Rescue class for the semi-fit diver

[Bubblesong]

I live and dive in California and have been trying to do this course for 2 years now - I'm holding off on doing Rescue through any other agency because this is the one I want to do. In 2016 it was cancelled and in 2017, not even scheduled. Being offered once a year also doesn't make it easy and you have to use a week's vacation time for it at minimum; this is quite a commitment.

Honestly, my concern always was that it would fill up too fast for me to sign up but that doesn't seem to be the case at all. Now, I'm trying to convince people to sign up with me so it doesn't get cancelled.

I just emailed them to ask about payment methods, (Visa, PayPal, check?)
I realized after, that the link that
Kevrumbo provided has the EDAM CLASS dates July 16-21, 2017, and I need to find out 2018 dates.
@Kevrumbo can you find 2018 dates for ERD class, followed by Chamber operation, minimum (6) and maximum (16) class size, and various acceptable payment methods?
Thank you!

 

[Kevrumbo]

With the beginning of Lobster Season this coming weekend, most Southern California Divers either are totally oblivious or take the Catalina Recompression Chamber for granted, assuming it's a model that would be a usual dedicated part of any city/county government Emergency Medical Service Program in the US. Unfortunately, it's not at all common -not even in coastal panhandle or cave country Florida:

Politics are the reason.

You want an example of gross politics as it applies to acute DCS/AGE dive casualties and available Recompression Chambers for treatment?
-->Scuba Dive at Your Own Risk | Inweekly

We are always ready and able here in SoCal, 24/7 365, to take care of and treat visiting Scuba Tourists in need as well as our own local divers -with or without healthcare coverage or supplementary DAN insurance. . .

I just emailed them to ask about payment methods, (Visa, PayPal, check?)
I realized after, that the link that
Kevrumbo provided has the EDAM CLASS dates July 16-21, 2017, and I need to find out 2018 dates.
@Kevrumbo can you find 2018 dates for ERD class, followed by Chamber operation, minimum (6) and maximum (16) class size, and various acceptable payment methods?
Thank you!

Just keep on monitoring the website (where it says "upcoming classes and events" in the upper left: Home > USC Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber > USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences).

Also PM moderator @TC (a Chamber Crew Supervisor) here on Scubaboard if he has early info on the 2018 class schedule. . .

 

[Marie13]

congratulations on a job well done.......sometime it hurts so good.

Thanks! I feel normal again. An hour in the pool last night doing my mile seems to have stretched my legs and worked the kinks out left from Sunday.

 

[Akimbo]

Politics are the reason.

Most of California (as-in land mass) is pretty moderate to conservative... people in the east and mid-west forget that the state is about 800 miles North-South. Population centers, particularly in the San Francisco Bay Area, are more left-wing... not unlike other parts of the country.

Diving and sea conditions also change a lot. San Diego to Pt Conception is a lot different Conception to Monterey or Monterey to Oregon.

 

[Sam Miller III]

@Marie13

Good for you Marie !
Now begin expanding your distance to a mile and a 1/8 or a mile and an 1/4 mile until that becomes the norm then increase that by a 1/8 or a mile and an 1./4 until 2 mile swims become the norm.

Concurrently begin a diet program...loose a pound a week and in a year you have lost 52 pounds !

Get you self in shape and come to Kalifornia ,,

I will give you a guided tour of Millers Reef a mile and 1/4 off Woods Cove in Laguna Beach California (where it all began) It is a mile and 1/4 swim out and a mile and 1/4 swim back = 2-1/2 miles). As it was described in one of the California diving guide books "It is just too far for the average diver to swim, and seldom visited." I did and my diving buddies did many times-- but they were all divers and LA Co UW instructors who were divers who knew how to swim

You too can become one of the few who can swim where it is "It is just too far for the average diver to swim, and seldom visited."

So get in shape and become a diver - not some one who just dives -


SAM

 

[maj2]

Congrats on finishing Rescue!
For me the course that seemed most strenuous was Ice Diver. After we cut the hole and dragged the ice chunks out of the way, I ached for about three days... The time in water waswelcome respite for my aching muscles...
Ice and Rescue were my two favourite courses though.

