Responsibility of the Intro Instructor

[MauiScubaSteve]

I'd like opinions on a specific scenario; private intro dive conducted from a boat moored in 30-40 feet of warm, clear ocean (no pool work).

The customer has 2 previous dives, 3 years ago; intro dive (with pool confined) and OW dive 2, after CW 2 & 3. The dive in question is conducted at dusk, before a night snorkel experience.

During the dive the customer had 2 uncontrolled ascents to the surface while the instructor looked for fish to show her. During and after the dive there was bloody snot in the mask as well as ear pain during all 3 ascents. The Captain even helped clean off her face because there was such a mess.

The night snorkel went on as planned. The customer complained of clogged ears and sore back/top of the throat frequently after the dive. Captain and instructors present continued to talk about how congestion must have been the cause of the problem. No one mentioned possibly having a Doctor look at her, even though a plane flight the next day is known by all. Only after a phone conversation with me did she seek medical attention, but too late to happen that night.

Plane flight had to be cancelled and another last minute one made, not to mention the $250 just for the appointment with the Doc, who was also pushing the congestion theory over the phone (not an ENT).

This girl has not had any allergy problems since May (not currently taking medication), didn't have any congestion symptoms and had been in the Islands for over a week, but only on the voggy island of incident for a couple days.

So far I have not heard how the Doctor visit went but there was possibly dried blood in the ear canal the morning after.

I'm of the opinion a private intro diver should never be allowed to uncontrollably surface, and one slow controlled ascent at the end of the dive, even slower than normal if customer indicates pain or has bloody snot in mask, would have been a proper conclusion.

Does this sound like negligence

 

[OldNSalty]

Based on what you said and keeping in mind that I am not a lawyer or a scuba instructor I would say yes...but my opinion is probably worth less then 2 cents for the previous reasons-unless I am on the jury

 

[Web Monkey]

I'm of the opinion a private intro diver should never be allowed to uncontrollably surface, and one slow controlled ascent at the end of the dive, even slower than normal if customer indicates pain or has bloody snot in mask, would have been a proper conclusion.

Does this sound like negligence

If you're looking for a legal opinion, you would have to find a lawyer who works in the country where the incident happened. For a non-legal opinion, this goes far beyond negligence and rises to a "Three Stooges" level of incompetence.

Once someone is complaining about any sort of pressure-related injury (barotrauma, ears, bleeding, etc.), diving is over. I can't imagine who would let a "Try SCUBA" diver go back down for dive #2 or #3.

OTOH, if this was somewhere where nothing much happens if you injure a tourist, then I'm not all that surprised.

Terry

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

The incident all happened on a single tank of air; theoretically one dive. She may have actually felt better at depth. The ears were evidently equalizing on descent, but evidently not quickly enough on ascent. The instructor asked her to clear her mask repeatedly during the dive and I'm fairly sure it was due the pink snot in the mask. It also seems she was pinching and blowing on ascent due to the ear pressure, which I would have stopped; yawning, wiggling the jaw and swallowing are my preferred ascent eq techniques.

 

[DevonDiver]

During the dive the customer had 2 uncontrolled ascents to the surface while the instructor looked for fish to show her.

I'm of the opinion a private intro diver should never be allowed to uncontrollably surface, and one slow controlled ascent at the end of the dive, even slower than normal if customer indicates pain or has bloody snot in mask, would have been a proper conclusion.

Does this sound like negligence

Certainly does. Depending on the agency of the instructor concerned, there will be very specific standards applied to the conduct of an 'Intro Dive' (or DSD, or Try Dive etc).

Which agency was the instructor concerned representing?

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

Their web site indicates the dive would count towards a PADI OW course, if the customer choses to continue.

 

[DevonDiver]

The PADI manual is terribly 'thin' on it's standards for DSDs.

Here is what it says..

Directly supervise new divers as they breathe underwater and swim around in shallow water. When comfortable, take them on tours in deeper water as appropriate

The instructor must also maintain direct supervision during the dive and not engage in any other activities, such as video or photography.

Conduct the open water dive, directly supervising new divers and guiding them on a tour of the dive site. Monitor participant comfort levels and watch their pressure gauges.

Evaluate conditions carefully when deciding whether to conduct the Discover Scuba Diving program and when determining appropriate ratios. Good environmental conditions can enhance the experience, while marginal conditions may detract from new diver enjoyment and safety. It’s important to make conservative decisions and use good judgment.

Watch for anxiety in new divers and also consider diver age and ability. Consider reducing ratios when new divers are apprehensive or need lots of assistance prior to the dive. Use additional PADI certified assistants during the dive, if possible, to provide an extra measure of control.

Because new divers have not been trained in underwater buoyancy control, make necessary buoyancy adjustments for them while underwater.

PADI, however, do not define exactly what they mean by control...

Control
1. A Teaching status PADI Instructor must be present and in control during all scuba diving activities for any course that results in PADI certification.

2. Supervision of PADI course or program participants falls into three categories:
a. Direct Supervision – a Teaching status PADI Instructor must personally observe and evaluate each student diver’s ability to perform skills as required, both on land and inwater

I think it is woefully lacking.

In contrast, other agencies will have strict definitions of control (i.e. Instructor is constantly monitoring and in direct contact with the students).

 

[ZenDiver.3D]

This shows incompetence and lack of care. But this type of thing happens more and more. Too busy finding fish to be close enough to stop an uncontrolled descent is negligence, in my mind. She had a reverse squeeze. And uncontrolled ascents only made it worse.
The instructor is just another bad example of the people who really don't care about the people they take responsibility for in the water. There are enough of them, that it gives the rest of us a bad name.

 

[Gen San Chris]

To me there is only one way to take people on discover dives and thats one on one! I always keep to the left side of the customer so that I control the low pressure inflator and they never go out of my reach! I know that I am allowed to do more at the same time but safety is a big thing and one on one is the only way to do it! Thats what I think anyway!

 

[scorpiofish]

I'd like opinions on a specific scenario; [

So far I have not heard how the Doctor visit went but there was possibly dried blood in the ear canal the morning after.

I'm of the opinion a private intro diver should never be allowed to uncontrollably surface, and one slow controlled ascent at the end of the dive, even slower than normal if customer indicates pain or has bloody snot in mask, would have been a proper conclusion.

Does this sound like negligence

No. It doesn't sound like negligence because there is not enough information to make such a determination. We don't even know ex post what the medical condition was after or during the dive.

There is no indication or first hand knowledge of when the instructor was aware of pain, or whether the pain was resolved through clearing. Pain on ascent is different than pain on descent. We don't what was communicated after each ascent. Did they surface and she communicate ear pain on ascent (i.e. reverse squeeze?) Did she do so both times?

Referring to "possible" dried blood in the ear canal the next day means what?

Gosh, I'm in favor of uncontrolled ascents! Sorry, that was sarcasm. It takes about .1 seconds for a diver to uncontrollably ascend out of reach of an instructor, unless the instructor has physical control over the diver.

The night snorkel went on as planned. The customer complained of clogged ears and sore back/top of the throat frequently after the dive.

This was after the one and only dive. They didn't do any diving after this, I assume. They just snorkeled.

You have made a lot of speculative comments. This is all sketchy second hand stuff.