10 Mistakes Divers Make And How to Prevent Tem
By Tec Clark www.scubaguru.com
10 Mistakes Divers Make And How To Prevent Them - Tec Clark
Dedication ...... 1 Disclaimer ...... 2 About the Author ...... 3 Preface ...... 6 Mistake #10 Buying Used Gear ...... 8 Mistake #9 Not Being Early for Dive Trips ...... 12 Mistake #8 Diving When Not Healthy ...... 14 Mistake #7 Poor Dive Boat Etiquette ...... 17 Mistake #6 Too Many Cling-Ons ...... 20 Mistake #5 Improper Defogging of Mask ...... 23 Mistake #4 Not Keeping the Mask On at the Surface ...... 26 Mistake #3 Not Taking Refresher Training ...... 29 Mistake #2 Not Equalizing Properly ...... 31 Mistake #1 Abbreviated Training ...... 35 Final Words From Tec ...... 38 10 Mistakes Divers Make And How To Prevent Them - Tec Clark
Dedication
This eBook is dedicated to the many ine diving educators at the wonderful institutions in which I have served:
Nova Southeastern University Academic Diving Program University of Florida Academic Diving Program Emory University Academic Diving Program Georgia State University Recreational Diving Program YMCA of the USA Scuba Program Broward Sheriff’s Of ice Dive Rescue Team Dive and Marine Consultants International Pro Dive International Recreational Scuba Training Council
I am privileged to call you all colleagues and friends.
Special Thanks To
My grandfather for countless hours on the ocean My mom for countless hours in the pool My wife and children for their love and support God for my gifts, talents, and His amazing underwater world
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Disclaimer 10 Mistakes Divers Make and How to Prevent Them by Tec Clark
The information contained in this publication is for informational purposes only. This publication is intended for use by interested non-divers, currently certi ied scuba divers, and scuba professionals. The tips, techniques, and recommendations offered herein may not be in compliance with your respective scuba training agency's published training standards and procedures. Therefore, content in this publication is considered professional advice only and is NOT a substitute for professionally supervised training by a scuba training agency certi ied instructor.
The advice that I give is my opinion based on my own experience. You should always seek the advice and training of your own certi ied diving professional before engaging in diving activities or acting on something that I have published or recommended.
Please understand that there are some links contained in this publication that I may bene it from inancially. The material in this publication may include information, products, or services by third parties. Third party materials comprise of products and opinions expressed by their owners. For this reason, I do not assume responsibility or liability for any third party material or opinions. The publication of such third party materials does not constitute my guarantee of any information, instruction, opinion, products, or services contained within the third party material. Reference to third party material is simply a recommendation and an expression of my own opinion of that material.
No part of this publication shall be reproduced, transmitted, or sold in whole or in part in any form, without the prior written consent of the author. All trademarks and registered trademarks appearing in this guide are the property of their respective owners.
Users of this publication are advised to read the content contained herein at their own risk. By reading this publication, you agree that neither myself nor my company, Tec Clark, Inc., can be held liable for any negative outcomes as a result from any information presented in this publication. The content in the publication is intended to make you a safer, more competent, and more comfortable diver.
©2015 Tec Clark, Inc. All rights reserved.
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About the Author
Raised in South Florida, Thomas E. Clark ("Tec") became pro icient at skin and scuba diving at an early age. At the age of two, Tec impressed family members with his af inity towards water. Tec's mother, a swim coach and lifeguard, taught him how to swim, and he eventually became a competitive swimmer. Tec's appreciation for the ocean was developed through frequent deep-sea ishing trips with his grandfather.
At the age of twelve Tec made his irst scuba dive with a family friend. Soon thereafter, he became a certi ied diver and immediately pursued advanced ratings. In 1988 while attending the University of Florida, Tec enrolled in an Assistant Instructor course to earn "an easy two credits." But much more came from that course and it was not long before Tec became an instructor for the University of Florida Academic Diving Program (UFADP). Instructing at the nation's largest university dive training program Tec gained experience teaching in auditoriums of 200-plus students and certifying hundreds of divers per year.
Prior to graduation, Tec moved back to South Florida and immersed himself in diving by being a divemaster and teaching scuba as an instructor for Orbit Marine Sports in Pompano Beach. In addition to instructing and divemastering, Tec was a volunteer public safety diver for the Broward County Sheriff's Of ice. At this same time, Tec's passion for breath-hold diving grew daily as he enjoyed freediving off of dive boats and nearby beaches.
In 1990, Tec returned to the University of Florida and became Managing Director of the UFADP. Through staf ing and directing numerous instructor training courses, he honed a specialty in instructor development and training. Tec gained professional credentials with multiple diving organizations such as YMCA, NAUI, PADI, CMAS, DAN and DRI.
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Subsequently, Tec received a Bachelor of Science in Recreation from the University of Florida, with an emphasis in Leisure Services Management. In the summer of 1996, Tec completed an internship with the YMCA Scuba Program headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. He continued working for the YMCA Scuba Program as a consultant responsible for special projects and development, then advanced to Assistant Director in 1997. In 1998, Tec became the National Associate Director for the YMCA of the USA Scuba Program.
During his tenure at the YMCA Scuba Program, Tec was responsible for dramatic increases in skin and scuba diving participation among YMCA's nationally. He also served as Chair of the Recreational Scuba Training Council (RSTC) Medical Committee, Chair of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) Underwater Activities Committee, and Board Member of the United States of America Underwater Federation.
As an international freediving judge for CMAS, Tec judged the national record dive of Mehgan Heaney-Grier and the world record freshwater dive of Tanya Streeter. In 1998 Tec and US Freediving champion Mehgan Heaney-Grier founded the irst United States Freediving Team. Tec is a founding member of the United States Apnea Association (USAA) and served on its Board of Directors for two terms. In 2002, Tec was Captain of the US Freediving Team at the Paci ic Cup of Freediving where the US Women's Team took irst place honors.
