FYI
In the beginning in 1954 there was one certifying organization that was the very demanding LA Co UW Instructors Association who created the world's first certifying program, the
Underwater Instructor's Certifying Course commonly referred to as
"UICC"
The course required a D&R at 33 plus feet and a free assent (aka CESA) from 100 feet.. Every one who passed the course performed a CSEA with out any problems.
"Practice to perfection under controlled conditions what you may need to do under emergency panic conditions" was the theme
In1967 LA County developed the world's first
Advance Diver Program the three months long
"ADP. " It require the student to perform a free assent a "CESA" from 33 feet.
The program also required the students to maintain a LA Co dive log - the first time a dive log was required and it was the second dive log ever created-- The first Dive Log was created by the late Dick Bonin in 1955 while employed at thje Chicago based company
Dive Master, and who later founded
SCUBA Pro in 1963- Lets give credit were credit is do...
Dick as an USN officer under Doug Fane { (read his book The Naked Warriors or view the movie - Underwater Warriors. Zale Parry (
@Dr bill s close friend ) portrayed Doug's daughter) } In early 1950 Dick under the direction of Doug Fane were testing regulator performance under the artic ice for the USN Dick's regulator froze - he made a free assent under ice from 200 + feet..totally out of air
Every diver I certified in 28 years of instruction as LA Co, NAUI, PADI CMAS and other certifications all did a 33 CSEA as part of Catalina dive experience. Not one had difficulty.
While training and diving with my young son, what seems like in retrospect every day and night, I made a rule that he could only dive as deep as he could perform a free assent CESA. I rescinded the requirement at 66 feet -As an adult pre med student Sam IV and Jeff Bozanic were drilling 300 & 400 foot holes in the Pacific -Good training pays !
Now he is practicing doctor and the director of the ER/Hyperbaric department at a local regional hospital
I have made innumerable free assents CESAs from 100 and one from, GOK, how many feet ? when my regulator and lift bag became one and I was totally and positivity out of air ! So away I went all tangled and dangled blowing and going to the surface... And I am alive and replying to this thread
Once perfected with perfect practice and even more practice CESAs should be an automatic reflex , so who knows ?
I will always recall the LA Co motto "Blow and Go; Flair and you are There !" --
I am going to the beach to walk my dog Lucky and not to attempt a CESA on the beach
Sam Miller, 111