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Dear Joe:
I teach off Catalina on a regular basis. I have read your post about this
near fatality. I am ashamed and mortified that a scuba instoketer would
practice such strokery. You did a great job out there and a great rescue.
You saved a life.
This is my recommendation. The next time you and this instroketer are alone,
take a 12 pound lead weight and smash this idiot's head into pulp. By
killing just one person, you will save countless student's lives in the
future. I will, of course, confirm that it was a true dive accident, and
help you fill out the PADI incident report form. We will explain that we
killed this person because we are both deeply concerned with dive safety.
Here are the reasons we will cite:
>I'm assisting an instructor in a PADI open water certification dive number
>one. We're boat diving off the coast of Catalina Island.
Dive number one should never be done off a boat. The students are either
getting on the boat very early in the morning, or sleeping on the boat the
night before. This instroketer has already possibly brought into play
seasickness, not enough sleep, anxiety about a giant stride entry into the
water as their first ocean entry, and at least one hundred other factors
that could add to their own internal stress of their first ocean dive.
>The water temperature was
>about 64 degrees, and all students were in 7 mil suits (no hoods).
> It's a sunny day, and
>the dive took place at about noon.
Thats a lot of neoprene for a quick first dive in what would be considered
warm water for Catalina on a sunny day at noon. That means a lot of lead on
their belt. This means moving a lot of mass through the water in an area
known for heavy currents that come out of no where. Why was the first dive
at noon ? Get them in the water as soon as possible. I guess they were on a
moving boat from 7 AM to 12 PM, a full five hours to build up stress and
anxiety and possibly seasick.
>After a surface swim of about 100 yards, we decend as a group.
Great, first ocean dive with ocean exposure protection and ocean weighting
and they have to swim 100 yards after sitting on a boat for five hours. I
bet the boat was anchored in deep water and the 100 yard swim was required
to get the students into water shallow enough for their dive. Is there a red
light going off in anyone's head ?? Catalina Island has som many great
training spots, I bet this boat was mostly already certified divers and this
area was a consolation spot foir the instroketer to "teach." 100 yard
surface swim is a stroke move for a first time dive in the ocean.
>The decent
>was normal, and the depth was 34 feet.
First time down on SCUBA in the ocean and we are gonna do Module One ( mask
skills and regulator skills ) at 34 feet. YIKES, have you found that 12
pound lead weight yet ??
>The diver acts as if he does
>not seem to quite understand what is expected, and is generally acting a
>little confused. The instructor directs me to sit with this diver while
>she finishes the skills on the last diver in the group.
Looks like we pulled the old "Let's get them done in two quick short pool
sessions to save time and money and pray it will all work out in the ocean
dive shop trick". That's the reason I quit three dive shops. Accidents in
the oceans is usually preceeded with take home academics, little or no
lecture and lighting quick pool sessions.
>As I position myself face to face with the diver, I notice that he is
>breathing very quickly (almost constant flow from the regulator) and
>shallow. He's opening and closing his eyes (mostly closed)). I reach in
>and grab his left forearm with my right (a buddy breathing type grip) and
>he holds on to me.
Joe, I could go on and on. ( 62 years old with a low blood pressure
prescription, etc. etc. ) Thank God that you were aware and responded. You
saved a life. But the life you saved did not need to be a life put in
jeopardy. SCUBA training does not need to be a death defying act. In fact,
it can be safe, and even fun !
I have a favor to ask. I would like to know the name of the instroketer. If
you are not comforatble telling me the name, then how about the first name
and last initial ?? E-mail me or leave a voice mail at (213) 307-8100. There
is a very important reason I need to know. If its who I think it is, its
someone we all call the "Fighter Pilot". We call her this because like all
real Fighter Pilots, she has an ever growing body count. If you are truly
concerned with dive safety, just confirm the name for me PLEASE. Anything
you say to me with be treated with the highest level of confidentiality, as
I have done in the past, as I will do in the future.
Once again, great job !!
Kevin
"Don't forget your history,
Know your destiny,
In the abundance of water,
The fool is thirsty."
Robert Nesta Marley
[\]
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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
o o
o o
o o
_____ o o
(_/\_) o o o
=( )= oo
Kevin Rottner
Southern California SCUBA
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