In 2005 Tec became a forensic diving accident investigator for Dive and Marine Consultants International. In this role Tec was commissioned by dive industry defense attorneys to investigate diving incidents. In 2006 Tec founded ScubaGuru.com. Complete with articles and educational videos, ScubaGuru.com remains a resource website for scuba divers. Also in 2006 Tec joined Pro Dive International, an internationally known instructor training school, as Vice President of Program Development, then COO and eventually CEO. During his tenure at Pro Dive, Tec was responsible for overseeing operations of training, charters, and retail at one of the most chosen career development centers in the US. In 2008, Tec founded a diving ministry called Reef Ministries.
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Tec has appeared as a diving expert on A&E, The Learning Channel and The Outdoor Life Network. Tec has co-edited several diving texts, including writing the Introduction of Trailside's Guide to Scuba Diving, and he has authored numerous articles for Skin Diver Magazine. He is quoted in Rodale's Scuba Diving, Dive Training, The Dive Report, Aquatics International, and Scuba America: The Human History of Sport Diving. He has appeared in the YMCA of the USA Swim Lessons and Lifeguard training videos, and is a speaker and presenter at numerous diving industry conventions and trade shows. In 2004, Tec was named in the Who's Who in Aquatics.
Currently, Tec is the Associate Director for Aquatics and Scuba Diving at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he teaches and directs the Nova Southeastern University Academic Diving Program - one of the premiere dive training programs in the southeast United States. Tec also conducts private consulting, as well as writing, video production, and podcasting at ScubaGuru.com.
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Preface
Diving is one of the greatest recreational activities to connect us with nature. We are truly explorers in this vast underwater domain. Underwater, especially on our coral reefs, there is beauty, symmetry, balance, order, color, and design. It is truly majestic to behold and be surrounded by all of this splendor. And then there’s us… humans.
You see, human beings are not designed for the underwater world. Everything about our physical being is designed to live on land. We are terrestrial. Let me prove it: • Our eyes are calibrated for air. When we go swimming and open our eyes underwater how well do we see? Not well at all, in fact everything is blurry. That is because our eyes are calibrated for air and thus the need for a mask (or goggles) which puts an air space in front of our eyes to see underwater. • Our ears are calibrated for air. When we dive underwater sound becomes omnidirectional. This is because sound waves travel approximately four times faster underwater, than in air. Since our ears are calibrated for sound waves traveling through air, we can close our eyes and turn our heads towards the direction of a sound. However, the speed which the sound waves travel underwater are simply too fast for us to determine direction. • Our skin is designed for air not water. We have breathable, porous skin. What happens when we stay in the water for a long period of time? Our skin gets “prune-like” and can even start to breakdown after extremely long periods in water. • Our skin is covered with hair. Body hair is designed to insulate the body against air not water. • Our airway cannot completely close when underwater. Unlike marine mammals whose airways seal with a sphincter, our nostrils are not able to close independently. Sometimes water gets up our nose. Introducing water into our airway is not comfortable, nor healthy.
The list goes on and on.
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All of this is to say, being a diver means we have to put rules, techniques and equipment in place that allows us to temporarily survive in this underwater domain. You see, the invention of the Aqualung by Capt. Jacques Yves Cousteau and Emile Gagnon in 1943 was just the beginning of underwater exploration. The Aqualung was the equipment necessary for underwater exploration. However, individuals were getting hurt, and formal training was needed to use the equipment. With the emergence of scuba training and certi ication in the late 1950’s, humans have learned to safely participate in the increasingly popular activity of scuba diving.
As with all things involving rules and skills, divers’ knowledge and skills can get rusty over time. Likewise, nobody is perfect and everyone can be better - even you seasoned divers.
In this book you will ind the top ten mistakes that I see divers make. As a dive training agency director and a forensic dive accident investigator, I have seen the unfortunate outcomes of these mistakes. The consequences range from dropping out of the sport, all the way to serious injuries or even death. This eBook is a selection of mistakes I have seen divers make over my 27-year career as a diving professional, and these are errors that I stress to my students not to do. Some of the items you may think are cliché’d or something you do not do wrong – but keep reading. I will teach you how to avoid these mistakes and even improve in areas that you may not think you are doing wrong. I will go into detail in each area, bringing unconventional wisdom and rationale into each lesson to prevent these mistakes from occurring.
Before we begin, let me thank you for purchasing this eBook and striving to be a better diver. Now it’s time to dive in and learn!
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Mistake #10 Buying Used Gear
Number ten on the list is the mistake of buying used dive gear. I hear complaints all the time from divers who have bought used gear on eBay or Craigslist. The regrets, frustrations, and expenses of ixing used equipment quickly outweigh the “deal” a diver got on his used gear. Let me break down items for you based on their relative purchase risk in the used equipment marketplace: • Lead weights – low risk – lead weights are pretty easy to assess. Hard lead should be intact and smooth. Avoid hard lead that has chunks, dents, and grooves in it. Soft lead pouches may be harder to assess. Look for altered stitching patterns as many times the soft lead pouches have torn and lead comes out. If they have been re-stitched, they may not have the right amount of lead in them. Also, divers are getting rid of old, environmentally unfriendly uncoated lead pellets. Certain brands like SeaPearls have always had coated lead shot, so they would be a better option.
