Question about correct action

I had an interesting situation on a dive in last week. The location
probably isn't important. My buddy and I decided we would do a shore
dive. We rented a locker to stow our stuff and talked to the person in
the dive shop about the dive. We decided would go left if there was no
current, stay above 55 feet and turn to come back at 1500 PSI or 30
minutes. We headed out and found no current so we went left. After 20
minutes the coral turned to flat pan of sand and dead staghorn coral.
We started accross it and noticed a slight current going in our
direction. We continued on and realized we were now in a full drift
situation. We turned and found with full kick we could stay where we
were, if we added full breast stroke, we could move against the
current a few feet at a time.

we were at 35 feet
we had been down 25 minutes
we did not know the area, other than as a "great" dive

What is the solution to the problem I am now in ?

I found one, but I am not sure it was correct, versus lucky

On Mar 10, 10:45 pm, log_...@verizonnet.addthedot (Rod) wrote:
> I had an interesting situation on a dive in last week. The location
> probably isn't important. My buddy and I decided we would do a shore
> dive. We rented a locker to stow our stuff and talked to the person in
> the dive shop about the dive. We decided would go left if there was no
> current, stay above 55 feet and turn to come back at 1500 PSI or 30
> minutes. We headed out and found no current so we went left. After 20
> minutes the coral turned to flat pan of sand and dead staghorn coral.
> We started accross it and noticed a slight current going in our
> direction. We continued on and realized we were now in a full drift
> situation. We turned and found with full kick we could stay where we
> were, if we added full breast stroke, we could move against the
> current a few feet at a time.
>
> we were at 35 feet
> we had been down 25 minutes
> we did not know the area, other than as a "great" dive
>
> What is the solution to the problem I am now in ?
>
> I found one, but I am not sure it was correct, versus lucky

If I was in that situation, the only issue would be-- could I come in
safely anywhere down-current..If so, I would do the whole drift dive,
then swim in as the dive neared the end. I would then get on shore,
and figure out who would come and get me--how to get ahold of them--or
I would walk a mile or so--no big deal either way....Then the next
time, I would know how to plan the dive. Sometimes, you have to do a
dive to figure out the "best" way to do it.
It's not like it is a dangerous dive--safety is a non-issue on the
dive situation we are discussing. This is more about how to make it
easy. Trying to fight the current would just make the experience a
clusterf*&%k.
DanV

"dechucka" <dechucka@vomithotmail.com> wrote in message
news:45f37f60$0$8384$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
>
> "dechucka" <dechucka@vomithotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:45f37f1d$0$8362$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
>>
>> "Rod" <log_dog@verizonnet.addthedot> wrote in message
>> news:45f37711.4502109@news.verizon.net...
>>>I had an interesting situation on a dive in last week. The location
>>> probably isn't important. My buddy and I decided we would do a shore
>>> dive. We rented a locker to stow our stuff and talked to the person in
>>> the dive shop about the dive. We decided would go left if there was no
>>> current, stay above 55 feet and turn to come back at 1500 PSI or 30
>>> minutes. We headed out and found no current so we went left. After 20
>>> minutes the coral turned to flat pan of sand and dead staghorn coral.
>>> We started accross it and noticed a slight current going in our
>>> direction. We continued on and realized we were now in a full drift
>>> situation. We turned and found with full kick we could stay where we
>>> were, if we added full breast stroke, we could move against the
>>> current a few feet at a time.
>>>
>>> we were at 35 feet
>>> we had been down 25 minutes
>>> we did not know the area, other than as a "great" dive
>>>
>>> What is the solution to the problem I am now in ?
>>>
>>> I found one, but I am not sure it was correct, versus lucky
>>
>> you didn't have multiple exit points?
>
> Sorry I should have added that your solution was lucky even if was correct
> because you didn't plan the dive properly

Ya gotta love a country were everyone plans everything right the first time,
every time. In a country like that, there would never be anybody left out on
a reef after a dive.

On 10 Mar 2007 20:38:23 -0800, "DanVolker" <dan@sfdj.com> wrote:

