Shallow Water Blackouts

Hi,

Many divers do not know or understand how or what a Shallow Water Blackout (SWB) is.

This is a copy of an article I wrote which was recently published in Ultimate Spearfishing Magazine and hopefully in International Freediving and Spearfishing News (IFSN) magazine.

I worked closely with good mates, Freediver and multiple world record holder, Trevor Hutton, Protea spearfisherman Gletwyn Rubidge and Dr Terry Maas, to whom any followers of big game spearfishing would need no introduction.

All are leaders in their respective fields and Terry, who is an author of many best selling diving books also lost his son to a SWB in Hawaii several years ago.

Terry has also been developing an emergency vest which inflates when a diver exceeds a pre-determined depth or time frame of their own choosing.

This unit is about to be released on the market and for any divers, who like me, enjoy the deeper diving should be a "must-have".

Anyone with any questions please do not hesitate to contact me. I always say to divers "There is no hero points in this game, only funerals".

I will post a link to those interested in the vest.

Good diving, Corry

And the link for the recovery vest.

http://oceanicss.com/
or on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Freedivers-Recovery-Vest/144694508887581?ref=share#!/pages/Freedivers-Recovery-Vest/144694508887581?v=info&ref=share

This is a brilliant easy to understand video explaining the several ways in which a blackout can happen and appear.

A tad long but well worth watching. The diver at  5:18 - 6:08 is an ex Protea Spearo and good friend who is one of SA's best ever spearos.

http://vimeo.com/2060317

Hey Corry,

Thanks for this, very interesting.  Out of interest, in case you aren't following Trevor's blog, he has done 81m in Dahab, and from the sounds of it is not finished yet!

Who was the guy you know?

Cheers,

Tony

Hi Tony,

The guys name was Greg North, I got to know his dad Pete when he invited me to spend the weekend with him at his family's place in Mpame, just south of Hole in the wall. Got a very nice Poensie there the day the Boks got drilled 53-3 by the Poms in 2002, I think I was the only guy in SA who didn't care and had a huge smile.

It was there that Greg had his accident last year. By all accounts it would appear Greg either overstayed his time on the bottom or turned back for a big White Steenbras. Which was still on the spear when they found his gun and realised there was a problem. How many other blackout incidents have the same story? Tragic! Hopefully Terry's vest will help save lives. I'll definitely get one seeing as I like the deeper stuff.

Unfortuantely, earlier this year another guy, Andrew Payne, drowned in a freak accident of Vetchies (of all places) when he got snagged by the line and was unable to surface. Andrew was chairman of the UKZN Underwater club and would most probably have been SAUFF's new PRO.

Been following Trevor's resurgence with great interest. Took him to the Border Open last year and have learnt an incredible amount from him.

How's the Tuna season been for you guys? Still going to take you up on your offer, we've just had a boy so tied up at the mo, but will hopefully come to nationals at struis next year. Gotta make one of the Natal teams first, hehehe

Are you going to dive Nationals? Can't see you lads having us Natalians come into your back yard and show you boys how to dive, hehehe. Hopefully WP can get organised again, Sad that our (Natal's) traditional "arch-nemises" are all but non-existant. Boland guys seem to have a good set-up. Great bunch of blokes and some really class divers. Can think of about six guys offhand who could be in Protea contention.

regards,
Corry

Hi Corry,

I remember hearing about both of those.  Very sad.

The tuna offer stands.  The first of the season have been caught already, so I will keep you in the loop.  Either now to end November or after Feb will be the time.

Getting to cracker time now for us here, almost the most exciting time of the year for me!  I'm too out of shape for a Nationals now, probably more mentally than physically.  There have just been so many whites that my mind is rubbished out there, although I still jump Tail offshore.  And the irony is then me, a Cape diver, nearly getting snacked by a brute zambezi here last year.

Cheers,

Tony

Hi Corry, interesting article. You've obviously put a bit of effort into it, but you need to revise the bit about a samba resulting in instant disqualification in freediving comps. Under AIDA (the most widely recognised freediving organisation) you can still get a white card even if you have a samba as long as you do your surface protocol correctly.

Hi x_yeti,

Thanks, will do. I was under the impression that they were very strict and any slight wobble was a DQ.

Thanks Corry,this was a very good read and often we need reminding of the consequences of a SWB.

I did some training with Fernando from Centurion Freedivers and the Salt Rock guys earlier this year and got a 4min 35sec static.I was quite suprised at how much emphasis they put on safety.They worked on a tap out system,if you got tapped then you had to surface, prior to having a samba.

I find that now that I have a wife and kids I don't push myself anywhere near to what I used when I was younger and less wise.

How about an article on how to approach spearfishing comps,tactics ect. I wouldn't mind trying to compete sometime but still have a lot to learn.

Thanks again.

Hi Guys, dont know if any one has seen this but it is worth a second look at!!