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• Wetsuits – medium risk – Wetsuits are part of the soft gear items that are important in the selection criteria of “ it and comfort”. Over time wetsuit neoprene will break down, becoming thinner and/or more rigid. This leads to improper it and reduced insulation. Plus, I don’t need to remind you of the adage, “There are two types of divers; those who pee in their wetsuit, and those who lie about it.” How well have repeated urinations in the used wetsuit been properly rinsed or decontaminated? Eww. • Fins – medium risk – Fins are also highly selective based on it and comfort. Fins cannot be sized properly via an online posting. Furthermore, even if you think it is the same size and brand as what you have used in the past, the one you are buying used may have deterioration and/or warping because of age, sun exposure, or improper storage. • Masks and Snorkels – medium risk – Masks and snorkels are also part of the soft gear that is so important to check for it and comfort. An improperly itting mask will leak and be virtually useless. Now let’s say you ind the exact brand and size of the mask you use, it still does not mean it will it your face! All it takes is for the prior owner to have left it out in the sun repeatedly or squished in a dive bag for months. The slightest fold, bend, or crease in a silicone mask skirt can cause it to leak. Another “eww” factor to consider is the amount of divers who have nosebleeds and mucous in their masks. At the end of the dive, most divers are simply rinsing their masks and snorkels with fresh water, and they are not disinfecting them. • Buoyancy Compensators – high risk – As we move into the life support equipment (BC’s, regulators, and tanks), the risks posed by purchasing used equipment increases. The ability of a BC to hold air, or to add air properly, is extremely important to the safety of the diver. If a BC power in lator sticks open, an uncontrolled and rapid ascent to the surface can occur. This can be extremely harmful to the diver. Over time the o-rings and valve diaphragms inside the BC become rigid and brittle causing leaks or failures. Caution: Before purchasing a used BC and then asking a dive shop to look it over, please see my CAUTIONARY NOTE at the end of this list. • Regulators – high risk – Another piece of life support equipment that should never be purchased used is the regulator. The internal parts of both the irst
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and second stage are extremely precise. They require the right o-rings, diaphragms, seats, and precision tuning. Also, the hoses often get overlooked and when they are old and brittle a rupture can occur leading to a rapid depletion of air while underwater. The regulator also contains the pressure gauge, alternate air source (a.k.a. octopus), and possibly a compass or dive computer. These items are also considered as life support equipment and should not be purchased used. The failure of the regulator underwater, or any of its component parts, can be a hazardous (even fatal) event. Caution: If you think that you can just purchase a used one and take it to the dive shop to have it serviced, see my CAUTIONARY NOTE below. • Tanks (cylinders) – high risk – The scuba cylinder (a.k.a. tank) is another piece of life support equipment that should never be purchased used. Most divers think that it is okay to purchase a used tank because they know how to check if the tank is current with its VIP (annual visual inspection program) and its hydro (hydrostatic pressure testing date). Unfortunately, even tanks that are current with both of those inspections are not necessarily safe to purchase. The inside of a tank can have many issues that unsuspecting purchasers may not know to ask. Did it ever run out of air and have a few drops of water get in? How long has the air inside it been stagnant? Was it stored empty and now bugs have entered the cylinder? Was it improperly illed with another gas? Is the neck o-ring brittle and dry? Are the valve threads shot? Is the burst disk old or faulty? Was the tank painted or in a ire? You see, any of these conditions can lead to a horrible event. In fact, my favorite story was of a guy who sold his tank on Craigslist. It was within hydro and VIP standards and was only a year old. When the person who bought it took it home he noticed a few gouges on the outside of the tank. So he took it to his dive shop where a quali ied Professional Scuba Inspector inspected the cylinder and determined the tank should be condemned because the outside gouges were too deep. After a lengthy process of bickering back and forth between the buyer and the seller, it came to light that the tank had fallen out of the seller’s pick-up truck when he was driving, and he was uncomfortable diving with it – so he sold it!
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CAUTIONARY NOTE: The thing I hear most often to try to counter the risks of buying used gear is the diver saying they will take it to the dive shop to be serviced or inspected before they use it. The overwhelming majority of times when this is done the cost in time and parts, along with the purchase price, no longer makes the piece of equipment a good value. Additionally, you will not have a warranty should something be of issue in the future.
PREVENTION Purchase your dive gear from a quality, reputable dive shop/dive center. When gear is new it comes with a warranty. Certain brands and items will honor the warranty as long as you annually service them. The local dive shop is pleased to give you great customer service on items you purchase from their shop. If you take classes from your local dive shop and then buy used equipment elsewhere, the local dive shop is lukewarm to your equipment servicing needs as you have not entrusted or bene itted them with the original purchase.
Some dive shops sell their own used rental equipment at annual special sales events. Sometimes these sales come with store-speci ic warranties and a servicing has been done prior to the sale. Nonetheless, do think about the “eww” factor of how many people have actually used that equipment before you prior to getting that great deal.
TEC’S TIP:
Whether you purchase diving equipment on the internet or at a dive center it’s all about building a trusting relationship with the seller. If you can’t have a solid relationship, buy your equipment elsewhere.
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Mistake #9 Not Being Early for Dive Trips
Number nine on the list of mistakes divers make is not being early for dive trips. I see this all the time and have wonderful teaching moments with my students nearly every dive trip. Here is what happens. A dive center or dive boat says on its schedule “eight o’clock show, with an eight thirty go”. That gives the diver 30 minutes to do the following: • Find parking • Haul equipment to the boat • Pay for the trip and show c-card/logbook • Fill out waivers and releases • Set up gear on the boat • Tidy up your space • Change clothes • Go to the bathroom • Apply sunscreen
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Now what happens if any of those items break down? You got lost on your way to the boat… You forgot a piece of gear and need to rent an item… You forgot your c- card and now the shop has to verify your certi ication online… There is a line of customers waiting to pay… When you set up your gear, your regulator free lows and you need to rent a regulator for the dive… There is a line for the bathroom…
When any of these circumstances pop up it causes the diver to go into a rush mode. This leads to higher than normal stress levels. This stress can lead to forgetfulness, anxiety during the dive, higher breathing rates, and overall less enjoyment. As for safety, it too can go out the window under such a time-crunch. I have watched countless rushed divers set their equipment up improperly. Worse yet, they set up their equipment during the dive brie ing; a time when they should be giving their undivided attention to the divemaster or captain.
PREVENTION My rule of thumb is to be at the dive center or dive boat at least an hour early. I like to be there before other customers arrive, that is usually when the crew is still getting the boat ready. I am happy to wait until the boat is ready for me and my divers, because when we are irst on the boat, we often get our pick of where to sit. On rainy or sunny days I may want to be seated under shade, and on rough days I may want to sit midship. By being there early if any of problems occur, you will have time to handle them without being stressed.
When my students take heed of this strategy, they enjoy the last 20 minutes prior to the boat leaving by hanging out, applying sunscreen, sipping water, and watching other divers go through this last-minute stress ordeal. The students watch the chaos and learn the value of being early.
