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09-21-2005, 6:02 PM flameangel Joined on:09-20-2005 Posts 16 I nearly drowned trying to save another diver.... Ever happened to you before? I nearly died in Sipadan.... barracuda point...  was being swept by strong currents with a few others and while the rest got to shallower calmer waters, I had to go save a diver who was struggling and nearly swept out beyond the reef. So hero me when to fin & drag her back to the rocks and I didn't realise that when we all got up to shallow waters (me thinks it was about 10m) I finished my air supply exerting myself... I actually gulped nothing and then water as I snatched my dive buddy's primary air source as she took too long trying to free the secondary air source... arrrrghh!! My life literally flashed before my eyes....!!! Never again, will I be hero unnecessarily... sigh... ever had any similar experience?    Report

09-22-2005, 2:08 PM Editor Joined on:09-19-2005 Posts 38 Re: I nearly drowned trying to save another diver.... There was a boat above, yes? IMO, you could let yourself be swept off the reef but immediately ascent slowly enough not to get DCS and then pop your SMB at the surface. If your dive boat is alert enough and your DM saw you both being swept away... they can pick you up. How deep were you when you got caught in the current?    Report

09-22-2005, 6:42 PM Guysmiley Joined on:09-21-2005 Posts 6 Re: I nearly drowned trying to save another diver.... Sounds like you have not done your rescue diver course. You should have taken your friends Octopus yourself. By the way where was the DM in all this? I've beem to Sipidan and never been let out of sight by a DM.... Anyway you endangered the other diver. By taking her primary you could have casued her to bolt to the surface holding her breath. One more question, why did you not check your SPG before you decided to chase the other diver.. You must have been below 50 BAR. My advice to you is go for some skills refresher training.    Report

09-26-2005, 2:58 PM flameangel Joined on:09-20-2005 Posts 16 Re: I nearly drowned trying to save another diver.... Nope... I have not done the Rescue Diver course.... I signalled out of air to her but my buddy tried to give me her octopus but she took too long to dislodge it. She took a deep breath before I took it from her.... I didn't grab it without warning... I was the one who almost bolted to the surface, not her! As for your question about now checking the air guage... it was towards the end of the dive... and I didn't realise how much air I consumed in fighting the current back to the rocks and dragging the other diver upwards. Frankly we were all annoyed with the DM... he saw us being swept away but he was already in shallower waters and didn't go after the girls when we were all swept away. *shrug*.... anyway, its a lesson I learnt and wanted to share here....      Report

10-19-2005, 9:37 PM Lamduan Joined on:10-18-2005 Posts 9 Re: I nearly drowned trying to save another diver.... Hey Flame Angel,,   That's an excellent lesson learned. Thank you for candidly sharing it with us here in this forum. Lamduan    Report

10-23-2005, 10:21 PM Edward Joined on:10-23-2005 Singapore Posts 7 Re: I nearly drowned trying to save another diver.... Even though I have done my rescue course, in that situation, I am not sure what I would have done differently too. I am sure that many experience divers would agree with me that completing a course does not means you will immediately know what is the right thing to do. Thanks for sharing such experience. I am yet reminded to be physically fit all the time and enjoy diving more so that I am able to learn the art of thinking straight in such situation which I hope never to encounter. Edward    Report

12-17-2005, 5:02 PM Guysmiley Joined on:09-21-2005 Posts 6 Re: I nearly drowned trying to save another diver.... There's a good lesson here and it shows why your buddy check is so important. Any diver should know how to release their buddy's octopus. People who use the BC to clip away the octopus are not doing themselves any favors. A paniced diver will almost always grab another divers regulator. Being able to easily grab your octopus is so then wehen someone rips a reg out of your mouth, you can easily get some airsupply. The sad thing is I have seen so many SM's or instructors tell divers to use the BCD clip to stow thier octopus. A octopus holding clip costs $10.    Report

01-14-2006, 9:47 PM nAKEDDIVER Joined on:11-02-2005 Posts 22 Re: I nearly drowned trying to save another diver.... Flameangel. Well , in reality I want to be your buddy anytime .buy you a beer or two ! To me such stuation can be greatly control if the DM performs his/her breifing well and of course divers too got to pay attention.and ASK QUESTION if necessary . Well, after all DM should be able to highlight potential  'crtical' spot and briefly mentioned some plan B stuff. -if and that's what you do stuff  . DM should be the one who here that 'seen' it all. Unless the DM is in experience . So Flameangel , remember diving is an adventure,  I am sure you will make a excellant Rescue Diver candidate! Cheers.       Report

01-17-2006, 5:47 PM OrangeBloke Joined on:12-15-2005 Posts 5 Re: I nearly drowned trying to save another diver.... Just some points on what has been said: An out of air situation, which is what was happening here, is part of the Open Water course, not the rescue course, and the person in difficulties should take the alternate air source , not wait to be handed it. More often than not this is how it will happen in a real situation, often being grabbed before the donor even knows there's a problem. Secondly I would recommend the rescue course as, if it's taught properly, it does prepare you to deal with situations like this. One point in the course that's repeated again and again is not to put yourself in danger when trying to rescue someone else. It sounds calous but look after yourself first, don't risk there being a second victim. Finally I don't think the DM can be blamed without more information about what happened. Were all the divers experienced? Did they all carry basic safety equipment - safety sausage, whistle, etc ? Was the DM acting as a guide or overseeing the group? Would the DM leaving the other divers put them or the DM in danger? etc I sure this wasn't a fun experience in the least and I'm glad no one got hurt but it's good to practice safety drills now and again on dives just so they stay fresh in you mind.    Report

05-05-2006, 4:05 PM diverite Joined on:05-05-2006 Posts 8 Re: I nearly drowned trying to save another diver....  flameangel wrote: , I had to go save a diver who was struggling and nearly swept out beyond the reef. So hero me when to fin & drag her back to the rocks and I didn't realise that when we all got up to shallow waters (me thinks it was about 10m) I finished my air supply exerting myself... I actually gulped nothing and then water as I snatched my dive buddy's primary air source as she took too long trying to free the secondary air source... arrrrghh!! My life literally flashed before my eyes....!!! Nice of you to render help. Situations like this it would be safer to signal the DM or a rescue diver to render help. So its important to identify what certifications each diver has in your group. Going out to save another person is noble but you have to be mindful that your buddy is aware of what you are doing lest you end up with having to save this lady and your buddy was well. Always signal to buddy your intentions. Fighting current is not easy. Sometimes changing your depths (I prefer ascending) you might move away from the current. No point fighting it and end up drowning. Better to abort and surface, live to dive again I say. The Octopus should be prominently displayed and briefed during the buddy check on how it is to be released. In an out of air situation, you have to reach for your buddy's Octo yourself and not for her to give it to you. its harder for your buddy to locate her octopus for you compared to you looking for it yourself if its prominently displayed.        Report

06-29-2006, 9:40 AM omega7 Joined on:06-28-2006 Posts 3 Re: I nearly drowned trying to save another diver.... Hi all, I'm a novice and look foward to everyone's advice. But wouldn't the simplest thing to do is to surface together first  and snorkel back? or surface and call for help? isn't the view, situation and orientation much clearer above water not to mention - AIR? Thanks        Report

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