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Surf Rescue: What we learned from this Dive

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By: James Webber

So far, it’s a slow Sunday…

The sun is blasting away, the palm trees are swaying in the wind and I can smell the charcoal from the grills up on the beach, those burgers smell damn good.  It’s spring break here in South Florida and the beaches in my zone are packed full of, as Jimmy Buffet sings “tourists covered in oil.”  There’s just one little thing that really nags me about today, it’s the strong East wind of around 20 knots.  Yeah, I know what you’re thinking…20 knots, that’s not all that much it’s perfect for kite surfing and boogie boarding.  You’re 100% right in that thought…however, it’s also perfect for one more thing and that thing is rip currents.  The red and yellow flags are up for a reason today hopefully groups of Ray Charles’ are not out swimming today.  Apparently, he also forecasts for NOAA too.  Who would have thought right?

rip-current

Rip currents occur when water is bunched up onto the beach and has only a few little channels to exit that beach.  At those points, rip currents are formed.  Rip currents look deceptively calm when viewed against the crashing waves just feet away.  To an ill-informed swimmer, they look like the perfect place to swim…and that’s the venus fly trap of the beach.

We Get the Call

The tones blast into the station, Ladder 99 respond to a call of a multiple drowning…now that’s a call that really gets the old sphincter to tighten like nobody’s business.  I immediately call for additional resources because I know from sad past experiences that the usual number is FOUR.  Four?  How do you get four people drowning at once?  Well, it’s pretty simple.  It’s the initial victim, a first rescuer, a second rescuer and usually a police officer as well.  The first and second rescuers are definitely good Samaritans, the police officer may have had training, however he usually lacks the equipment and backup to go into the water safely.  They also usually don’t have the natural flotation that a fireman usually has, if you catch my drift.

I know from the location that we’re being dispatched to, that I’ll be on scene first with backup a good 10-12 minutes away.  That’s a VERY LONG time when the ability to breathe is denied.  Luckily, I’ve got a rescue with me and five people that I can use.

I’ve got rescue boards, Sterns vests and rescue tubes

What I don’t have is a team of Michael Phelps like swimmers, I’ve got FNGs.  My resources are severely stretched to the limit due to the shear amount of victims.  I may have to decide who lives and who dies today, that’s not a fun feeling.  I’ve also got my crew who I swore I would make damn well sure that they go home safe every morning.  Today may be the day that promise is broken.  I establish “Beach Command” as we sight the victims and update their location to my other responding units; the victims are FAR out in the ocean.  I bark orders to my crew to get all the gear they need and to bring down the stretcher as well, I also know from experience that somebody, if not most of the victims will be going the hospital…that’s if I’m lucky.

My crew dons their gear and uses the rip current to quickly get to the victims, it’s something I’ve beat into their heads since I took them under my wing.  Three of the victims are given flotation aids, but one victim is missing.  We start a quick search from their LKP (last known position) and luckily grab them pretty quick.  Swimming parallel to the beach to get out of the rip, my crew drags them in one by one.  I hear the other units go arrival at my location and I instruct the other officers to prepare for the cardiac arrest that we’re bringing in.  I also know from experience, that’s not a good ending for that person.  It’s rare we’ll get ROSC (return of spontaneous circulation) back with a call like this and even if we do, the lungs can be filled with seawater and sand (think of your wetsuit if you leave it in the car for a day after use without cleaning it.  Now imagine that in your lungs.  The real sad part, the initial victim is rescued; it’s the second lay person rescuer who is the one who’s being worked on.  The crowd gathers to watch the dog and pony show, I know this a futile attempt.  My priority is my crew; I slip out of the crowd and make sure each one is OK.  Thankfully, I won’t be breaking my promise today, at least not yet, it’s only 1300 and we’ve got until 800 tomorrow and there are a LOT of “tourists covered in oil”.

Sometimes it’s best to do nothing

SO….what I’ve learned, sometimes it’s best to do nothing when you don’t have the knowledge, skills, abilities, and equipment to perform the rescue.  They all had the best of intentions, however the decision they made that day may have sealed the fate of the deceased.  Had we had a single victim, I would have been able to focus all my crew on that one person.  Be careful around water, it doesn’t know, doesn’t care and the ocean will always bag its limit too.  Don’t be the lobster.

To find out more about International Training, visit www.tdisdi.com.

From its humble beginning in 1994 to today, the group of training agencies Scuba Diving International (SDI), Technical Diving International (TDI), and Emergency Response Diving International (ERDI) form one of the largest diving certification agencies in the World – International Training. With 24 Regional Offices servicing more than 100 countries, the company today far exceeds the original vision the founders had when they conceived the idea on a napkin, sitting at a kitchen table in the early 1990’s.

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Four opportunities to go pro in 2024 with Dive Friends Bonaire

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idc

Dive Friends teaches the Instructor Development Course (IDC) several times a year to students who are eager to share their passion for diving with the world.