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Mistake #8 Diving When Not Healthy
Number eight on the list seems to be a no-brainer. In fact, it seems rather clichéd. You may be saying to yourself, “I don’t dive when I’m not healthy” and just skip over this mistake area. The fact of the matter is “healthy” is not just about sinus and lung congestion. Health is an overall body and mind condition that must be evaluated prior to each dive. A diver may feel healthy, but has put on 15 pounds since his last dive and does not exercise. Or, a diver is dealing with psychological challenges such as depression or anxiety. Or, a diver got a speeding ticket on the way to the dive boat. Everybody handles certain events in different ways, and we must look at both the physical and mental heath that can affect diving.
We must remember that the human body is subject to both physical (physiological) and mental (psychological) stressors when diving:
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• Mental (Psychological) Stress – When we think of “stress” we usually think of mental stress. There are many divers – even seasoned divers – who experience mental stress prior to, and during, dives. However, the levels of mental stress vary greatly by diver and usually lessen with experience. Nonetheless, some degree of mental stress exists for each and every diver. If the dive is more advanced or the conditions are unfavorable, pre-dive mental stress can rise. And as noted in Mistake #7, arriving late to the dive boat or dealing with a piece of faulty equipment can add to stress levels. Mental stress can diminish clear thought processes and can stimulate a physical stress response such as shaking, “butter lies” in the stomach, poor concentration, inef icient breathing, and elevated blood pressure. None of these stress responses it well with diving. I have heard divers report that their psychologist recommended that they get back into an activity they love to reduce depression or anxiety. Actually, diving is not the best activity for “getting over” a psychological challenge. One needs to be mentally prepared to dive so that they can be a safe diver for themselves, and for their buddies. • Physical (Physiological) Stress – Here is the area of stress that is more hidden and yet more profound. Remember in the introduction when I said that the human body was never designed to survive underwater for long periods? This is where underwater physics clash with our human physiology. Our bodies experience numerous physical changes when diving; some of which are brought on by the laws of physics experienced underwater such as Boyle’s Law, Henry’s Law, and Dalton’s Law. Other physical changes we experience are due to the apparatus we use to stay underwater such as our mask, ins, wetsuit, BC, regulator, and tank. When you combine these items with the environmental factors such as currents, waves, surf, cold water, poor visibility, etc., you have MANY contributors to a diver’s physical stress. But why is this so important? As Divers Alert Network (DAN) reports, cardiac events are the number one medical cause for diving injuries and death. As you have seen previously herein, the numerous physical factors listed put stress on the cardio-vascular system of divers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 70 million American adults (29%) have high blood pressure – that is 1 of every 3 adults. High
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blood pressure in combination with underwater physical stressors, can result in an underwater cardiac event such as a heart attack or cardiac arrest.
PREVENTION This Mistake #8 area is not meant to scare you away from diving. Rather, it is a call to action for you to make sure you are both physically and mentally it to dive. Especially if you are a seasonal diver (i.e. you time your diving activities with annual events such as lobster season or when the quarry opens), I urge you to get a diving physical exam by your primary care physician or with a diving medical physician in the Divers Alert Network Physician Referral Network . Yes, that means I am recommending at least once a year having a physical exam. And, if you have not been diving in a couple years or longer, I strongly urge you to get a physical exam as well as a scuba refresher course (see Mistake #3). When you take a refresher or any other diving continuing education class you will need to ill out a Medical Questionnaire (See my article “How to Fill Out the Diving History Questionnaire”). Even if you list all “NO” responses on that Medical History Questionnaire, I still recommend that you get a diving physical exam by a physician.
Prior to each dive you can also conduct a pre-dive readiness assessment of your physical and mental state. Here is what I do myself, and recommend to my students. Simply ask yourself and visualize prior to each dive, “Am I able to safely and properly share air with another diver in need?” If your answer is questionable or met with hesitation of any kind, you may not be physically or mentally prepared to dive. In that case, it is best to cancel the dive and more thoroughly assess what is going on and what needs to be resolved prior to engaging in diving again.
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Mistake #7 Poor Dive Boat Etiquette
Isn’t it a treat when we go diving on a charter dive boat and there are only a few divers on the boat? Ah, all that room! On the other hand, the more crowded the dive boat, the more uncomfortable it is for the divers. As space on a dive boat diminishes, the need for proper dive boat etiquette increases.
On nearly every dive boat trip I catch some etiquette offenders. Here are some of their offenses: • Being Late – This can disturb the procedural low of the boat crew preparing to embark on the trip. Much attention will be spent on the latecomers. This can cause the boat to leave the dock late putting all divers and the crew off schedule. See Mistake #9.
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• Spilling Into Other Areas – In this case the diver’s dive bag is often in the walkway of other divers and crew. Gear is also strewn across the bench seat into other divers’ areas. • Taking Too Much Dry Space – Here the diver has multiple dry items spread out taking up tons of dry space area. The diver’s lunch box, water bottle, towel, dry clothes, shoes, log book, etc. are sprawled out covering the majority of the dry counter top or the inside of a dry box. • Sitting on the Cooler or Dry Box – On a dive boat many people like to access the dry box or cooler to get their dry items, snacks, fruit, or a beverage. When etiquette offenders sit on either of these, it adds to the frustration of other divers who want access to their items. • Talking During Brie ings or Roll Call – This is my biggest pet peeve dive boat etiquette offense of them all! And this is true for many of us dive professionals who actually worked on a dive boat as a divemaster. When etiquette offenders are talking during the dive brie ing, it is distracting to other divers. This distraction can lead to divers not hearing important safety aspects of the brie ing – and the offender misses out on the information too. When etiquette offenders talk during roll call it is hard for them or others to hear their name being called. The divemaster then has to repeat the name over and over for the person to respond. This slows down the roll call process and is frustrating to the crew and other divers who are quietly listening for their name. • Disassembling Equipment During Debrie ings or Roll Call – In this case the last dive group just got on the boat and the crew is ready to do roll call. But this group of divers secures their gear, then turns around and starts disassembling their equipment. The purging regulators and the hisses of air drying off dust caps is extremely loud and distracting to those listening for their names.
