Without bashing me too hard, I would like to get some comments on an incident on my last trip family dive trip as education for future trips. Here is the situation:
I had a low air/out of air experience during a dive to a ship wreck at 60 feet and had to use the guides extra reg to make it back up. 16yo son also had a low air situation and was sent up without safety stop by assistant guide. 16yo finished with about 50. Long story but dive group went down, heavy current moved boat, anchor was not near wreck and had to resurface, take off equipment, reposition boat, re-enter and do second decent. Visibility was 40 or less, rough sea, water colder than prior day with current. Wreck was long, and we began to report our air readings as we were making our way along the wreck and away from the anchor line. We were already getting a little concerned, which could have upped our air usage. Guide continued to end of wreck and when we turned to return to anchor line where fighting strong current. Were instructed not to surface but to get back to anchor line. Seeing my low air, I used guides extra reg part of the way to anchor and then tried to finish with my air. As going up, I got to almost 0 and then went back to guides extra reg so I could complete the safety stop. 16yo son also low on air. He was buddied with guide, but obviously I was using his buddy's air. A young female who was probably a DM in training sent the 16yo up without safety stop. I could not see what was going on because of being teathered to the main DM using his spair reg. My 14yo was my buddy and was also low on air so I could not breath off him. All our prior dives had been shallow reef dives of 35ft or less. We told the dive guide and even joked that we were newer divers and had "air hog" problems. So, I feel the DM was well informed of this being a new experience. I do know there were some times I kicked too hard and can do more to extend my bottom time. Just trying to get some feedback. 14yo and I dove the second sight that day and went back down to 50 and had a great time. I am still not sure if there was an issue or on our part or the guide(DM) or it was just one of those situations you have to work through, so looking for insight or wisdon. Always trying to learn.
I had a low air/out of air experience during a dive to a ship wreck at 60 feet and had to use the guides extra reg to make it back up. 16yo son also had a low air situation and was sent up without safety stop by assistant guide. 16yo finished with about 50. Long story but dive group went down, heavy current moved boat, anchor was not near wreck and had to resurface, take off equipment, reposition boat, re-enter and do second decent. Visibility was 40 or less, rough sea, water colder than prior day with current. Wreck was long, and we began to report our air readings as we were making our way along the wreck and away from the anchor line. We were already getting a little concerned, which could have upped our air usage. Guide continued to end of wreck and when we turned to return to anchor line where fighting strong current. Were instructed not to surface but to get back to anchor line. Seeing my low air, I used guides extra reg part of the way to anchor and then tried to finish with my air. As going up, I got to almost 0 and then went back to guides extra reg so I could complete the safety stop. 16yo son also low on air. He was buddied with guide, but obviously I was using his buddy's air. A young female who was probably a DM in training sent the 16yo up without safety stop. I could not see what was going on because of being teathered to the main DM using his spair reg. My 14yo was my buddy and was also low on air so I could not breath off him. All our prior dives had been shallow reef dives of 35ft or less. We told the dive guide and even joked that we were newer divers and had "air hog" problems. So, I feel the DM was well informed of this being a new experience. I do know there were some times I kicked too hard and can do more to extend my bottom time. Just trying to get some feedback. 14yo and I dove the second sight that day and went back down to 50 and had a great time. I am still not sure if there was an issue or on our part or the guide(DM) or it was just one of those situations you have to work through, so looking for insight or wisdon. Always trying to learn.