Ray,
With all due respect, I was present with full techinical dive setup
(double tanks, etc) on the pontoon boat and had lift bags capable of
lifting 500+ lbs not to mention, plenty of air to inflate MBT's. Though I
was not in the water as other divers elected to be, I was ready and
standing by in the event of an emergency as a safety diver should. So
please don't insinuate that we were not prepared for an emergency at the
last convention.
With that being said, I have to say that with subs that don't have
underwater communications (Alec was the only one that did at the
convention) then it's pretty hard to know if there's an emergency unless
there is a diver with every sub. We really didn't have a strict dive plan
and stick to it with respect to times. I am currently working on a design
for a low cost (relatively) underwater comm but don't know if it will be
ready for next summer or not.
One other comment....the selected dates for next year's convention are
very close to the July 4th holiday that a lot of people may have other
plans for...could we try for a different weekend?
Al Secor
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ray Keefer" <psubs2001@yahoo.com>
To: <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
Sent: Tuesday, November 21, 2006 6:26 PM
Subject: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Convention Emergancy Dive Plan
Hi,
There are already initial discussions on the for the
2007 PSUBS Convention itenary. Location is in Michigan
and dates are:
Friday, 29 June 2007
Saturday, 30 June 2007
Sunday, 01 July 2007
Which gives us plenty of time to discuss an aspect of
the 2006 convention that bothered me.
While the dive operations went well, what would of
happened if there was an incedent? On Saturday there
were ten of us on a pontoon boat while Alec and Les
were diving their subs. So if a problem did occur who
would coordinate rescue? By the time that was sorted
out, consensus was taken and plan of action
chosen...someone could of drowned.
While pandemonium was ensuing a few heros would of
jumped in. Would there of been enough coordination to
assist their individual efforts? Or would the result
of been additional folks at risk?
I could go on. My intent with this email is to start
dialog on what a reasonable plan should be. Below are
my intitial thoughts on how I see the Convention
Emergancy Dive Plan (CEDP) should be set up.
Convention Emergancy Dive Plan (CEDP)
1. Dive Master
1. One individual is dive master.
2. He stays at the dive site and on the surface
unless formally spelled by another individual. Hand
off has to be clear.
3. Before diving the sub driver must notify Dive
Master.
4. Upon surfacing the sub driver must notify Dive
Master.
5. No more then 5 subs diving at any one time. Too
many subs would overwhelm the Dive Master and a sub in
trouble might get overlooked for too long.
6. All subs to dive within a 100 yards of each
other and Dive Master. Junior or Deputy Dive Masters
to be managing submersible diving outside Dive
Master's immediate area. After all the Dive Master can
only keep a situational awareness so far out.
2. Once an emergancy is stated,
Dive Master is the go to person to clear actions.
3. First Action
First action of Dive Master is to delcare all diving
operations suspended. All none effected subs have to
surface, open hatch and stay there. The only exception
would be if a sub actually was in visual contact with
the stricken vessel. In which case visual contact is
important to maintain.
4. Rescue Dive Teams.
Rescue divers need to be paired. Just like you do for
normal diving operations. One team needs to be ready
to get into the water within a minute of declared
emergancy. A second team within ten minutes.
5. Rescue Dive Team Actions
1. Locate strickened vessel.
2. Establish communication with occupant.
3. Assess nature of emergancy.
4. If possible follow Owner Emergancy Procdure for
that sub.
5. Invoke Plan B if Owner Emergancy Procedure
doesn't work.
6. Owner Emergancy Procedures (sub save thy self)
1. Each sub owner should document emergancy
procedures.
2. A copy of each document to be given to Dive
Master and reviewed by Recue Divers.
3. Details in procedure must include what outside
divers can do to bring sub to surface and open hatch.
7. Plan B Procedures (PSUBS dive team attempt to save
sub)
1. Bleed scuba tanks into MBT to force sub up.
2. Have cutting tools to free sub from
entanglement.
3. Have lift bags on hand. Enough to lift 5 tons or
twice the biggest sub in attendance.
4. Have enough scuba tanks on hand to fill MBTs and
lift bags down to operational depth of area. Or at
least maximum scuba diving depth. Approximately 160
feet.
5. First aid kit on site by Dive Master.
6. Closest Decompression Chamber identified.
7. Local Emergancy numbers compiled.
8. Local Hospital identified.
8. Required Equipment in/on Subs
Requiring people to invest into a set of required
equipment will smack hard against some of our more
individual owners. Not to mention their pocket books.
Still needs discussion.
1. Underwater telephones.
2. Bouys.
1. Emergancy release. Good enough? Only release
when you get into trouble. Assuming one remembers or
is able to do so.
2. Continous tethered float. On one dive Alec
went down. When he came up NO ONE had expected him to
come up where he did. We were all suprised. A float
would of been very useful in knowing were he was.
3. 72 hour air supply.
4. Walkie Talkies.
9. Required Equipment with Dive Master/Rescue Team
1. Cell phone.
2. Underwater telephone.
3. Multiple surface boats. At least two. One needs
to be capable of 5 or more person capacity. The other
can be canoe or row boat sized.
4. Walkie Talkies for surface communications for
each boat and sub.
10. Talker.
Dive Master work load is great. He has to keep in
touch with multiple subs and surface awareness. Assign
a talker to handle the underwater telephone
communications as interface to Dive Master.
11. Chase Boat Pilot
Have an individual operating the primary, large,
chase boat. Again freeing the Dive Master of a task
drain.
Regards,
Ray
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