View Full Version : Lost in the Black
Yogi Diver
29-03-08, 21:03
OK, In the best traditions of CA, I’ve decided it’s time I got rat arsed and bared my soul. (Or is that rat souled and.... No you don’t want that!!!) So, bottle of crap Cotes de Rhone consumed and bottle of fine malt opened and partially consumed here we go.
I will try to emulate the literary style unashamedly nicked from Gord and publish in instalments to allow intervals to refresh my glass of Bunahaib, Bunahava, Buna. Oh shit, I’ll just drink Bells, I can spell that!!
The following account is of a true event, only the names have been changed to protect the guilty.
It was a club weekend trip to Lochaline and some of us had arrived early on the Friday night to have a quick splash off the Pier wall before retiring to the accommodation in the old Post office for the banter and light refreshments. (Guinness, Wine, Whiskey, etc.) The dive along the wall was excellent and the post dive celebrations continued whilst we prepared our dinner, ate our dinner, washed up and got ready to go out to the Social Club for some serious bevvy! An hour or two later, on the way back to the Old PO, we noticed the Lochaline Hotel was still open so dropped in for a chat with mine host, Charles, he of YD fame. He can be a bit grumpy at times with a hatred for divers caused by falling out with the YD crowd but was in a fine mood with us that night so we shared a nightcap or two with him and the locals before retiring for the night.
I was feeling a little bit fragile when we boarded the boat and headed for the Rondo the next morning, (Must have been something I ate!!) but, as we had a few inexperienced divers on board, I decided, I could buddy up with one of them and restrict the depth to about 20 metres which I was comfortable with.
However, Genghis, our Dive Marshall for the day, decided I should pair up with Harry, a Dive Leader with a Gung Ho attitude instead.
“OK Harry” shall we just stick to midships, because that’s where most of the interesting bits are?” I said hopefully.
“I want to do the bow , I’ve never been there before.” came the reply. For those of you who don’t know the Rondo, it sits on a steep slope with the stern at 6 Metres and the Bow at 50, far deeper than I really wanted to go at that particular moment.
“Oh Hell” I thought.:(
TBC
Yogi Diver
29-03-08, 21:55
Glass refreshed. Lovely Peaty malt. Mmmmmm:)
“I want to do the bow , I’ve never been there before.” came the reply. For those of you who have never dived the Rondo, it sits on a steep slope with the stern at 6 Metres and the Bow at 50, far deeper than I really wanted to go at that particular moment.
“Oh Hell” I thought.:(
As we kit up, I decided on a cunning plan to satisfy Harry’s desire for depth. “Harry, if you really want to do the Bow, and I’m really not that keen today, why don’t we head down the Starboard side of the wreck. I’ll potter around at the 30 Metre mark and wait while you go down to the Bow, have a quick look and head back up the Starboard side again to meet me? The Starboard is reasonably intact so if we both stick to the outside of the wreck, there’s no danger of missing each other.”
“Sounds like a plan” he agrees.
I’m happy now. I’m quite comfortable with a 30 metres plan and we will only separate for a short while so it’s not really solo diving is it? (Hindsight is such a wonderful thing!!!!):o
In we jump, and head down the shot to the Rudder post at 6M. A quick bubble check and we signal Ok and start down the Starboard side as planned. Here’s where it all starts to go tits up. Instead of a gentle swim down the slope, Harry takes off like a bat out of hell and disappears into the blackness below. I’m still dropping gently at about 12 metres and I’ve lost sight of his Torch already!:(
What the hell? By the time I saunter slowly down to 30 metres, enjoying the dive, he should have hit the Bow and be heading back up, I think rather optimistically. So, taking my time to admire the dead man’s fingers and anemones which grow in profusion on the underside of the wreck, I bimble down the starboard side, reach the allotted depth and wait on my Buddy.
5 minutes later, I’m still waiting. Getting a little concerned now. He should be on his way back up by now? Shine my torch down into the inky blackness that is the Sound of Mull and hope he heads towards it. (Probably confusing Harry with a Moth!!) No sign of life from below. Surely if he was heading back up I should be able to see his torch by now? OK, I’ll head down a bit and see if I can make anything out. Down to 32 Meters, nothing,
34 nothing,
36 nothing.
Shit, Now I'm getting really worried and only too well aware that my reasoning is not as clear as it should be. Remember the training. “If you lose your Buddy, look around for no more than a minute then start your ascent to the surface where you should meet up, or can raise the alarm.” But how does that fit in when you had planned to separate in the first place? We seperated over 10 minutes ago now and he should be returning back up to where I am by now? Figure, I’m at least 5 minutes from the surface and my Buddy’s still down there. If he needs help, I’m the only one who is going to be able to provide it in the next 10 minutes or so and, after that it may be too late? Even if I go for the surface, all of the divers from the boat are already in the water so there’s nobody ready to get kitted up and organise a rescue dive.
