Hi everyone,
I just completed my PADI Rescue Diver course this past weekend. And it got me thinking - how many certified Rescue Divers have ever actually had to use their training? I know it's a very small percentage, but I'd be interested to hear stories about people using their rescue skills in a real emergency. I know a decent amount of people have had to use some of the more basic skills like cramp removal, out of air situations, and even helping to eliminate diver stress before a dive. But I'm talking more about panicked divers (had to use the "approach out of their reach, spin them around, cradle tank with knees" technique) and things like unconscious diver tows with rescue breaths, missing diver, etc.
Let me know if you've ever had to rescue these types of people or if you know about any such rescues that happened. I'd be interested to hear about these real-life situations!
Fortunately, I myself had not had to do anything heroic or potentially life saving to help another diver. I have been onsite a couple of times where divers have been pulled out of the water unconscious. In fact, on the first day of my open water certification dives, someone was pulled out of the water unconscious in front of me.
At this particular dive site where open water certifications are done in my area, I have had to help divers on numerous occasions to get out of the surf zone. Lots of times where divers have been knocked over and unable to get up unassisted.
In terms of my dive buddies, we usually focus our efforts and energy towards prevention rather than rescue. I have a considerable amount of training and I suppose I have decent diving experience however, I am not confident that I can do much more for a diver that I find unconscious than get them to the surface and perhaps back to the boat or to the shore. I mean, I can do CPR but if the situation is that bad, the chances for a positive outcome is going to be very very slim.
For that reason, I try to keep my buddies and myself conscious, un panicked and with sufficient resources to complete the dive. I also do my best to restrict the dives to conditions and sites that my buddy and I are both trained and comfortable to do. And as soon as I spot something that is unusual, I am proactive about assessing whether we or not continuing the dive is a sensible thing to do.
---------- Post added October 27th, 2014 at 11:35 AM ----------
Over the years I have used this training a number of times.
You will find that you are looking at your fellow divers on the boat a little differently, anticipating situations and often providing assistance before it becomes a problem. You don't often get thanked, but that is not the point.
I think the two most common circumstances are OOA and being overwhelmed by gear.
Jerry
One time, I was on a boat headed to Molikini crater. On the outside of the crater, the dive is meant to start out deep - 80-90ft and then working slowly shallow up the wall. However, the wall slopes deeper to however deep it gets out there. On the inside of the crater is a site that is shallow (40ish feet) and sheltered. The inside is frequented by snorklers.
On the boat, all of the divers seemed "newish" or "not current". In fact, one diver was asking what the various buttons on the inflator were used for. At this point, I went to the captain of the boat and suggested that we dive the inside of the crater as opposed to the outside wall. I mentioned that I thought the inside was a great looking site that I wanted to dive and perhaps could give decent bottom times. Of course, the captain shood me away as he said, "the outside of molikini crater is the signature dive in Maui."
All that is to say that I agree with you that whenever on a boat with strangers, I tend to give the other divers a once.
Oh, and about that dive to Molikini crater. I found myself alone at 100ft deep. Everyone else was deeper than me at perhaps 110ft or 120ft. Fortunately and surprisingly, the dive ended without incident.