newly certified father-son accident in SD

[James64]

saw this artical on a news paper pretty sad

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20081005-9999-bn04diver2.html


SAN DIEGO – The body of a missing diver was found late Saturday afternoon following an all-day search off La Jolla Shores.
The man, who was in his 40s, and his 19-year-old son were diving for the first time after receiving their certification at a depth of about 150 feet at 9 a.m. when the father ran out of air, San Diego lifeguard Lt. John Greenhalgh said.



AdvertisementSearch teams from the U.S. Coast Guard and lifeguard agencies around the county scoured the sea for eight hours before finding the man using a remote-controlled underwater vehicle around 4:45 p.m.
Authorities have not released the names of either the father or son.

When the father ran out of air, the two began “buddy breathing,” sharing the air supply from the son's tank as they tried to ascend to the surface, but they became separated. The son told authorities that he continued to ascend, but ran out of air himself about 40 feet below the surface, Greenhalgh said.

When he surfaced in front of the La Jolla Shores lifeguard station, about a quarter of a mile out to sea, he began waving his arms in distress and caught the attention of a lifeguard.

The teen was taken to UCSD Medical Center in Hillcrest as a precautionary measure because of his rapid ascent. He was listed in “stable but guarded condition” Saturday afternoon, a nursing supervisor said. It was unclear if he was suffering from decompression sickness, which is when gas bubbles form in the bloodstream.

Rescuers launched an immediate search with dive teams, a helicopter and boats, but by 10 a.m., the mission had been reclassified as a recovery effort, Greenhalgh said.

Divers from the Coast Guard and other agencies later responded to aid in the search.

Dive instructor Todd Young, with Aqua Tech Dive Center, said his group of student divers had just completed their first dive when lifeguards ordered all divers in the area out of the water.

Young said novice recreational divers are taught not to exceed a depth of 60 feet unless they have more advanced training. Divers who breathe high-pressure gas at extreme depths can begin to feel as though they are drunk and can seriously impair judgment.

“We preach that you should always be watching your gauges and compass,” Young said.

[Blotto]

so sad.

[frankc420]

150 on their first dives after certification?  That was a death wish.

[Shrek]

I guess they understand that diving can kill you now.  It's sad, but now that father and son will be used as examples of what not to do.  They don't give you guidelines because they can.  That is why I won't take alot of my friends spearfishing.  It is because they don't have enough experience and a strong enough skill set if something goes wrong.  I tell them upfront too when they ask to go.  I tell them they can dive with me and hold my fish stringer, LOL!  Anyways, my nickels worth.

[frankc420]

I guess they understand that diving can kill you now.  It's sad, but now that father and son will be used as examples of what not to do.  They don't give you guidelines because they can.  That is why I won't take alot of my friends spearfishing.  It is because they don't have enough experience and a strong enough skill set if something goes wrong.  I tell them upfront too when they ask to go.  I tell them they can dive with me and hold my fish stringer, LOL!  Anyways, my nickels worth.

It's funny you say that about spearfishing.  That was the main reason I was leary about getting into the sport, especially when/if fighting a fish if it isn't stoned.  You find out real quick how easy it is to task load while spearing and I agree, not many folks would be able to handle it all that well.

Diving a buddy team is the best route when spearing, buddy trails or stays at your side, you shoot, he grabs the line and pulls it in, if it's not dead, he stabs it and strings it while you reload your gun.   

[Shrek]

Well, when I saw have a buddy dive with me during spearfishing, I don't mean keep him in my hip pocket.  Just maybe somewhere he might keep an eye out for me.  I just make use of them by using them as shark bait, I mean fish stringers.  I wouldn't recommend having two people try to fight the same fish.  If you don't get a kill shot and he takes off or begins running circles, it would be very easy to complicate matters with both of you hanging out together.  I also don't recommend pulling the fish into you unless it is dead.  There is no reason to get slapped in the nuts by his tail if you have him speared good.  Let him tire out and when he's done fighting, exterminate them.  If it's a big fish and you can swim him up, I'd do that and hand him off to someone on the boat.  I guess it's all a personal preference. 

[frankc420]

Ah, the spin of death.  Yes, I've experienced it, not so fun.  The last time this happened I had motioned to my dive buddy before hand that I was about to let 'er rip, so after I shot and it start going straight up in a spin, I yanked the cord and brought the fish about 3' above them, then my buddy handled it from there.