Diver Down

[nikwho]

I just read Diver Down, Real World Scuba Accidents and How to Avoid Them. Written by Michael Ange. ISBN is: ISBN-13: 978-0-07-144572-6. Pretty good read. makes you think about easily made, potentially life threatening mistakes.

 

[idocsteve]

Be aware that if you read Scuba Diving Magazine's "Lessons for Life", either on their website or in the hard copy, most of the accidents in the book are also covered there, although the book goes into a bit more detail.

I find both the magazine articles as well as the book to be interesting and informative reading, if not a testimonial to the never ending degree of human stupidity.

One accident in particular bothers me more than the rest..the one about the guy who urges his girlfriend to penetrate the wreck. He survives with minimal injuries, but she inexplicably dies inside the wreck, while he has plenty of breathing gas due to the assistance of the divemaster, who suffers lifelong paralysis as a result of his rescue attempts.

 

[OMFSDiver]

One accident in particular bothers me more than the rest..the one about the guy who urges his girlfriend to penetrate the wreck. He survives with minimal injuries, but she inexplicably dies inside the wreck, while he has plenty of breathing gas due to the assistance of the divemaster, who suffers lifelong paralysis as a result of his rescue attempts.

I have to be honest, I stopped reading the book after that story.

 

[nikwho]

Yeah, its not a feel good book, but extremely helpful information to keep your awarness level up.

 

[Wildbill]

This is an Excellent book....... I recommend it as reading to all DIvers. Not trying to scare everyone but it really opens your minds and eyes as to what can REALLY happen.

 

[Texas Torpedo]

You have a lot of issues to purchase to get to that point.. And I like the details in Diver Down much better.

Be aware that if you read Scuba Diving Magazine's "Lessons for Life", either on their website or in the hard copy, most of the accidents in the book are also covered there, although the book goes into a bit more detail.

I find both the magazine articles as well as the book to be interesting and informative reading, if not a testimonial to the never ending degree of human stupidity.

One accident in particular bothers me more than the rest..the one about the guy who urges his girlfriend to penetrate the wreck. He survives with minimal injuries, but she inexplicably dies inside the wreck, while he has plenty of breathing gas due to the assistance of the divemaster, who suffers lifelong paralysis as a result of his rescue attempts.

 

[Texas Torpedo]

My original open water dive buddy purchased this book for me. It was a very sobering, albeit great read. If nothing else, it made me feel like I didn't know jack as a new diver.. And you know what.. I really didn't.. There are so many lessons to be learned here.. Especially, not blindly trusting those certified above you to lead you places you are not trained and equipped to go.

Diver Down inspired me to go far beyond my original open water training and not take stupid (ignorant) risks, even if I thought they were insignificant.

IMO, This book should be a pre-requisite for OW and def. "AOW" courses.

 

[Rhone Man]

Yeah, its not a feel good book, but extremely helpful information to keep your awarness level up.

That pretty much sums it all up in one line.

 

[Eau_Girl]

This thread inspired me to pull the book off the shelf and read it over the weekend.

Agree with you guys. It's a great reminder to all of us to stay aware and continue our training.

Safe diving to all.

 

[Sam Miller III]

I believe it was Virchow, the renowned German scientist who stated
.......... "We learn from the dead"

And indeed we do, or should