PREVENTION So how do you avoid being dive boat etiquette offenders? Here are your tips: • When the boat is crowded, space is at a premium. We all need to set up our gear elbow-to-elbow with the diver next to us. Leave your dive bag under the
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bench pulling out the items in order of assembly one at a time. Also be sure to setup your gear on alternating tanks, skipping one tank in between each diver. This gives you proper elbow-room to get into your gear while your gear is in the tank racks. • As the boat becomes more crowded, the area to keep your dry items also becomes more of a premium. Bring a small dry bag or backpack to contain your essential dry items. Keeping your dry items contained, nice and neat, will help you and other divers share space. • Avoid sitting on coolers or dry boxes. In fact, avoid hanging out in any places where other divers will want to frequently access. • Give undivided attention during dive brie ings, debrie ings, and roll call. Be quiet, and do not do anything else during these times. If you do anything else, you are not giving 100% attention, which will distract you and will distract others. Note, you may have been with the same dive boat and heard this same brie ing hundreds of times, but that does not give you the right to distract others while they are listening. • Wait until after roll call to start disassembling your equipment. Again, give your undivided attention until the crew is done with the roll call, then you may talk, disassemble your equipment, pack your gear, etc.
TEC’S TIP:
Even if you have heard the same briefing dozens of times on your favorite dive boat, be attentive, as others may be distracted by your non-interested appearance.
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Mistake #6 Too Many Cling-Ons
I recently went diving with a guy who looked as if the diving retail accessory gods vomited on him! He literally had the following items attached to his BC: • Retractable device holding his octopus second stage • Retractable device holding his pressure gauge • Surface signaling device (a.k.a. safety sausage) • Dive knife • Backup dive computer • Small dive light • Retractable device holding his compass • Waterproof whistle • Audible device attached to power in lator • Gloves attached through a D-ring • Dive sanctuary medallion
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Every D-ring on his BC was occupied! Underwater he had more moving parts than I have ever seen on a diver. And what was most obvious, was the amount of drag that all those “danglies” or “cling-ons” created when he had to swim against the current.
I have seen this trend where divers are getting BCs that have little or no pockets, and then they wear oodles of accessories on the outside of their BC. There are numerous problems with this. The irst problem is the amount of drag that is increased on the diver while moving underwater. This is especially of issue in strong currents. Second, I see divers get their accessories caught in lines and ladders quite often causing entanglement issues. Third, the accessories can easily break off, get caught, or get crushed when worn on the outside. Fourth, equipment shedding during a rescue becomes more challenging when dealing with multiple “cling-ons.” Fifth, there is more opportunity to forget your accessories as there are many more steps and items necessary during equipment setup and con iguration process.
PREVENTION Dive accessories are good things and dive shops are eager to sell diving accessories. But their use and containment must be properly evaluated. I am a dive equipment minimalist. I always look for simplicity and effectiveness. When you are making gear decisions consider if what you are buying creates value or does it add to “more that can go wrong?” For the majority of my diving I utilize jacket-style BC’s that have ample pockets. I keep ALL the following items in my BC pockets arranged precisely by how and when I would need them: • Small dive knife • Surface signaling device • Whistle • Pocket mask • Slates • Gloves • Compass • Small dive light • Finger reel
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By utilizing my pockets I have eliminated all “danglies” and “cling-ons” and thus improve my hydrodynamics underwater. This is extremely important for me as an instructor, but it is also valuable for divers at all recreational levels.
TEC’S TIP:
Think in a minimalist manner by questioning whether or not a piece of equipment - especially accessories - is truly essential or is it simply more-to-go-wrong.
Less is more.
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Mistake #5 Improper Defogging of Mask
Perhaps you are one of the many divers who cannot igure out why your mask keeps fogging. You have tried defog solution after defog solution and none of them seem to work. You begin to question your mask, you begin to question your procedures for defogging – and you just can’t seem to igure it out or resolve the persistent fogging or fog spots in your mask. The fact of the matter is… it is probably you and not your mask. The good news is it is ixable and preventable.
PREVENTION I have received numerous thanks over the years for providing two distinct solutions to frustrated divers who are plagued with masks that continually fog when diving: • How to properly pre-treat a mask prior to irst use • How to properly defog a mask prior to every dive
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Pre-Treating a Mask Before Its First Use The irst solution is from my 2-part video on How to Pre-Treat a New Dive Mask . These are both quite long and detailed videos, but they explain the need to “pre- treat” the dive mask before its irst use. When you purchase a mask, there is a silicon residue on the lenses as a result of the manufacturing process. This residue will easily create fog in the mask no matter how well one applies defog prior to the dives.
Some of the big points in my pre-treating videos are the product used (plain white toothpaste), the procedure (must be done on a dry lens), and the repetition (must do the procedure multiple times). Another way to learn the detailed step-by-step method is to read my article How to Pre-Treat a New Dive Mask .
Defogging a Mask Before Each Dive The second solution is in the procedure of properly defogging a mask prior to each dive. Most divers get this wrong. There are two major mistakes to defogging a mask that I see all the time. First, you must apply defog solution to a dry lens. It does not matter if it is a commercial defog solution (Sea Pearls, Spit, 500psi), or baby shampoo, or even your own spit – it needs to be applied and rubbed into a dry lens. You see, we are trying to create a surfactant to coat and smooth the microscopic water droplets. When water is on the lens irst, this weakens the surfactant coating, thus creating fog. Apply defog on a dry lens.
The second mistake is that there is an invisible “surfactant killer” on your ingers when you rub your defog onto your lenses. A surfactant killer is usually silicone residue from a piece of scuba equipment or your sunscreen. Have you ever used a piece of equipment that you just got back from the dive shop and you feel that slick coating on the outside? This is often because silicone is used quite often as a lubricant for our diving equipment – especially where o-rings are concerned. Even the slightest amount of silicone on a technician’s hands often gets on other components. We will touch this residue as we setup our gear as it may be on tank valves, regulator yokes, regulator hoses, and BC in lator hoses. Simply wipe/wash/ rinse your ingers off thoroughly prior to applying defog to your mask.
