No O2 on boat

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paddyp

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No O2 on boat

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I recently posted a message on the LoneyPlanet diving forum about my experiences when diving in Koh Tao. I posted the name of a dive company who did not carry O2 on their boat. The operator Aquademia responded with denials stating that they always carried this equipment. I refuted their statements by posting emails I had received before arrival on the island. I thought this would be of interest to divers here, and anyone considering going there to dive.

The initial post can be found here (this is where I first point out their lack of O2):

http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/m...rentid=0&from=2

Their denial can be found here, followed by the emails which prove they do not carry O2 :

http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/m...rentid=0&from=2

Further to this issue I would hope that I could encourage people to post their experiences here.

Malaysia - Perhentian Islands
I will not restrict voicing my concern to a single dive operator on this forum. It is only fair that I tell you about the others I came across.

When I was on Perhentian Besar (big island), after leaving Koh Tao earlier this month, I enquired about diving with SeaHorse Divers. I called in at the shop and asked their prices, which very very competitive and about whether they carried O2 on their boat. The answer was no. They do not carry O2, not even a small DAN kit.

Needless to say I dived with someone else.

It turns out that the next company I went with was Flora Bay . They are one of the biggest dive operators on the island. I heard that they did carry O2 from another diver who had just been to Redang. This is a trip which takes a full day for a return journey.

When I dived with this operator locally (ie around the two Perhentian islands of Besar and Kecil), I found out that they do not carry O2 because the dive sites are closeso to the dive centre. On my second dive the return journey time to the centre from one of the dive sites on the far side of Kecil (small island), was 20-25 minutes!!

Is that really close enough for removing the need to carry O2. I'll clarify - they do carry O2 on the day trips to Redang, but not on any trips to sites around the two islands. In addition, I had two equipment failures when diving with Flora - bcd shoulder dump stuck open and regulator letting in alot of water.

I really think it is important that people post their findings of dive operators that do not carry O2. If nothing else, it might force a few to purchase the equipment. At best it might help someone if something unfortunate should happen.

The one operator I did finally settle on was AluAlu , they carry DAN sets on both their boats, regardless of their destination. Equipment was new and groups were small. I would recommend this operator without hesitation.

Regards
paddyp

If anyone else has come across an operator who does not carry basic safety equipment, please name them on here. Do not use this post for attacks on dive operators. Simply name them. Maybe a few of the operators will have the sense to make the small financial outlay for equipment before someone gets hurt.
 
I do most of my diving in the Philippines and I can tell you that a vast majority of the boats there don't carry O2 either(though theres usually a big bottle back at home base). Many reasons I'm sure but the biggest are probably
- cost. Aa $500 kit may not seem much to you if you are not from the phils but it is a hefty chunk of change for businesses where staff usually earn around $4-5 / day, some less.
- training. Your average boatman is a converted fisherman and almost definitely not trained in O2 administration.

The places I do most of my diving are with locals and the general rule is that you are self sufficient and responsible for your own actions, as I'm sure it was in the states a couple of decades ago. Diving in Asia is generally a different creature from most of the 'developed' world.

Your not in Kansas anymore Dorothy - cover your own a**!
 
Dear Paddyp

I would like to correct some inaccuracies in your post.

Aquademia Dive DO carry O2 on our boat.

We are a member of the SSS Recompression Chamber Network who conduct:
Primary Care and Life support
Neurological examinations
O2 Therapy
Oxygen Bank (28,800 litres)
Automatic defib
Air and Sea evacuations
Medical Escorts

SSS's website is www.sssnetwork.com

So there is a whole system of emergency support IN ADDITION TO the O2 on the boat used by Aquademia Dive.

We would also like to state that oxygen on a boat is not a licence to neglect safe and conservative diving practices or to push the limits. We're a small dive shop with an excellent safety record and people enjoy diving with us. Our staff is very enthusiastic and motivated to help people enjoy the wonders of diving.


Aquademia Dive
 
Maybe you can explain why one of your instructors stated in an email to me that you do not carry O2, and that if it was needed it could be borrowed from another boat.

See emails at this link. http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/m...&messid=4968186&STARTPAGE=1&parentid=0&from=2


I quote :

There is no oxygen on board but we are a member of SSS re-compression chamber network who have all the required medical support in the rare case something might happen. Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2004 05:31:42

I can understand you being concerned. Aquademia has very good safety record. This doesn't mean it isn't good to have oxygen on the boat but we are very carefull and make sure all our divers stay within their limits. SSS has a chamber on Koh Tao and Aquademia also has the possibility of using speedboats in case something might happen or use oxygen of one of the other diveboats.
Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2004 12:09:41

I am not denying that you have had good reports from people who dive with you and I have never mentioned your safety record. I simply take issue with the fact that, according to one of your employees, you do not carry O2 on your boat in Koh Tao. If you have since purchased the equipment, I think you ought to be commended. Is this the case?

As for the previous posters comments. I always take responsibility for my own actions. I always minimise risks when diving. As a result I chose to dive with someone else.

Your points about cost are lost on me. The operator I chose to dive with on my time in Koh Tao was also a very small outfit. They had 'somehow' managed to get the funds together for an O2 kit. Similarly in Malaysia, the smaller outfit had O2, whereas one of the biggest on the island of Besar did not.

If you say that because the boatmen are not trained in administering O2 is an acceptable reason for not carrying it then I really do question your thinking.


Regards
paddyp
 
Serious stuff as most people will or should be aware that O2 is the primary treatment for lung over expansion injury and the bends, personally I would ask any dive centre 3 simple questions:

1). Do you carry O2 on your boats?
2). Are ALL dm's and instructors on the boats FULLY qualified to provide O2 in the event of emergency?
3). Is the dive shop a suporting member of their local DAN (or equivalent) network?

If the answer were not yes to any of these questions I'd take my custom elsewhere. That said, from my experience it's rare for a dive centre not to have O2 on the boat and for it's staff not to be trained.
 
Wow, Tension on the Happy island of Koh Tao.
 
OK so they don't have O2, you decided to go to another boat. Get over it already!
 
I think Paddyp has made several good points although I might not agree with how he's gone about doing it. If you're a new diver you're putting yourself in the hands of others expecting them to look after you and if there's no O2 on the boat then they can't look after you properly in the case of an emergency.
 
paddyp said "one of your instructors stated in an email to me that you do not carry O2"

The owner of the dive centre says they do carry O2.

Quick question for paddyp - you were on Koh Tao, right? Did you actually go to Aquademia and check, or are you just relying on what someone told you in one email?

Who wrote the email you got? Maybe they were mistaken. The owner is saying they do carry O2. Who to believe? I would want to see some real physical proof before making a judgement and slandering them all over the web...

And yes, all dive boats should carry 02. Indeed, if they are a PADI dive centre, it would be a requirement to keep the dive centre status, I think... (someone please check their instructor manual...)

Just my 2 satangs worth...
 
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