>On Mar 10, 10:45 pm, log_...@verizonnet.addthedot (Rod) wrote:
>> I had an interesting situation on a dive in last week. The location
>> probably isn't important. My buddy and I decided we would do a shore
>> dive. We rented a locker to stow our stuff and talked to the person in
>> the dive shop about the dive. We decided would go left if there was no
>> current, stay above 55 feet and turn to come back at 1500 PSI or 30
>> minutes. We headed out and found no current so we went left. After 20
>> minutes the coral turned to flat pan of sand and dead staghorn coral.
>> We started accross it and noticed a slight current going in our
>> direction. We continued on and realized we were now in a full drift
>> situation. We turned and found with full kick we could stay where we
>> were, if we added full breast stroke, we could move against the
>> current a few feet at a time.
>>
>> we were at 35 feet
>> we had been down 25 minutes
>> we did not know the area, other than as a "great" dive
>>
>> What is the solution to the problem I am now in ?
>>
>> I found one, but I am not sure it was correct, versus lucky
>
>If I was in that situation, the only issue would be-- could I come in
>safely anywhere down-current..If so, I would do the whole drift dive,
>then swim in as the dive neared the end. I would then get on shore,
>and figure out who would come and get me--how to get ahold of them--or
>I would walk a mile or so--no big deal either way....Then the next
>time, I would know how to plan the dive. Sometimes, you have to do a
>dive to figure out the "best" way to do it.
>It's not like it is a dangerous dive--safety is a non-issue on the
>dive situation we are discussing. This is more about how to make it
>easy. Trying to fight the current would just make the experience a
>clusterf*&%k.
>DanV
>
So you are saying to not fight the current, go with it, an angle away
from it to get out ?

"Rod" <log_dog@verizonnet.addthedot> wrote in message
news:45f386fe.8579125@news.verizon.net...
> On Sun, 11 Mar 2007 15:02:37 +1100, "dechucka"
> <dechucka@vomithotmail.com> wrote:
>
>>
>>"dechucka" <dechucka@vomithotmail.com> wrote in message
>>news:45f37f1d$0$8362$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
>>>
>>> "Rod" <log_dog@verizonnet.addthedot> wrote in message
>>> news:45f37711.4502109@news.verizon.net...
>>>>I had an interesting situation on a dive in last week. The location
>>>> probably isn't important. My buddy and I decided we would do a shore
>>>> dive. We rented a locker to stow our stuff and talked to the person in
>>>> the dive shop about the dive. We decided would go left if there was no
>>>> current, stay above 55 feet and turn to come back at 1500 PSI or 30
>>>> minutes. We headed out and found no current so we went left. After 20
>>>> minutes the coral turned to flat pan of sand and dead staghorn coral.
>>>> We started accross it and noticed a slight current going in our
>>>> direction. We continued on and realized we were now in a full drift
>>>> situation. We turned and found with full kick we could stay where we
>>>> were, if we added full breast stroke, we could move against the
>>>> current a few feet at a time.
>>>>
>>>> we were at 35 feet
>>>> we had been down 25 minutes
>>>> we did not know the area, other than as a "great" dive
>>>>
>>>> What is the solution to the problem I am now in ?
>>>>
>>>> I found one, but I am not sure it was correct, versus lucky
>>>
>>> you didn't have multiple exit points?
>>
>>Sorry I should have added that your solution was lucky even if was correct
>>because you didn't plan the dive properly
>>
>>
> I saw no need for multiple points, this was a recrational dive. I am
> asking, " what is the correct, if there is one, action if you find
> yourself in an outgoing rip.

Sorry I did sound a bit high and mighty and full of myself. However even on
the simplest dive I would have multiple exit points or contingencies plans.
If it was an out going rip I would swim out with it till it weakened than
swam in parallel to it to the beach. If it was a long shore rip/current I
would go with the flow till a suitable exit point was found. Bugger swimming
into the current you get tired and tired bodies don't lead to clear
thinking.

On Mar 10, 11:02 pm, "dechucka" <dechu...@vomithotmail.com> wrote:
> "dechucka" <dechu...@vomithotmail.com> wrote in message
> Sorry I should have added that your solution was lucky even if was correct
> because you didn't plan the dive properly

Tell us your plan then hotshot. Remember, we are talking about a
current that starts during the dive.

"dechucka" <dechucka@vomithotmail.com> wrote in message
news:45f38c26$0$8351$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
>
> "Danlw" <danlw7@nospamcomcast.net> wrote in message
> news:MPqdnQGQl6FwFG7YnZ2dnUVZ_rmdnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>>
>> "dechucka" <dechucka@vomithotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:45f37f60$0$8384$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
>>>
>>> "dechucka" <dechucka@vomithotmail.com> wrote in message
>>> news:45f37f1d$0$8362$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
>>>>
>>>> "Rod" <log_dog@verizonnet.addthedot> wrote in message
>>>> news:45f37711.4502109@news.verizon.net...
>>>>>I had an interesting situation on a dive in last week. The location
>>>>> probably isn't important. My buddy and I decided we would do a shore
>>>>> dive. We rented a locker to stow our stuff and talked to the person in
>>>>> the dive shop about the dive. We decided would go left if there was no
>>>>> current, stay above 55 feet and turn to come back at 1500 PSI or 30
>>>>> minutes. We headed out and found no current so we went left. After 20
>>>>> minutes the coral turned to flat pan of sand and dead staghorn coral.
>>>>> We started accross it and noticed a slight current going in our
>>>>> direction. We continued on and realized we were now in a full drift
>>>>> situation. We turned and found with full kick we could stay where we
>>>>> were, if we added full breast stroke, we could move against the
>>>>> current a few feet at a time.
>>>>>
>>>>> we were at 35 feet
>>>>> we had been down 25 minutes
>>>>> we did not know the area, other than as a "great" dive
>>>>>
>>>>> What is the solution to the problem I am now in ?
>>>>>
>>>>> I found one, but I am not sure it was correct, versus lucky
>>>>
>>>> you didn't have multiple exit points?
>>>
>>> Sorry I should have added that your solution was lucky even if was
>>> correct because you didn't plan the dive properly
>>
>> Ya gotta love a country were everyone plans everything right the first
>> time, every time. In a country like that, there would never be anybody
>> left out on a reef after a dive.
>
> Only in Queensland and they are a bit strange.
>
> Plan your dive and dive your plan and make sure you at least have a think
> about what could go wrong and maybe have an idea or 2 what to do about
> them