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The other common surfactant killer is sunscreen. You have applied sunscreen at some point before diving and the oils of the sunscreen remain on your ingers. The sunscreen will remain on your ingers for a long time after application. When you apply whatever method of defog to your mask, the oils on your ingertips will break the defog surfactant barrier creating fog spots or streaks. Again, simply wipe/wash/ rinse your ingers off thoroughly prior to applying defog to your mask.
With these two techniques, you should be fog free from now on! Also, for more detailed information on properly defogging your mask, see my article How to Defog a Diving Mask .
TEC’S TIP:
Did you know the trace amount of sunscreen on your fingertips can hinder the performance of your defog?
Make sure sunscreen and oils are off your fingertips when you rub in any defog.
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Mistake #4 Not Keeping the Mask On at the Surface
This next area has been the subject of great controversy among divers and dive professionals. Of all the mistakes in this book, taking the mask off at the surface is the one I see the absolute most. This happens when a diver comes to the surface, and the mask gets perched on the forehead or pulled down around the neck. When asked why divers do this it is usually because they feel the mask is “uncomfortable to wear” or that it is “easier to talk without a mask on”. You may be doing this yourself – and you may have been taught to do this.
Many scuba instructors have made this a habit with new divers. When the instructor surfaces the students after every series of skills in the pool, he removes his mask – and the students do the same. Think of how many times that is done.
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Over and over again, the mask is removed at the surface. This establishes the same motor-memory as in lating the BC at the surface and giving a surface okay signal. When this is done in a pool it is not of issue; but we do not train to dive in waveless pools! Instead, the majority of the great places to dive are coral reefs in our oceans, where we will encounter waves of all sizes. When the students are certi ied divers diving on their own, they do this in the ocean and the charter boat divemasters and captains yell at them, “PUT YOUR MASK ON!” The divers are quite embarrassed, and it happens again and again because it was made a habit during their irst scuba class.
There are numerous problems associated with removing the mask at the surface including: • Loss of airway control – Airway control is becoming an increasingly important factor in scuba training. Training agencies are stressing the importance of always wearing the mask and having either a regulator or snorkel in the mouth when at the surface. Why? Because divers need to be trained for the ocean environment. When waves of any size are encountered at the surface, the airway needs to be protected. The mask and regulator or snorkel should only be taken off when on the dive boat or on shore. • It can be a sign of distress – When divers are in distress at the surface, one of the things they do is reject equipment. As a panic diver surfaces, she will often remove her regulator and remove her mask. Dive professionals are trained to look for this action, as they may have to intervene quickly. Once a diver surfaces and places her mask on her forehead, dive professionals and boat captains will often yell out, “DIVER, ARE YOU OKAY!?!” The majority of the time the diver will respond with “yes” or “I’m ine”. And now the dive professionals or captain (slightly exasperated) will tell the diver to put her mask back on. • Stimulates increased mucous production – When the mask is removed and put around the neck or on the forehead, this allows for even small waves to splash in the face of the diver. When water (especially salt water) gets in the mouth, nostrils, eyes, or tear ducts, that stimulates mucous production and irritates the sinuses. This, in turn, creates dif iculty equalizing both the ears and the sinuses during the dives.
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• Waves knock the mask off – When the mask is perched on the forehead it is very easy for it to fall off, especially when a wave comes along and knocks it off. Once it gets knocked off the head, the diver rarely is able to ind it and grab it before it sinks down out of reach. • Makes the mask fog easier – Once a mask is worn, there will be an internal air temperature in the mask. With proper defogging and a constantly worn mask, there should be no fog issues. However, if the mask is taken off and put back on repeatedly the internal mask temperature constantly changes. This can easily exacerbate fogging inside the mask lens.
PREVENTION Keep your mask on and either your regulator or snorkel in your mouth at all times when in water. NOTE: If you think I am being a bit melodramatic about constantly wearing the mask when in water, consider the following. I once worked a diving fatality where a man properly surfaced from a dive at the bow of a charter dive boat. Upon surfacing he in lated his BC, put his mask on his forehead, and took the regulator out of his mouth. The current was strong and there were slight waves about two- to three-foot seas. As he was drifting to the stern of the boat he was cheerfully talking to divers and crew on the boat about the dive. During the conversation the crew asked him to put his mask back on and put his regulator back in his mouth, but he did not. Once at the rear of the boat, the diver grabbed a hold of the tag line. It became immediately apparent how strong the current was because he was unable to hold onto the tag line with one hand. He grabbed, and held on tightly with both hands as to not slip away. However, now the waves were slapping him in the face as he attempted to catch his breath. The crew were yelling for him to put his mask on and put his regulator in his mouth. But the current was so strong that every time he took one hand off the line to get his regulator, he started slipping, so he would put his hand immediately back on the line. His regulator was dangling behind him, and his mask had now been washed off his head. He repeatedly tried to take a breath, only to get a face full of water each time. Within seconds he went unconscious and drifted off the line. The crew went in after him and attempted resuscitation without success. This diver literally drowned at the surface, all because of removing the mask and regulator and compromising the airway control.
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Mistake #3 Not Taking Refresher Training
This is a mistake that most divers are guilty of violating. In fact, most certi ied divers admit that they should take a refresher. This is because the scuba certi ication is similar to your high school diploma. Your diploma represents the completion of curricula at a certain point in time. And, it does not expire.
The scuba certi ication is similar. It represents the completion of a set of curricula to become a certi ied diver, and the card does not expire. But do you remember all of the items you learned in high school? I certainly do not!! And that is how it is with divers, the longer the period of time after the completion of the certi ication course, the more our diving skills and knowledge are forgotten. Now, if one is actively diving on a regular basis then there is not as much skill loss. Dive experience can actually add to a diver’s skills and knowledge. But there is still skill deterioration because
www.scubaguru.com 29 10 Mistakes Divers Make And How To Prevent Them - Tec Clark not all diving skills will be performed on every dive (i.e. air sharing, controlled swimming ascents, diver tows, weight drop, etc.).
