Complex Day

A strange day it was yesterday. I went to work as normal.

My home remodeler said he would come by and put in some time on the chicken coop. He has agreed to get me dried in and I can finish it or he’ll do it on the clock. In either case this coop rocks.

I decide to call my dive buddy who was supposed to do a deep dive at Lake Jocassee, SC. The lake is incredibly clear and at 130 feet is a cemetery and further down is an in tact lodge used as a hotel years ago.

Well I found out that the dive went badly. On the first dive my friend and his dive buddy made it to the cemetery but then his buddy starting freaking out. My friend assumed it was nitrogen narcosis and motioned for them to go up to around 70 feet. His buddy got better but still had a wild eye look about him. They surfaced safely not achieving their goals.

The second dive was worse. Two pairs of divers went down. My friend had a new buddy this time. As they hit bottom my friend saw one of the other divers signal a problem. He was out of air. Apparently the diaphragm ruptured and all his air was escaping. His buddy offered his backup air but the guy couldn’t seem to take in air.

My friend came over and offered his air. This worked but the backup regulator failed on his unit so my friend was airless. He started grabbing for air and they had a cluster of divers short on air and nerves rapidly ascending as a group.

Now was a fear of the bends from serious decompression. They all got oxygen and so far so good.

My friend told me that at one point he was sure he was going to die.

Wow. This really makes me think long and hard about this sport. And it makes me want to really see that cemetery for myself all at the same time.

Then late in the afternoon I stop by the club for a beer and see what is on the menu. I learned that a member that I know well has been indicted for fraud. $42 Million or which he personally gained $5 million.

It makes me glad that I struggle in honesty. I would not trade places.

8 comments:

TerryC said...

Freaky dive story. I am too panicky in general to be able to relax diving. I hate being so dependent on "equipment".

Ken said...

As I'm sure you know...you don't have to dive deep to have all the fun and enjoyment of diving. Diving deep is stepping out on the edge and is best left for young bucks. (just saying)

Reggie Hunnicutt said...

You saying I'm Old!?! Cough, wheeze....

I don't have the confidence and experience to go that deep. If I do I would take a complete back up air source. I have one now but it wouldn't bail me out at 130 feet.

Michael said...

I'm like you, a little spooked by the potential catastrophe, but also compelled to see that cemetery. Terry would totally freak, she's unnerved by man-made stuff underwater. Even snorkeling over a sunken sailboat at 20-30 feet freaks her out.

Phfrankie Bondo said...

...I'm with Mic on this one...you scared the livin' shit outta me with that story...

Judy said...

Oh, that scared me too. I could hardly read it.

Stacy said...

no joke it's not worth jail

terri said...

The thought of diving has always made me feel claustrophobic. Now even more so. But seeing a cemetery underwater does sound fascinating. If you ever get there, maybe you could figure out a way to video tape it :-)