dumpsterDiver
Banned
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I decided to do some don and doff skills in the deep end of the pool when I got my double hose and a copy of "New Science of Skin and Scuba Diving". I scuba dove down to the deep end of the pool (12') and removed my gear setting it carefully on the bottom. Then I had to make a free ascent while blowing out air.
The tank valve had to be shut off otherwise double hoses will just freeflow away.
Then I freedove down and the first thing I did was turn the tank on and start breathing, then I put on the mask and all the other stuff on and swam away.
It's a great skill. I don't know why they don't still do it?
Probably because of the holding your breath part. Some people probably didn't get it.
I don't actively teach scuba anymore, but I have taught my kids to dive. This is my daughter's third time using a tank. We skipped the pool stuff and went right to open water (in a calm shallow area) and one of the skills I have her practice is: ditching the tank and swimming up while blowing bubbles. I didn't make her turn the tank off, since this was only her third time in the water and I don't make her take off any snorkeling gear for this time.
It is too dangerous to teach in modern scuba classes (from a liability standpoint), but in my personal opinion it is a great skill and confidence builder and is worth the risk for my children. If you skip to about 4;45 in the video we do the skill.
If a diver should ever have their scuba gear hopelessly entangled and they run out of air, being able to take the tank off and swim up could become a critically important skill.
Joan Training Dive Number 3 10-20-13 - YouTube
[video=youtube_share;NmeQmWZ_tzY]http://youtu.be/NmeQmWZ_tzY?list=UU1utDku8vJRJYgBZImLyLJQ[/video]