There are only a couple voiced reasons why people do not take scuba refresher courses. First, most people claim they do not have the time to take a refresher. Second, people claim they do not have the money to take a refresher. But as you know, if you really want something you will ind the time and the money for it. The reality is that most people do not get a strong sense of need or value to taking a refresher course. They intuitively know they should, but it is not strong enough to get them to actually do it. If you think about it, the diving industry has perpetuated that there is not a strong need for refresher training by issuing non-expiring c-cards. Also, many dive boats are lenient on how long it has been since you have been diving for you to go out on their dive trip. For these reasons divers often do not feel a strong need to take a refresher course.
PREVENTION The prevention is simple – take a scuba refresher course. But the real question is how often? I have heard some instructors advocate taking a refresher course every year, and other instructors say ive years – and everything in between. There is not consensus on this, because it is not the same for everyone. I am a big fan of the everyone-is-different approach to taking scuba refreshers. For instance, if you are a middle-aged of ice worker who only dives one week a year at the beginning of lobster season, then you should take a scuba refresher course a few weeks prior to the beginning of your lobster dives each year. If you are a college student who conducts a couple dives per month, then you might not need refresher training but every two or three years. Now between these two scenarios, you might be saying, “Tec, I understand refresher training for the once a year diver, but what about the college student doing 24 dives per year? That does not sound right.” Again, even though the college student diver conducts dives often and may be (presumably) in better shape than the middle-aged of ice worker, the fact is that the diver does not practice certain skills that are very important when needed – air sharing, controlled swimming ascents, diver tows, weight drop, etc. This is an often overlooked area of refresher training, thus stressing its importance.
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Mistake #2 Not Equalizing Properly
This mistake has actually prevented people from having a lifetime of wonderful diving experiences. And the solution to this mistake may be the single most important prevention advice in this book for those with equalization dif iculties.
I hear many former divers tell me they were never able to equalize – either in class or after class, and because of their “ear problems” they do not dive anymore. Then I ask them my question, “Can you equalize your ears in an airplane?” At least 99% of divers will respond with “yes”, that they can equalize in an airplane either by yawning, swallowing, or chewing gum. Imagine the encouragement these divers get when I tell them that, physiologically speaking, if they can equalize in a plane, they can equalize underwater – they have just been doing it wrong when diving. Most divers are baf led, but when they actually work with me in a pool or open water, they get it and are back on track with diving again.
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The main problem is when divers begin their descent underwater they are thinking about, and doing many tasks. One example is when there are rough seas and/or a strong surface current. The divemaster tells divers not to linger at the surface but to get underwater and wait for your buddy. When I hear this brie ing given and I am teaching a Rescue or Divemaster class, I challenge my students to see how many divers will be “stuck” on the descent line with equalization issues. It never fails, the divers go down quickly without equalizing “early and often.” By the time they are at 10 feet, they feel the pressure on their ears and then it is too late to equalize. The “trapdoor effect” has taken place where the middle ear’s negative pressure is like a vacuum and it is literally squeezing the eustachian tube. This prevents the eustachian tube’s ori ice in the back of the throat from opening to let air in to equalize the middle ear.
Then it gets even worse. It only takes seconds with the negative pressure in the ears to start having further complications. These complications include swelling, lymph discharge, and/or bleeding. To help you understand this, consider a hickey on the skin. Because of negative pressure on the skin edema (swelling), lymph, and capillary rupture (bleeding) can occur leaving a raised dark red or purple patch on the skin. Imagine this negative pressure (suction) on the more fragile tissues of the middle ear and eustachian tubes. At only a few feet underwater without proper equalization, the unequalized middle ear starts to ill with lymph and/or blood, and the eustachian tubes ill with mucous. This contributes to the fullness that divers feel in their ears after attempting equalization with no success. When this occurs it will be near impossible to equalize soon thereafter (on the next dive or even the next day). Ear infections can take place as a result of the luid build-up.
PREVENTION As you were taught, one of the rules of scuba diving is to “equalize early and often.” This is not a cliché. Rather, this is a very real and proper rule. However, divers are not iguring out what early means. When a diver waits to feel pressure in the ears as the reminder to equalize, it is too late! Early means as soon as your head goes
www.scubaguru.com 32 10 Mistakes Divers Make And How To Prevent Them - Tec Clark underwater – this is so important that I will repeat it – as soon as your head goes underwater start your equalizing method.
There are several equalizing methods from which you may choose: • Valsalva Method – This is the most common method taught to divers. It involves pinching the nose shut and blowing gently through your nose. This forces air into your eustachian tubes, equalizing the middle ear. • Toynbee Maneuver – This method is done by pinching the nose shut and swallowing. That uses muscles in the back of the throat to open the eustachian tubes temporarily. • Frenzel Method – This method uses a pinched nose and a sort of drawing or grunting of air into the back of the throat. Then the tongue is used as a piston to push the air stored in the back of the throat up and out against the closed nostrils, which forces air into the eustachian tubes. This method is used by trained freedivers. • Voluntary Tubal Opening – In this method, the diver speci ically controls the muscles in the back of the throat to open the eustachian tubes. It is just like you would begin a yawn. Try it. At the beginning of a yawn you should feel the subtle clicks or pops of your eustachian tubes opening. Another way to voluntarily open the eustachian tubes is to swallow.
A note on equalizing methods. Methods such as Valsalva or Frenzel force air into the eustachian tubes and middle ear. If too much force is applied you can over pressurize the middle ear so much that membranes in the inner ear can rupture. This is a serious condition. Plus, you can also force mucous and luids into middle and inner ear spaces as well. Do not force air too much. Remember, it is a gentle blowing of air against a pinched nose.
For that reason, I use a more passive approach of just using my throat muscles to open the eustachian tubes – the Voluntary Tubal Opening is my preferred method. But it requires that you do it constantly on descent because each time the tube opens, the middle ear equalizes to that ambient (surrounding) pressure. This needs to be done at least every two feet, especially in the shallow depths.