Dive Friends is known for the personal approach throughout the course. Their in-house course director will lead the students through every essential step, mentoring them to achieve their fullest potential as a dive instructor.

Applications for the following IDC start dates are now open:

  • 12 April
  • 5 July,
  • 20 September
  • 29 November

Partnership with Casita Palma

If the student opts for the IDC-Deluxe or IDC-Supreme package, their accommodation will be arranged for them at Casita Palma. This small and quiet resort is within walking distance from Dive Friends Bonaire’s main dive shop location and has everything you need to relax after an intense day of IDC training. Breakfast is included, so the student will always be fuelled and ready for their day.

Contact Dive Friends Bonaire’s Course Director Eddy for more information: coursedirector@divefriendsbonaire.com.

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Scubility: Achieving Success through Adaptability

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scubility

Introduction to Scubility

Being a scuba diving professional, I am always fascinated by the beauty of the underwater world, filled with colorful coral and a variety of marine species. Every dive site around the world has something unique to offer, attracting the diving community to immerse themselves time and time again. The feeling of being underwater is a unique experience, akin to being in space, where you can escape Earth’s gravity to enjoy the freedom of movement. However, water sports are often believed to be accessible only to those with good physical strength, leaving others to only dream of being there.

The Genesis of Scubility

Scubility was developed as a way to help people with disabilities experience the magic of scuba diving or snorkeling. A few years back we became involved in the SDI Scubility program as a way to use our diving experience and knowledge to bring disabled people beneath the ocean. To empower them with a feeling where they can forget their disability and limitations. The image of a Wheelchair Hero from the movie ‘AVATAR’, who could walk and run only in dreams, was the first seed of the idea for a local Scubility program.

scubility

Launching the Scubility Course

Since 2014, my friend has dedicated himself to helping disabled people. Knowing that I am an SDI/TDI Instructor Trainer, he called upon me to help bring them into the world of scuba diving. Captivated by this idea, I decided to offer a special diving course adapted for disabled people: the SDI Scubility Course. The sole purpose was to bring happiness and a feeling of belonging back to our precious disabled students, by giving them an immersive experience under the sea. Perhaps, the mother ocean has a way of treating us all equally, to rebuild confidence and give hope of being alive.

scubility

Adapting Diving for All Abilities

Initially, most Scubility divers in our programs were wheelchair users. The main challenge was to design a unique technique suitable for each Scubility diver, based on their limitations. To do so, we set up a protocol keeping in mind all the scenarios that could arise during diving, starting from boarding the boat, to diving, and the communication signals during the dive. Training was also provided to volunteer participants, mostly instructors and assistant divers.

scubility

The Scubility Program in Action

In the last four events, we have enrolled many Scubility divers in the program. We also have a team of trained instructors and assistants; without them, this wouldn’t be possible. The main objective was to make safe and comfortable diving experiences for Scubility students. In fact, in the last Scubility program, which concluded in March 2023, we included a blind diver along with six other Scubility divers. We also had 8 instructors and more than 10 assistant participants to make this possible.

scubility

The main challenge for blind divers is to set up a communication signal. So, I designed a unique ‘touch signal’ for blind students where they just need to touch an arm to convey a message. For example, when an instructor touches your arm twice, it means he is asking, “Are you okay?”. In case of any emergency during the dive, the blind diver just needs to squeeze the arm of the instructor to get his attention to solve the problem. For each Scubility diver, there were at least two personnel, an instructor, and an assistant, assigned.

Impact and Emotions of Scubility

The most satisfying experience of this program was to see Scubility divers happy, with emotional, teary eyes. I could imagine that probably for the first time, or perhaps the only time, some of them could walk, stand, and move again underwater without a wheelchair, feeling alive again. Seeing a courageous Scubility diver overcoming all challenges and obstacles to make it possible definitely inspires me to organize more events like this.

scubility

“Scuba Diving for All” Event

The biggest local Scubility program, named “Scuba Diving for All,” was organized in Khao Lak, Phang-nga Province, south of Thailand, from October 30 to November 5, 2018. We invited international Scubility participant divers for this event. Leading up to this program, we put in lots of effort, preparing hotels and resorts in a friendly design, making sure of choosing good dive sites, and above all, to bring a smile to our precious Scubility students.

scubility

I hope that this endeavor will serve as an inspiration for people worldwide to achieve what may seem impossible, while also raising awareness about the importance of charity and kindness in our society. I look forward to welcoming you soon to our joyful underwater realm.

As an SDI TDI & Scubility IT, Dan Phutthakhun Prungkananon, owner of All Star Diving Academy located in Thailand, has a deep-rooted passion for ensuring safety and fun in the water. Keep up with Dan and the All Star Diving Academy via Instagram  or Facebook and by checking out their Dive Center Facebook.

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