Rebreather World - View Single Post - Bringing an unconscious Rebreather diver up from depth

FrankG · 21st March 2008, 12:49

This is very good thread. I'm an OC diver and I used to dive with CCR divers a lot some time ago. I managed several more dives with silent divers last year in Ireland. Have to say I was not thinking about rescuing an unconscious diver so much until two of the people I knew had died. One of them never surfaced despite his buddies were around. This accident happened in Malin Head last year. Another one from Denmark that had died while rescuing his buddy from depth when diving the wreck of Rosallie Moller in the Red Sea last year. Victim survived but the rescuer died.

I have received an invitation to dive with silent divers again. I was analyzing my rescue diver training and have found it very basic. Considering all those scenarios I would say one would need to be very experienced diver, well comfortable with buoyancy control when off the shot line in mid water without reference and task loaded. I’m not going into details I just want to say that I will have to make sure that my skills and experience will help me in making difficult decision in case something goes wrong. I would need to make sure that I can lift a body and bring it to the surface if a controlled ascent was possible. An inverted rapid ascent from depth when deco involved (feet first) was an option that some people would consider. Ascending 90m/min when deco obligation took place is like to kill one more time. I would consider this option as very destructive from the fast offgassing perspective and only applicable if surface support and onboard chamber available. If you have some info about this method please send me a PM or just post it here.

This subject also makes me thinking if one should incorporate IWR into remote ocean diving where air lift arrival could take some time. In this case it seems to be the only prevention from further tissue damage. If deep diving take place I believe there should always be a surface support ready that will keep an eye and help when required.

I was assisting in rescuing one passed out diver but that was in 18m depth only. Victim was escorted and woke up during controlled ascent and was slightly disorientated. In this case the regulator was hold in and victim was breathing all the way up.

Finding the less painful way for the victim eventually rescuer as well is what I’m looking for. Of course just in case the chance was not gone. One dead diver is enough and having another one dying from playing a hero is also not a good idea. Simply this subject is difficult and good eye opener for novice divers.

Hope I'm not going to get banned for such opinion as it happend on TecDiver.

21st March 2008, 12:49	#61 (permalink)
FrankG New Member Current Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Slovakia Posts: 8	Re: Bringing an unconscious Rebreather diver up from depth This is very good thread. I'm an OC diver and I used to dive with CCR divers a lot some time ago. I managed several more dives with silent divers last year in Ireland. Have to say I was not thinking about rescuing an unconscious diver so much until two of the people I knew had died. One of them never surfaced despite his buddies were around. This accident happened in Malin Head last year. Another one from Denmark that had died while rescuing his buddy from depth when diving the wreck of Rosallie Moller in the Red Sea last year. Victim survived but the rescuer died. I have received an invitation to dive with silent divers again. I was analyzing my rescue diver training and have found it very basic. Considering all those scenarios I would say one would need to be very experienced diver, well comfortable with buoyancy control when off the shot line in mid water without reference and task loaded. I’m not going into details I just want to say that I will have to make sure that my skills and experience will help me in making difficult decision in case something goes wrong. I would need to make sure that I can lift a body and bring it to the surface if a controlled ascent was possible. An inverted rapid ascent from depth when deco involved (feet first) was an option that some people would consider. Ascending 90m/min when deco obligation took place is like to kill one more time. I would consider this option as very destructive from the fast offgassing perspective and only applicable if surface support and onboard chamber available. If you have some info about this method please send me a PM or just post it here. This subject also makes me thinking if one should incorporate IWR into remote ocean diving where air lift arrival could take some time. In this case it seems to be the only prevention from further tissue damage. If deep diving take place I believe there should always be a surface support ready that will keep an eye and help when required. I was assisting in rescuing one passed out diver but that was in 18m depth only. Victim was escorted and woke up during controlled ascent and was slightly disorientated. In this case the regulator was hold in and victim was breathing all the way up. Finding the less painful way for the victim eventually rescuer as well is what I’m looking for. Of course just in case the chance was not gone. One dead diver is enough and having another one dying from playing a hero is also not a good idea. Simply this subject is difficult and good eye opener for novice divers. Hope I'm not going to get banned for such opinion as it happend on TecDiver.
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