Keep going down,
38 metres, nothing,
40 metres nothing
By now, I am conscious of an overwhelming sense of panic. :eek: I’ve got enough experience to recognise the Black Narcs when I get them. Not to be confused with the happy, euphoric feelings you get on a nice comfortable, dive when all you want to do is share your air with the pretty fishes. :) These were the kind of all encompassing sensations that hit you in the gut, twist around and say “If you don't get the F*** out of here you are going to die!” :eek:
Ignoring the black narcs aint easy, or wise.:(
TBC
Getting the popcorn in for act 3 - it'll help dry up the wine - act 3 then.......
story is warming up nicely....
looks like he wont be back until tomorrow... i hate when they do that..:rolleyes:
We'll all have to hit the malts in the meantime... Islay... here we come ready or not! :eek:
Yogi Diver
30-03-08, 10:30
Sorry all, beer, Red Wine and Islay malt all took their toll and I fell asleep. Checked the malt bottle and reckon somebody else must have been drinking it. No way I could have drunk that much!:D Mrs Yogi can't stand the stuff so must have been the dog.:D
On to Act III
By now, I am conscious of an overwhelming sense of panic. I’ve got enough experience to recognise the Black Narcs when I get them. Not to be confused with the happy, euphoric feelings you get on a nice comfortable, dive when all you want to do is share your air with the pretty fishes. These were the kind of all encompassing sensations that hit you in the gut, twist around and say “Get the F*** out o f here or you are going to die!” Ignoring black narcs aint easy, or wise.
Recognising the onset of serious narcosis, I stop at 42 metres and try to regain my composure. Check the computer. Shit! I’m into Deco already. If I’m into Deco, what’s Harry doing? Is it time to panic? My guts say yes, oh yes! Got to get a grip! If I keep going, the narcs are really going to take control. But if I don’t and my Buddy’s in trouble? Oh Hell. What should I do? Finally, I remember the first rule of rescue and decide against killing myself. Maybe he’s passed me on his ascent somehow without either of us seeing each other? Unlikely, but possible, especially if he’s as narked as me and forgotten the plan?
(Last time I was at the Bow of the Rondo, my buddy, Dan, was completely out of his skull and I had to lead him back up to 30 metres before he took proper control of his own actions again.)
Head back up to 30 metres and stop and look around. Head over the wreck to the inside and check it out carefully.Look up. Look Down, Look all around. Over to the Port side. Still no sign. Back to the Starboard again. Check Computer. Deco still just 4 minutes but really need to get going before it increases. I can’t help Harry if I’m on the shot for 20 minutes.
Ascend to 20 metres and see 2 of our Club Divers pottering around. Try to explain the urgency of the situation and get OK signs and big grins. F***! What’ s the sign for I’ve lost my Buddy at 50 metres? Getting nowhere with Hoddit and Doddit. Who trained these idiots anyway? Oh sh*t, it was me!!:o
Head up the shot. Computer by now only insisting on a 3 minute stop. Debate ignoring it but decide that’s not very wise. Impatiently watch the Vyper counting down, and then head for the surface.
TBC
Yogi Diver
30-03-08, 10:39
Getting harrassed now to help my son with his flat so conclusion will have to wait. I'll try to finish it tonight before I finish the Bunnahabhain.
(See I can spell it when Im sober!!:D)
Getting harrassed now to help my son with his flat so conclusion will have to wait. I'll try to finish it tonight before I finish the Bunnahabhain.
(See I can spell it when Im sober!!:D)
Ah ha!
You had succumbed to Bunny Narcosis at a depth of 50mg% and your spelling only became rational after some Bunny Deco (aka sleep) and your Bunny depth became shallower than 25mg%!
:D
great stuff... keep 'em coming, Yogi Yogi Yogi Bear! :D
great story. I'm thinking that Harry sounds like a bit of a prick though.
Your agreement (regardless of whether it was wise or not in itself) was to separate at 30m not 6m ...
I say if we don't hear from Harry again, then that'll be no probs. But will someone fer gawd's sake rescue Yogi! :D
But will someone fer gawd's sake rescue Yogi! :D
What makes you think he made it :D
Yogi Diver
30-03-08, 20:05
What makes you think he made it :D
HEE HEE. Think I made it. Not 100% sure though. :D
Concluding episode coming up.
Head up the shot. Computer by now only insisting on a 3 minute stop. Debate ignoring it but decide that’s not very wise. Impatiently watch the Vyper counting down, and then head for the surface.
At the surface Sandy and Lucy are waiting on the shot for the boat to come and pick them up. I frantically try to explain my dilemma in between mouthfuls of water because I haven’t bothered to inflate my stab first.... “Harry’s missing at 50 metres!!! I couldn’t go any deeper and I can’t find him! We have to get a search party down fast!”:eek:
Both laugh and point towards the boat.
