- Out of breathing gas - not since dive number 13 and that did not induce panic but was stressful. Fortunately instructor was nearby
- Entrapment - Have been wrapped up in mono a couple times in local sites but not badly. Training avoided any stress and experience makes each incident more of an annoyance rather than panic or even stress inducing situation
- Rough water - Ginnie Springs got tumbled over and over in brown water drifting from ear to ballroom in the river. Early on in my diving. Very stressful but managed to just inflate a bit and surfaced.
- Physical trauma or injury- reverse block that forced me to go back in and do a 20 minute ascent from 15 feet. Worried that I would not be able to get it cleared. Took 3 weeks for full effects to go away
- Buoyancy problem
- Inappropriate breathing gas
- Emergency ascent
- Equipment problem
- Cardiac symptoms, but dove anyway
- Too many "first's" (i.e. new equipment and dive site)
- Strong current or surge
- Middle ear equalization problem
The closest I have come to really getting stressed out was during my intro to tech class and due completely to over exertion. Was my first dive in my LP 85's and entering the water at this site is often very tricky due to loose rocks and big steps down. Made it all the way into the water and fell backwards. Water was just about a foot too shallow to turn over. Instead of moving out into deeper water I tried to get my self turned over by grabbing an overhanging tree branch and struggled for a good two minutes to stubborn and stupid to ask for help from one of the other divers there. Tried to be cool about it. VERY STUPID THING TO DO.
Finally got turned over just as it was time to go out for the dive and do the task for that dive. I was already out of breath but convinced I could handle it. MORE STUPIDITY AND BAD JUDGMENT.
The task for this dive was to bring a toxing diver up from 25 feet and tow them approx 50 yds to shore. My vic happened to be in double lp 95's and carrying two stages. An al80 and a 40. What I learned from this was number one if you over exert thumb the dive no matter how much you paid. Two drop the vics stage bottles! They do not need them.
I got him to the surface just fine and was about to begin the tow when it all caught up with me. All of a sudden I could not breathe. Could not get enough air. I felt the cycle starting big time (even though in truth it started when I fell, just did not see it) and pulled my mask off and shoved it in a pocket then jerked my hood off and still could not catch my breath. I stopped towing and told my vic/buddy I needed help that I could not catch my breath. Luckily he was not a new student in the class but a guy practicing for his full tri mix checkouts to 250 feet. His reaction was instantaneous and deliberate. He immediately disengaged and got behind me and put me on my back and as he was doing this alerted the other teams that he had a diver in distress and it was not a drill.
In seconds there were 3 more teams next to me as I was being towed to shore and was now slowly catching my breath. The shore was about 40 yds and I was only in my drysuit by the time we hit it. And I walked up to the car under my own power quite embarrassed and not happy. Oxygen was offered but declined as I was now ok. We did a full debrief and from that experience I learned some valuable lessons I have never forgotten and try to pass on to new divers. All of which can avoid panic or if realized in time break the cycle once it starts.
1. If a dive does not feel right don't do it.
2. If you have a problem before the dive make sure it's fully resolved before doing the dive.
3. This includes making sure you are not tired out from number 2
4. In rescues make it as easy on yourself as possible and leave your ego at home. Had I not been overtired the exercise would not have been a big deal. I repeated it after being fully rested with same conditions no problem. As it was I should have dumped his stages - not like they would have gone anywhere.
5. Do not dive with anyone in new conditions that does not have basic rescue skills. It's why I have no problem diving with students and do not consider they are not capable of effecting a rescue. they have gotten unconscious diver, panicked diver, rescue tows while stripping gear, and supporting a diver at the surface in my OW class in the pool.
6. Do not dive with anyone who has not had basic rescue skills unless I'm getting paid to teach them those skills on the dives.
7. Know your limitations and pay close attention when getting close to them.
8. As soon as you feel stressed be aware of it. The jump to panic is short.
9. Practice skills and task loading on every dive in some way. No exceptions.
10. Communicate with buddies and team members ANY issues or concerns before they turn into problems. The presentation I'm working on now for a show in March is on this and when it needs to happen, how it should be done, and why it is so important. Lack of clear and effective communication can and has killed divers.