I will advocate that the effects of narcosis in its mild state is not =
recognized by the diver.

Go in a chamber down to 35m (Sorry I don't work in feet!!) and repeat a =
mathematical test and compare your times to that on the surface.

Last year on a dive to 65m on Trimix I located on a wreck in Scotland a =
small round piece of glass no more than 10cm wide - I left it. On =
surfacing I noticed a buddy had retrieved a brass ring that was the same =
size and I told him I had found the glass that would fit that - the next =
day I went down on the same dive again on Trimix and went straight to =
the glass with out a torch - try finding a small transparent piece of =
glass at 50m on air let alone deeper.

Clear head diving makes sense - appreciate the dive and your =
surroundings and reserve narcotic behavior to the pub - it takes a lot =
of time and effort to arrange and undertake deep dives so why not do it =
with a head that appreciates and can see the surroundings?

Colin Bell


----------
From:  G. Irvine[SMTP:gmirvine@sa*.ne*]
Sent:  01 June 1997 14:27
To:  Rdediver@ao*.co*
Cc:  wes@we*.co*; techdiver@aquanaut.com; cavers@ge*.co*
Subject:  Re: Teaching Air

Ron, I think Bill is just trying to point out just how severe reduced
capacity really is with narcosis.

  We just did a dive where I had to do something I had never done
before, follow a plan with unfamiliar equipment, and do it at moderate
depth  (150-190) with two new ( to me) dive partners: I had to operate
stobles and strobe slaves and set up a series of pictures in the Cube
Room at Sally Ward. Photography underwater is new to me.

  I dove 18/30 trimix, and was able to remember and execute all of the
instructions for the whole dive that Steve Straatsma had givin me, with
no problem. On air, the photography part would have been a cluster, yet
I am an experienced diver, know the site, and am a "tough guy".

  What really scares me about mild impairment is that it only takes a
few seconds to drown, or for you buddy to drown, and the increased
awareness and responsiveness achieved with gas is the difference between
being really good at this and coming out looking like a stroke .

  Give me every advantage I can get, and call me a cheater. Like a
certain large woman said to me at the workshop ( intended as an insult),
" you have gas, scooters, a team, and all the best divers, other wise
you guys would be nothing" - the only time she has ever made sense. - G
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