the 2 Americans should have planned to get on the boat quicker

bracuk@axxent.ca wrote

> Tell us your plan then hotshot. Remember, we are talking about a
> current that starts during the dive.

Maybe yes, maybe no. He didn't tell us where he was and he didn't tell us
what the limits on his return were. He also didn't tell us that the current
started during the dive, only that he encountered it during his dive. As
described, the current could have been tidal, in which case it could have
been anticipated. It could have been a rip current, as he later described
it, in which case, a little attention to things before the dive still would
have allowed him to anticipate it. You can usually see rip currents from
shore. It could have been flow out of a river or into or out of an inlet,
in which case, he still could have planned for it. No matter what the
source, he could have talked to the dive shop he mentioned in his post about
currents and other characteristics common to the dive site.

In fact, the circumstances that would have allowed him to plan for the
current are more numerous than those that did not permit planning.

While not required to answer the question as asked, I don't think it's wrong
to mention the failure to plan well. Recognition of one's mistakes is the
first step to doing a better job of avoiding problems in the future.

Lee

On Sun, 11 Mar 2007 07:38:59 -0400, "Lee Bell"
<pleebell@bellsouth.net> wrote:
> The bottom is rarely, if ever, completely dead, but the bottom you described
> sounds like it's close to it. Either sand or rubble can sometimes offer
> sufficient purchase to allow you to pull yourself along. You knife, used as
> an anchor can sometimes help.

I was doing a shore dive near Destin, FL at one time... It was kind of
an impromptu dive and as such, I had to just put up with whatever
tides that I might be getting... Well, let's just say that it was a
pretty good tidal flow... All the bay water was flushing through this
one area and even with my arm buried up to my elbow in the sand, I was
getting dragged with the flow, leaving a 2 ft deep trough where my arm
was acting as a plow... When it finally pulled me loose, it was like a
rocket assisted drift dive... The sandy bottom was just a blur as I
rocketed across it... Although I was swimming perpendicular to the
flow in the attempt to get to the othe side of the channel, I could
hear the boats crossing over my head every 30 seconds or so... I
finally determined that I might not make it across before I was swept
out into the Gulf, so I decided to surface to check my position... I
waited until one boat had gone over me and then quickly surfaced
before the next one came along... Turns out they were a dive boat and
offered me a lift back to the east side of the bridge where I had
started my dive...

On Sun, 11 Mar 2007 07:57:16 -0400, "Lee Bell"
<pleebell@bellsouth.net> wrote:

>bracuk@axxent.ca wrote
>
>> Tell us your plan then hotshot. Remember, we are talking about a
>> current that starts during the dive.
>
>Maybe yes, maybe no. He didn't tell us where he was and he didn't tell us
>what the limits on his return were. He also didn't tell us that the current
>started during the dive, only that he encountered it during his dive. As
>described, the current could have been tidal, in which case it could have
>been anticipated. It could have been a rip current, as he later described
>it, in which case, a little attention to things before the dive still would
>have allowed him to anticipate it. You can usually see rip currents from
>shore. It could have been flow out of a river or into or out of an inlet,
>in which case, he still could have planned for it. No matter what the
>source, he could have talked to the dive shop he mentioned in his post about
>currents and other characteristics common to the dive site.
>
>In fact, the circumstances that would have allowed him to plan for the
>current are more numerous than those that did not permit planning.
>
>While not required to answer the question as asked, I don't think it's wrong
>to mention the failure to plan well. Recognition of one's mistakes is the
>first step to doing a better job of avoiding problems in the future.
>
>Lee
>
>
I was diving in Curacao on a shore site where the resident dive shop
assured me there was no drift diving because there was no current. The
, I assume, out going current started after we were in the dive, I had
no way at that time to know how strong it would get or last. The shore
other than where we entered was a rock wall.