 

[Marie13]

Most of California (as-in land mass) is pretty moderate to conservative... people in the east and mid-west forget that the state is about 800 miles North-South. Population centers, particularly in the San Francisco Bay Area, are more left-wing... not unlike other parts of the country.

View attachment 428137

Diving and sea conditions also change a lot. San Diego to Pt Conception is a lot different Conception to Monterey or Monterey to Oregon.

I am not going to bring political specifics into this forum. Let's just say I will never go to CA and leave it at that.

 

[Adam Grose]

There have been a few threads lately about how fit a diver has to be to do Rescue. I'm semi in shape. I bit the bullet two months ago and signed up for Rescue, which took place the weekend just past. Saturday was 4 hours in the classroom. Yesterday was a full day 8-5 at the quarry. No pool work at all. Everything at the quarry.

My instructors pride themselves on a tough class, and boy, was it physically tough. I knew that going in. My workouts consisted of a mile of laps in the pool twice a week. I recently dropped that to do the recumbent bike, but that bothered my knees and sciatica so back to the pool I went. I also had several weeks of no workouts at all due to resting one knee that was bothering me.

My endurance was OK. I was definitely beat. It would have been easier if my endurance was better.

I was semi-concerned how my knees would hold up. They actually didn't hurt during the class, even when doing the backpack carry - I did it with a guy taller and heavier than I am. The chair carry was interesting. The backpack carry was actually much easier for me, which was a big surprise.

It's my sciatica that was really screaming during the day. Some Motrin and stretches during the day helped. I'd prepared my knees and sciatica for the day with Motrin and Icy Hot with Lidocaine (that stuff is magic).

All the laps really helped when I had to jump into 50ft deep water with just mask and fins (in a new, very buoyant 3mm) to do a swimming rescue. I'm not a strong swimmer, but give me a pair of fins and I turn into a speed demon! I had no clue how buoyant even a new 3mm would be! I only broke it out because I'd have roasted in my 5mm. We didn't go deeper than 20ft or so. Water temp was 78F at that depth.

Swimming someone in about 150ft to shore after bringing them up from 20ft down, while ditching their gear and yours was definitely tiring!

We did the class in very unseasonable, more than 90F degree heat and blazing sun. We were very, very well hydrated.

I spent today hobbling around the office. Left knee is definitely not happy. I never work out the day before or the day after diving as I've found it works best for me. I'll be in the pool tomorrow and Thursday and probably Wednesday. I'll be diving both Saturday and Sunday this coming weekend.

This was a good time for me to take Rescue. I was originally going to take it next season, but changed my mind. I ended up taking it with 3 friends/dive buddies, which made a very intense day actually very fun! Very challenging class, but a big confidence builder, too!

I'll be hitting the pool more than twice a week this off season, as well as a lot more weight training.

Congratulations on completing the Rescue Diver course!! For me, Rescue was one of the most challenging (and physically tiring) courses I have taken to date. But it was also one of the ones that I got the most out of (the other ones being Buoyancy and Science of Diving). I guess the instructor telling me "by the way, I have a spare mask... just in case you happen to lose yours" should have been my first clue to how the day at the lake was going to go!

Adam

 

[Marie13]

As a DM I try to DM at least one Rescue Class a year just to help keep my skills refreshed. Even if I am not doing all the skills just being in the class helps keep them fresh. One of the best parts and can be the worst parts is being the lost diver. I get a chance to to just lay on the bottom and take a nap until I am found. I have almost been drowned on the tow back in receiving rescue breaths and had second stages full of sand from being dragged thou the sand on the way in.

Interestingly, I was the only student of the 4 in the class who has absolutely no desire to become a cat herder, excuse me, DM. The liability issue is a huge one for me, aside from not wanting to deal with students in any shape or size. I'd probably enjoy mentoring other divers, as I've done with new shooters, but I don't want to teach at all. I want to dive and being an in-water babysitter is not my idea of fun.

 

[Sam Miller III]

New shooters ?

New respect ! pistol or rifle ? (or spear gun ?)
Large caliber or small ?

SAM