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How to deal with Panic

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By: Dr. Thomas Powell

We have all been there. Things are going great. You move just a little too quickly or do not take that extra moment to ease your mind and suddenly everything goes wrong. You find yourself trying to cope with a mental barrage of confusion. These moments can be horrifying and, in certain cases, they can have deadly results. Panic is a topic that we all discuss and every instructor wonders about.

When will the day come when I have a student “bolt on me?”

Panic is covered in pretty much all open water scuba training material, but it can also be difficult to simulate. We discuss out-of-air emergencies and we practice different emergency bailout techniques, but we do so without the real fear associated with extreme problems. In training, we know that a professional is near and that at the end of the day we are supposed to be under that person’s care. The real factor that is missing is what happens to your mind during panic. In many cases, we may forget what we have learned and don’t behave in the best manner available to achieve positive results. In reality, how many times have you seen divers practicing emergency skills when they have not been diving for an extended period? Does it seem like most people view refresher courses as an obstacle they do not want to endure? Do you think every diver remembers how to react when they have not practiced scuba-related problem solving since an open water course that took place 10 years ago?

Diver Panic

Imagine yourself as a diver. You have not gotten wet in at least a year because life simply took you other places. A vacation finally arrives and you get the chance to strap on the old dive gear and get back to something you enjoy. As usual, you did not have the time to take a refresher course at your local dive shop before you headed out on your adventure. Work just had to be completed before you left town.

Once you arrive at your destination, you decide you have nothing to worry about and convince yourself there is nothing complicated about diving. That evening, you and your best friend decide to start your week with a simple night dive just off the beach from your resort. A few minutes into the dive, you realize you are burning gas a little faster than you used to, but that may just be associated with your lack of fitness during the past year. You and your buddy have always been about even so far as gas consumption in the water, so in your mind you will be done at about the same time. Simultaneously, you are jealous at all the diving he has gotten to do while you have been dealing with work recently.

Time passes and you are amazed at what you see, but after a bit, you also notice that it takes a little more effort to breathe

You decide that you need to stop and see what is going on with your gear just as your second stage stops delivering air. Your gauge has been the last thing on your mind for the last little bit. Two desperate pulls for air follow and you instantly think you are going to die. You look up, around . . . anywhere for help. The surface seems so far away and that is all your mind can acknowledge. There is no fixing a total loss of air, right? Suddenly, you see your buddy looking at you with a confused face. Things are pitch black with sudden flashes of light. Is it yours? Is it his light? You know there is a signal or some way of showing him that you are in trouble, but there is no time for remembering those actions. You lunge for him, grabbing wildly and hoping for that air you know can save you.

In this case, the diver was excited to partake in a wonderful vacation, but forgot all about using common sense

We as people are not designed to function underwater without a bit of equipment-based support. Even then, gear can fail. This factor is why we focus so hard on good skills, practical knowledge, and muscle memory. We practice those hand signals in class over and over so that they become ingrained in our scuba lifestyle. Similarly, instructors teach us to know how to do things, but we have to take a bit of personal responsibility and continue practicing what we learn. People get rusty at things they do not practice. Panic can overwhelm a person to the point of total shutdown. In our worst moments, we need to have to ability to rely on physical reaction, muscle memory, and the ability to calm the mind in order to solve problems. If we do not practice for bad moments, our physical reaction may become our worst enemy as we blindly grope in terror.

Dive Buddy Panic

Now, using the same story as above, imagine you are the buddy in this scenario. Things have been great. You have been cruising along a little reef seeing all sorts of interesting things. Suddenly your buddy stops cold and he looks a bit lost. You go back to looking around but realize his light is not following. You turn around and see he is wildly flailing. Carefully, you approach him pulling out your alternate air source. It is just a habit you picked up in class watching your instructor. In a lost moment he pauses and seems to recognize you when you use your light to get a clear view of him. He seems to have seen you, but only long enough to lunge toward you. You thrust your alternate air source in his direction and he takes it, ramming it into his mouth. After a moment, you grab the shoulder strap of his buoyancy compensator and give him an “OK” signal. He responds, still acting confused, but you begin your ascent.

This converse storyline to the original shows a diver who recognized a problem, approached with caution, and prepared for secondary issues. The end result was a positive one, but what might have happened if the buddy had not taken the alternate air source? Would the diver have been ready to kick away and recover? Could a potential diver fatality have resulted in two? Was the panicked diver an asset or a risk to the buddy?

Common Sense

Being a diver is a wonderful thing. Not everyone gets to participate in this sport. The problem is that many divers seem to feel that an open water program, or a subsequent class, culminates in diver perfection. This mindset is anything but true. We all have room to improve, develop skills, or even learn new things. The other thing to realize is that just because we learn how to do something once does not mean we will always be masters at those learned skills. The old adage “practice makes perfect” is a good way to view things in the scuba world. The more we practice or work to perfect our scuba skills, the better we will be in both the fun times and the scary times.

In the scenario above, things would have been much easier if the panicked diver had recognized his problem, immediately signaled his buddy, and initiated an air-sharing process. The reality is that even if we do practice these skills, panic can destroy our common sense. We may have to rely on muscle memory. Essentially, if we practice something over and over, our reaction is physically memorized so that you may perform that action without complex thought.

Lastly, we all have to be responsible on a higher level if we are going to play in a realm for which the human body is not designed

In this case, the dive buddy had been able to dive more often than the panicked diver. He was likely aware that there had been no time for the panicked diver to participate in a refresher. When they arrived at their resort, the buddy should have insisted on paying a professional for a bit of his or her time. The panicked diver was not prepared to serve as a proper dive buddy. If someone gets hurt on day one, what good is the rest of the vacation? Are you not there to have fun? Remember that saying “no” is an OK thing to do. In contrast, the panicked diver should have recognized that he was not safe, prepared, and ready. He should have recognized that he was responsible for both himself and the potential safety of his buddy.

Both divers should have been willing to say no to that first unprepared dive

In truth, the reality is that you know your skill set and where you stand. If you are unsure, then find a way to become sure. Otherwise, diving today might not be a good idea. If you are not prepared to be a good buddy, then you and your partner are both already in jeopardy. Diving is supposed to be fun and enjoyable. You do not always have to take the next class, but you could consider simply finding a professional to help you work on your skills until you are again confident in the water. The better prepared we are for the bad times, the more often we will have positive results.


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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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.

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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.

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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.

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“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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