"The word 'safety' doesn't cut it. Think about survival every time you plan for bluewater diving," says champion Terry Lentz, the only individual world spearfishing champion from the northern hemisphere. His many years as a competitor, bluewater and commercial black coral diver make him a respected expert in survival. As I reflected on his thoughts, I realized Terry was right. Bluewater diving has the potential for so many accidents and misadventures that at every phase of a dive trip, you need to think about survival.
Most bluewater adventures start and finish with a boat trip. Because this phase is merely a means to an end, many divers do not treat it seriously. On a recent boating trip on the Ambar III (a superbly equipped 73-foot dive yacht), we interrupted our travels to Socorro Island, Mexico, to join the unsuccessful hunt for a scuba instructor lost overboard from another boat the night before. He had fallen off without his life vest during a shift change, and apparently his disappearance went unnoticed for several hours. Even falling off the boat during the day is dangerous, especially if the event goes unrealized for a short period. Your best defense is a lifejacket equipped with an emergency locator, whistle and strobe light.
If you feel the equipment on the lifejacket is too expensive (it will cost several hundred dollars), at least follow these basic precautions: insist on two pilots at the helm for night operations. Keep a constant head count of all members of the crew. Do not go near the edge of the boat unobserved. (Guys, this includes trips to the side for urination because this is when most of you fall over.)
Begin your boat trip by reviewing the location of emergency equipment and discussing emergency plans. Learn the location of life vests, life rafts and emergency locators_lights and signal generators. Discuss safety procedures for the dive. Appoint someone to observe from the boat, and agree on hand signals for both routine and emergency pickup. Decide on how to get to an injured diver quickly. Use a small chase-boat or, if one is not available, make sure your boat is equipped with a quick-release anchor. Outfit the chase-boat with a handheld VHF radio, two pairs of gloves, an extra speargun and a flying gaff.
Don't forget a tourniquet--its application to an arm or leg might be life-saving. In an emergency, make one with a speargun band. Twist it tightly with a knife sheath or spear.....................................
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Mark Peaslee, mpeaslee@best.com
Copyright © 1997 Terry Maas, BlueWater Freedivers