There, large as life, and twice as ugly, is Harry, kit already off looking very sheepish. I politely enquire of him just what had occurred to mar our otherwise immaculate dive plan.
"You F****** dozy B******! What the F*** happened to you down there!! You stupid C***! Do you have any idea what F****** thoughts have been going through my F****** head? I F****** thought you were F****** trapped you stupid B*******!!!!":mad:
Turns out he had shot down so fast, he had not been in control of his buoyancy, hit the Bow at 50 metres and couldn’t stop, so kicked upwards whilst putting air in his suit and BCD at the same time and shot off the slope completely. By the time he got his buoyancy under control he was floating in the black with no idea what direction to head back to so sent up his DSMB and came up the line.
We can laugh about it now but it was scary at the time. There are obviously a few lessons to be learned.
The obvious one about alcohol and diving not mixing applies. I am no angel on this score but, had I known my first dive the next morning was likely to be 50 metres, I MAY not have drunk quite so much. Even then, I was not seriously hungover, just a bit tired. (I tend not to suffer from hangovers as other club members can testify. Years of alcohol abuse have left me pretty much immune.) I am convinced though that this was a factor in the onset of Nitrogen Narcosis which I have never been particularly bothered by in the past.:confused:
Harry’s Gung Ho attitude and lack of control on the dive were potentially fatal. I think Gord's post is maybe a bit unfair on him. I would put his shooting off from 6 metres to bad communication from both of us but to plummet without controlling buouyancy is unforgiveable and could have killed him.:mad:
A dive plan which involves buddys separating at depth is never going to be the best practice.:rolleyes:
To this day I still cannot say what the best course of action should have been after I realised he was not going to meet me at 30 Metres. If he HAD been trapped, I was the only diver in the water aware of his absence and he’d already been at 50 metres for at least 10 minutes with only an air filled pony as back-up. To head straight for the surface would have taken me at least 5 minutes anyway with no-one up there ready to kit up and mount a proper search and rescue. To keep going below the 42 Metres could possibly have been suicidal as I was definitely losing it with the narcs and wouldn’t have been much use to him if I’d found him. I was definitely between the proverbial rock and hard place. Thankfully we both came out unscathed, but definitely extremely embarrassed. Needless to say it is just one of the many stories still told about me in our club whenever the subject of idiotic dive plans is broached!!
:o:o:o:o
Yogi - Keep them coming and if you need to borrow something that you may consider as your next company car then as long as it's on your company insurance let me know what you want to try out :D. You could also ask that your car be supplied by a very nice chap in Scotland :rolleyes:
So you did make it :)
As for harry i think he should work a bit on buoyancy control :eek:
As for harry i think he should work a bit on buoyancy control :eek:
Good story yogi and well told :),would have thought Harry's bouyancy would have been better being a dive leader.
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm :D
Good story yogi and well told :),would have thought Harry's bouyancy would have been better being a dive leader.
Certainly did lead on that dive surface to 50 and back in the blink of an eye :D
Turns out he had shot down so fast, he had not been in control of his buoyancy, hit the Bow at 50 metres and couldn’t stop, so kicked upwards whilst putting air in his suit and BCD at the same time and shot off the slope completely.
cant understand how he could have done this if he was dropped at the stern.
there are a million and one place to grab on to on that slope & its angled outwards, you cant fail to miss it, not to mention the wreck.
did the boat skipper drop you all off in mid water? you said earlier you were dropped on the shot. :confused:
out of curiosity, did you look at his confuser after the dive?
he’d already been at 50 metres for at least 10 minutes with only an air filled pony as back-up.
tools for the job.... think that quote ^^ would have been a major part of considering the dive before even making a dive plan.
glad you all made it back safe, cant beat a bit of deep air ehh!:eek::rolleyes:;):D
Yogi Diver
30-03-08, 22:03
cant understand how he could have done this if he was dropped at the stern.
there are a million and one place to grab on to on that slope & its angled outwards, you cant fail to miss it, not to mention the wreck.
did the boat skipper drop you all off in mid water? you said earlier you were dropped on the shot. :confused:
out of curiosity, did you look at his confuser after the dive?
He never tried to slow down till he hit the 50 M mark and realised he was keeping going!! We went down the shot tied to the rudder post and did bubble check before he shot off at great speed down the slope. To be honest, I can't comprehend how a Dive Leader could get it so wrong either.:confused:
Never did get to see his computer.
Great story Yogi, must have been extrmely annoying to see him sitting on the boat dekitted after that though! Think your expletives go some way to explaining how annoyed!
Remember me never to plan a dive with Harry :)
Yogi was that his first dive with his wing? and a prayer?
Mad Major;)