 

http://www.spearblog.com/2009/07/14/what-it-feels-like-to-shoot-your-friend-to-save-his-life/#comments

Yup, the cause is summed up in the "thorough 5-7 minute breathe up" This means the guy was hyper-ventilating and my article explains why this is very dangerous and stupid.

These guys are novices (or certainly act like doppies) and broke all the "rules" for deep diving, namely TEAMWORK, again covered in my article. They were diving way beyond their means and were so focussed on their own success they didn't watch their buddy.

Hi corry, I agree alot of wrongs has gone down in this story but by no means will i call cam kirkonell a doppie. Reason i posted the link is to prove that even guys with years and years of deep diving experience can make wrong decissions and end up in trouble. But a spotter/ buddy watching after a deep dive is a must!! As for the duration of "breath up" in my opinion is a very subjective assesment. You can float on the surface actively hyperventalating for 5 mins and get in deep trouble or float and relax for 5 mins take a deep breath and dive without troubles but both can be termed a 5min breath up. So to be safe I think one has to listen very carefully to your own body. And never hyperventilate...

Corry wrote:

Yup, the cause is summed up in the "thorough 5-7 minute breathe up" This means the guy was hyper-ventilating and my article explains why this is very dangerous and stupid.

These guys are novices (or certainly act like doppies) and broke all the "rules" for deep diving, namely TEAMWORK, again covered in my article. They were diving way beyond their means and were so focussed on their own success they didn't watch their buddy.

Click to expand...

Good read Corry and thanks for sharing the article above. It is comprehensive and informative and brings the subject out in a clean concise manner that is easy for all of us to understand.
In the incident quoted above you are misled, "5-7 minute breath up" refers to a rest period of 5-7 minutes for deep dives over 25 meters that we use when making deep dives we know will be strenuous and/or long. He was not hyperventilating for that period of time, that is absurd and I think a throwback idea from decades ago that I doubt is practiced anywhere in the world.
We were diving well within our means, we have both taken plenty of fish at much deeper depths and the equipment in my hands was suited for the job at hand. I was in shape, well rested, properly warmed up and we had discussed before hand the means with which we were going to proceed on our next dive.
It was my turn to dive, I had the right equipment in hand and Steve took it upon himself to do a recon dive while I was focused on relaxing preparing for my own dive.
The problem comes down to communication and sticking with your plan. As I said in the article I should have watched him but in turn he should have been watching me. We are both at fault. Luckily it turned out well and we are both still diving and living our lives.
In visiting more than 40 countries and diving in every ocean save the Arctic with hundreds of different talented and rookie divers I have never once lost someone on a trip and it is a testament to taking care of one another and being aware of your surroundings. There is no replacement or good common sense though and of the three divers I have recovered and revived in the past 10 years each has pushed his limits after improper nutrition and hydration the day or night before. This is a sport, you are an athlete, treat your body appropriately. There is no substitute for being ready for the activity you are about to engage in and that is why we train year round for our trips throughout the world so that we can dive in any condition and always have that extra push when we need it. Whether it is that 10 extra seconds of bottom time to bring a big tuna in or a shortened recovery time on the surface so you can dive down to assist a friend in need, you need to be in shape and use common sense when diving. It is far too enjoyable a sport and life is way to short to waste it diving deep and not doing it safely.
I appreciate you helping others out, you did good research on the SWB topic, return the favor before you judge others and our experiences especially ones that nearly had the most dire of consequences.
Cameron Kirkconnell
www.spearblog.com

That's a fair sensible reply without being a chop about it.

Oh,and I want your job by the way ....................... ::S

Corry who is in charge of S/Cape now that oom Anto has left us for a better place

What happened to Anton ?

Is this Anton Bosman ?

spearouys wrote:

Corry who is in charge of S/Cape now that oom Anto has left us for a better place

Click to expand...

Geez, I didn't even think of that. I don't know. Anton was the driving force behind S Cape and I do hope someone there takes up the reigns. seeing as Nationals is in Struis next year, hoping S Cape can muster a team.

I just had a chat with Hein Eksteen and he is keen to get a club going through the yacht club. Give him a call. If you don't have his number I'll PM it to you.

cheers

 

MOGGY wrote:

What happened to Anton ?

Is this Anton Bosman ?

Click to expand...

Hoesit Marius,

Anton passed away about 2-3 months ago from a heart attack. Very sad, was a great guy.

Aag no.

Very sad to hear, I used to see him quite a bit and dived with him and Ferdie Burger a few times.

I remember the three Antons in the South Cape team one year.

Anton Bosman, Anton de Kok and Anton Holtzhauzen.

Hehehe, can Imagine the confusion on the boat.

"Anton shot a fish, fetch it, then go over to Anton, pick him up and drop him over there by Anton. He's found a nice spot"