for big fish under the oil rigs here in Louisiana wear helmets. A big fish can drag you through a lot of pipes and other obstructions under these rigs.

Captain

[pipedope]

For rec diving a simple bump cap is probably best.
These are sorta like a hard hat but thinner, lighter and closer fitting.

Anything like a real helmet is going to be a real pain while diving.

I have worked in a Superlite 17 and if I don't need the extra head protection I will take a FFM (full face mask) like the EXO-26 or if I don't need communications I will use standard scuba mask and reg, with a long hose for surface supply.

[seakrakken]

I once used a kids bicycle safety helmet that I pulled the styrofoam out of when I was diving a granite block jetty. The plastic shell was sufficiently rigid enough to ward off any light knocks I thought I might receive. I did this only as an extra precaution. Even though the waves pushed me around pretty hard I never actually hit my head on the granite. I still have the helmet for any similar situations.

[miketsp]

Why stop at the helmet? Surely with modern technology it should be possible to manufacture lightweight body armour in Kevlar or carbon fiber for swimmers, surfists & divers. Laugh off shark attacks. ;)

[WaterDawg]

Rambo never wore a helmet!

[pipedope]

Why stop at the helmet? Surely with modern technology it should be possible to manufacture lightweight body armour in Kevlar or carbon fiber for swimmers, surfists & divers. Laugh off shark attacks. ;)

There are several already on the market, JIM, NyutSuit, etc. as an added benefit the diver is at 1ATM so no worries about decompression limits and things like that.

Then again, it doesn't FEEL like diving. :D