Decided to get a dive in at Casino Point today despite the expected poor conditions. It had everything one could want in a "bad" dive... poor vis, plenty of particulates resuspended in the water column, strong current, lots of surge, cold temps (down 8 F from my last dive in the same area). Still, it was fun to get wet and the great thing is that I don't have much video to edit tonight before karaoke!
However, I saw something I have NEVER seen in my almost 50 years of diving. A buddy pair was returning to the dive park stairs and were about 10 yards away when I first saw them. I could see there was a problem with one of the divers, but for some reason could not figure out what it was.
When the first diver landed on the lower stairs, I heard someone ask "What was wrong?" or something to that effect. The diver responded "I forgot my tank!"
I looked and indeed the diver did NOT have a tank on his BCD. His reg was hanging on his back, secured only by the LP inflater hose to his BCD. How does one get into the water without checking one's pressure, testing one's reg or inflating one's BCD? I was astounded. Another local diver was standing next to the diver on the stairs and was equally shocked. Not one of the dive professionals I talked to had EVER seen a diver enter the water, and move away from the point of entry, without a SCUBA tank hooked up. Astounding.
On their "next" dive, both divers seemed to have problems descending. They were at the surface for at least 10-15 minutes despite trying to evacuate their BCDs with their inflater hoses held above the water. I was wondering if they forgot their weights this time.
I decided I did not want to be near the dive park if they entered the water a third time. Although I'm rescue certified, I had no desire to interfere with natural selection.
Aghast in Avalon,
Dr. Bill
However, I saw something I have NEVER seen in my almost 50 years of diving. A buddy pair was returning to the dive park stairs and were about 10 yards away when I first saw them. I could see there was a problem with one of the divers, but for some reason could not figure out what it was.
When the first diver landed on the lower stairs, I heard someone ask "What was wrong?" or something to that effect. The diver responded "I forgot my tank!"
I looked and indeed the diver did NOT have a tank on his BCD. His reg was hanging on his back, secured only by the LP inflater hose to his BCD. How does one get into the water without checking one's pressure, testing one's reg or inflating one's BCD? I was astounded. Another local diver was standing next to the diver on the stairs and was equally shocked. Not one of the dive professionals I talked to had EVER seen a diver enter the water, and move away from the point of entry, without a SCUBA tank hooked up. Astounding.
On their "next" dive, both divers seemed to have problems descending. They were at the surface for at least 10-15 minutes despite trying to evacuate their BCDs with their inflater hoses held above the water. I was wondering if they forgot their weights this time.
I decided I did not want to be near the dive park if they entered the water a third time. Although I'm rescue certified, I had no desire to interfere with natural selection.
Aghast in Avalon,
Dr. Bill