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Here are some more tips on improving your ability to equalize your ears when diving: • Equalize before you feel the pressure on your ears • Descend feet irst. This keeps your head up while equalizing, which assists in the equalizing process. It is harder to equalize when descending head irst. • Avoid milk and dairy products before a dive. Milk and dairy products can create mucous, which will increase the dif iculty equalizing. • Keep your mask on (see Mistake #4). When water splashes into the face and gets into the nostrils, this immediately starts mucous build-up. This can also occur from an improperly itting mask, or facial hair that causes leaking. Avoid water touching the nostrils. • If you feel pain of any kind, stop, go no further down. If you can’t equalize you should not continue to “push” through. Pain is a symptom of a barotrauma - a pressure related injury. You should stop, go no further down, and ascend instead.
Remember, no matter what equalizing method you use, you must stay ahead of the pressure. If you feel pressure on your ears, then the swelling and luids will begin perfuse into the middle ear. Making it harder, if not impossible, to equalize. Equalize before you feel the pressure on your ears. That’s what it means to equalize early and often.
TEC’S TIP:
If you want hands-on instruction for proper equalization from anywhere in the world, take Ted Hardy’s Personal Skype Video Equalizing Training Session. In his one-on-one sessions Ted teaches you multiple techniques for effective equalization.
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Mistake #1 Abbreviated Training
This is worthy of my number one mistake that I see divers make. Abbreviated training is just what it sounds like – shorter scuba classes. Today, competition for people’s time is at a premium. How we spend our time can even outweigh how we spend our money (i.e. paying more for something that takes a shorter time). As consumers we make multiple purchasing choices based on cost and ef iciency. We are continuously measuring these variables to come up with a value. Here are some examples: • One can pay a toll to get in the express lane and avoid bumper-to-bumper traf ic. Spending the money is considered worth it to get to a destination faster. • Purchasing an item via the internet. Two-day shipping will get it to one’s house faster than normal shipping.
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This consumer value model has become our daily inancial decision-making process and thus, a part of our culture. Unfortunately, this same consumerism has taken hold in scuba training. Since the end product or commodity is the certi ication, comparisons will be made between the dive shops and instructors who can deliver the training to get the certi ication. So naturally, we are seeing divers gravitate towards getting the same certi ication for less cost and in less time. As good consumers, they feel there is a value to getting dive training as cheap and as quick as possible. After all, they ponder, it’s just about getting a c-card, so why not get it as cheap and quick as possible - right?
The reason this method of consumerism is not wise in scuba training, is because it leads to abbreviated training. My de inition of abbreviated training is when the amount of contact hours with the instructor is decreased. This leads to less instruction and less skill development. And let’s face it, the reason we cannot just watch a video and become a certi ied diver is because of the need for skill development. Although minimum training standards are being followed, when instructional contact hours are reduced the time for practice, skill repetition, skill variations, and time for the familiarity of scuba equipment are reduced or eliminated. This is especially important for the con ined water (pool) sessions.
Problems associated with abbreviated training that is cheap and quick: Cheap: • There may be hidden costs. Look into what is included and what purchases are required. Often you’ll ind that a cheap class becomes more expensive because you are required to purchase equipment, accessories, books, boat fees, certi ication fees, etc. • The instructor may be new and inexperienced. A new instructor may not be paid as much as a seasoned instructor. • There may be less pool time. Most dive shops or instructors have to rent pool space. The longer the amount of pool time, the higher the costs. The less amount of pool time, less costs are incurred. • There may not be boat diving. One area to cut costs in training is to do all of the open water dives at a free or inexpensive location like a beach or a lake.
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This avoids the more expensive boat trips. But there is great learning that can be accomplished when boat diving – and often better dives too. Quick: • Less classroom and pool time. When there is less classroom and pool time, there is less hourly pay for instructors. As noted above, less pool time also means less rental fees to the facility. • When a class is conducted over a few consecutive days, there is not much time for lessons learned from previous sessions to sink in. • Less time for practice, skill repetition, skill variations, and comfort with scuba equipment. All of which are important to the skills development of a diver.
PREVENTION The more time a diver spends with an instructor in the pool, classroom, or open water, the more education and training take place. This, in turn, leads to a more competent, quali ied, and comfortable diver. When taking any scuba course it is wise to compare courses based on how much actual training you will get. A great tool for comparing dive training courses can be downloaded here at my Scuba Class Pricing Checklist PDF document.
In all diving courses, especially the beginning Open Water Diver course, you should focus on getting as much instructor training contact time as possible. If you are going to do a digital learning program, that’s ine, but make sure you select the course that also gives you the most quality time with the instructor. Don’t be afraid to ask about your instructor. More seasoned instructors can bring more experience to your learning.
Strive to look at scuba training as personal development. A golfer would not want the cheapest and quickest golf lessons. Nor should you for scuba lessons. I wholeheartedly recommend that you seek the best classes, best instructors, and best dive shops to engage in training with. Do not skimp on your training and education in any level of scuba instruction. The more training, education, and experience you can get at any certi ication level, the better - and safer - diver you will be.
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Final Words From Tec
I hope you have learned many new tips from this publication. Whether you are guilty of only a few or all ten of these mistakes, I know that you will be able to correct them and enjoy your diving to a greater degree. By purchasing this publication you have demonstrated your desire to be a better diver. The better you are as a diver, the more enjoyment you will actually have scuba diving.
If you found the information in this eBook valuable, please tell others about it. I ask that you please do not forward this PDF to others. Rather, send them to www.scubaguru.com so that they may purchase a copy themselves.
Please let me know your thoughts of 10 Mistakes Divers Make and How to Prevent Them. If you have words of praise or helpful criticism, please let me know by contacting me at [email protected]. If you have a big “ A HA!” moment, one of the tips really stood out to you, or you want to share how a tip contributed to your diving experience, please share that with me on my Twitter page @TheScubaGuru or my Facebook Page. And inally, please subscribe to my YouTube Channel: TheScubaGuru where you will ind my professional tips and techniques in educational videos.
Thank you for purchasing this eBook. I hope you are able to use the information to make your diving safer and more enjoyable.
Sincerely,
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