Dive safe! A short story from a chamber operator

When I had just finished my OW (only a year ago, so I can't really talk much about diving experience), I violated my NDL by about two minutes because I had been too concerned with watching the marine life than checking my computer. I also had been an idiot and hadn't checked what my decompression menu looked like so all of a sudden my computer screen changed, started beeping, and terrified me. I followed all the directions for stops because I pretty much figured out what had happened, but I was definitely more paranoid that afternoon about DCS. Now every few months I reread my computer manual but I run into people I dive with for work or in classes who don't even know what an NDL is and it terrifies me that they aren't even interested in learning how to read their computer for their own safety.

 

I really enjoyed reading what an accurate picture of what a chamber ride is really like. Thank you for sharing

 

Please do tell, or even start a thread with that heading. I might “get a clue” from hearing other people’s stories, as that is part of “NOT learning the hard way.”

 

Agreed - really sends a message to be very aware of limits when we dive. I don’t want to have that dive vacation “experience” if I can avoid it!

 

The most likely scenario is that I mis-understood him, or he misunderstood what I had asked him.

 

I'd love to be able to video record the experience, especially from an attendant point of view. When transferring in or out, you sit in a very tiny lockout chamber, and the first time I did that, I felt a tinge of claustrophobia. Also one thing that surprised me, is how much different equalizing your ears is in the chamber. I have very good ears for diving, but during decent in the chamber, I find that I have to equalize almost every foot, which is way more often than when I'm diving.

 

I thought scoobydrew answered your question quite nicely and I tend to agree. What you have described is idiot diving and they may want to rethink their choices and if they did get bent it would definitely not be an undeserved hit. I have ran my computer both ways on long recreational dive trips and I have never got close to my O2 limit. I now tend to run my computer with an air profile but always analyze my cylinders so I know what my MOD is and stay within it. Also in my experience many of the guides I have had in other parts of the world use Nitrox on an air profile and they are in the water everyday.

 

@The Chairman, I nominate this post for Post Of The Year 2019... and make it a sticky....and some Scubaboard swag....and a beer. And change Nassau Grouper to "Chamber Hero" or something cool.

Seriously though, this is probably one of the best posts I've read in 5 years of daily feeding my SB addiction. Great information about how to avoid peeing on a strangers leg at simulated depth. Thank you Divetech and although the Caymans are not my happy place, I'll happily buy you a beer, or 10, in Cozumel. Thank you for what you do!

Great post!
Jay