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A few months ago a friend and diving buddy of mine had a shore dive that almost ended badly. I asked him if he'd be kind enough to write it up for us in an Accident Analysis fashion. I think you'll find his insights valuable across a wide range of diving circumstances.
Rick
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A SHORE DIVE TO REMEMBER (AND LEARN FROM)
No amount of experience, knowledge, or seasoning of age will develop you into a safe diver unless you practice safety systematically throughout your diving career. I know, because my 94th dive was my first shore dive, which could have ended tragically.
The following is my analysis of how bad safety habits can result in tragedies and near tragedies (as well as, thankfully, corrective measures). Though I would prefer never to have written this, I believe it may help others avoid the mistakes I made.
The dive was a shore dive on a north/south beach. The wind was quartering from the northeast at 5 to 10 knots, the surf around three feet with white caps extending out approximately 150’ to 200’. From the shoreline the bottom dropped off sharply 12 to 15 feet out, maximum depth 15 to 20 feet, one sand bar I knew of 30 to 35 feet from shore.
Because the wind and wave action had diminished the visibility on the bottom, we debated aborting the dive. There was also concern about the size of the surf. In the end, three of us decided to do the dive. Though I was concerned about the conditions, since I had never done a shore dive, I put those feelings aside and agreed to do the dive.
During the dive briefing, we discussed how we would get in the water and what to do if separated. There were no problems entering the water or for that matter during the dive. One member became separated early on but surfaced, rejoined, and continued the dive. When I was down to 1100 psi we turned and started heading into shore, at that time we were probably only 300 feet from shore and had plenty of air. However, on the way back I got separated. Since I knew the direction of the beach, instead of following our briefed procedure I decided to head directly in to it, figuring I would either meet my dive buddies on the way back or rejoin them on the beach.
The swim back was not too difficult. However, fighting the surge used up more air than I thought it would. Surfacing with approximately 500 psi I found myself only 30 feet from shore and began swimming to it, still breathing off the cylinder. Surprisingly, four or five minutes of swimming did not move me any closer to the beach and it was at this point I became concerned since my air was down to around 200 psi and I still could not touch bottom. My solution was to swim harder, even though I was now tiring, not being in the best shape. Huffing and puffing for breath, constantly being pummeled by the wave action, head starting to go under more often, spitting out water, my efforts had brought me to within 15 feet of the beach – and still no bottom to touch.
When I dragged the last dusty breath of air out of the cylinder a sense of panic began to rise. No air, fighting the waves, trouble keeping my head up out of the water, and losing strength all combined to shoot adrenalin through me as my panic increased. For me thoughts of drowning within fifteen feet of shore and lifeguards 30 or 40 feet away were very real as I began sinking lower in the water.
Now with all my struggles only two thoughts cycled repeatedly in my mind; panic kills-do not panic (easier said then done) and I don’t want to die. As my panic and helplessness increased I realized, I no longer had the strength to save myself and began waving at the lifeguards who realizing I was floundering, ran over, and in 5 seconds hauled me out of the water. I was that close to shore.
Though I did not completely panic, I was close. It was hours before the adrenalin left my body and I could function normally. Trust me; this is an adrenalin rush you never want to experience! Had the lifeguards not been present, there is a real possibility I would not still be here.
Analysis
1. Ignoring my feeling of uneasiness about making the dive. One of the first things taught is not to dive if you do not feel well or are uncomfortable with doing a dive. I was uncomfortable but did not want to appear intimidated (pride), even though the conditions of the water were marginal. (Two divers had declined the dive) Do not dive if you do not feel well or are uncomfortable with the dive, as in, beyond your training and experience.
2. The dive briefing was perfunctory and not taken seriously by detailing all aspects of the dive. Exiting the water under existing surf conditions, as well as a review of rip tides were not covered. In part, because all the divers had some experience. I suppose there was the notion that everyone knew what to do under the circumstances. The “I assumed” thing.
3. Failing to follow basic safety and the dive briefing. When I separated from the team, instead of surfacing, locating the dive flag, and rejoining them, I decided to go for the beach. First, I was confident in my abilities to get there. Second, I was concerned about my air consumption not wanting to run out before reaching the beach, which I thought a possibility if I spent time looking for the other divers (there are so many levels on which this is wrong I could write pages). By leaving the dive team, I placed myself in jeopardy with no one to help me if I got into trouble. However, even more important is I was not there to help them if they got into trouble. Doing something stupid and dieing is one thing. Doing something stupid and have someone die who is depending on you is entirely different. This has been the hardest part of reflecting on this dive. Why would I do such a thing? The answer is unintentionally developing bad habits, whether through overconfidence or good intentions (for example, two divers consuming air at different rates, the diver low on air lets his friend know he is leaving and goes up not wanting to shorten his partner’s bottom time, the friend finishes his dive without a dive buddy). You are in that place of thinking that you have the knowledge and experience as does your buddy to handle what comes on your own. (Over confidence)
4. Other stuff.
a. Not insuring a fully inflated BC on the surface. Since I am an air hog, I got into the practice of inflating my BC only enough to stay on the surface when entering and exiting the water, thinking I was saving air for more bottom time. I do not remember if I did fully inflate the BC when I surfaced on this dive. However, when my dive partners got to me, it was one of their first questions. I am sure, had I been with them coming through the surf and they saw my struggles to stay up they would have asked about it or checked my BC. This is a primary reason to stay with the other divers. I will also add they both had plenty of remaining air I could have shared since they both breathe like butterflies.
b. Back inflating BC. With an aluminum tank, this style of BC tends to push your face into the water and you need to make a concerted effort to roll on your back and “get up on the BC”. It takes practice and experience to handle this style of BC in the surf conditions that existed during the dive. Additionally, my BC has a crotch strap I was not using at the time (though I normally do, because the BC has a habit of riding up my torso). Because the surf kept pushing me downward the BC kept riding upward due to its buoyancy, therefore, I did not get all of the buoyancy the BC could have provided. In the future when I dive this BC it will be with the strap and only in the right conditions.
c. Dumping weights. Not once did I think of dropping my weights to increase buoyancy. I do not even have the luxury of telling you I though about it and rejected the idea because of the cost to replace them (which is kind of a stupid thought). I just plain did not think about it because I was so intent about getting to the beach. What is $20 or $30 dollars compared to your life?
d. Assessing the situation. Once I had surfaced 30 feet from the beach and swam for four or five minutes it should have occurred to me that I might well have been in a rip tide or on the edge of one, since I was making no progress. I cannot tell you how frustrated I was that I could not get to the beach. Again, I was so intent on getting there. I failed to assess why it was not happening. There is no way to be sure but I do believe I was in or on the edge of a rip tide and did not properly assess it and take the necessary actions to swim out of it. Situational awareness: stop, assess, and then take action. There are those situations that require immediate action but when you are on the surface and have air, you have time.
Sincerely,
Lucky To Be Here
PS: I have dived since and will continue, only safer.
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