I was conducting Rescue Diver course theory this week and was explaining to students about real panic situations, and how easily it can be avoided if divers actually get themselves familiar with their diving equipment and perform "BWRAF".
On a typical Saturday morning over at Pulau Dayang, I crossed over to another boat in search of 2 missing dive bags and was talking to Esmond from ScubaHub. On this boat, was another freelance professional (I think) by the name Lloyd (not our Lloyd). Under his care, there were four divers.
One of them seem to have some problems with his Seaquest BCD. He was commenting that the power inflator is not working and he can't inflate his BCD at all. At that moment, I was standing beside him and told him that he should check the connection.
"I did, and I checked it a few times" he replied. As it was not a good morning for me, that statement irritated me. I took the power inflator from him, push the lpi hose in and told him "See, told u to check the connection. it is working now".
He gave me a look and no works of thank you. This added to my irritation and I told him, why is your divemaster not doing his job checking for you? And aren't you trained as a diver to check simple things like this? When was the last time you dived?
And I walked away.
Thought that was the last time I am seeing him. Guess I was wrong.
On Sunday morning, we were about to do our deep adventures in diving over at Rayner's Rock. Wen Seang's 3 rescue divers were already in water at that point when I did my entry with my two advanced open water diver. Upon entering and just when were started descending, I notice someone on the surface calling for help. Thinking it was Wen Seang doing his rescue course, I carried on descending to about a metre, when I notice that Wen Seang and his three rescue divers were still on the surface together. Immediately, I signaled to my two students to ascend, and giving firmed instructions to wait for me on the surface, I started my swim towards the unknown diver. Along the way, which is a good 40 metres, one of our rescue diver, Janet, thinking that it was another rescue scene in her course, started pursue towards the panic victim.
I pulled her back telling her that it is not part of her training but a actual case, I overtook her and approached the panic diver. From the rear, grabbing hold of his power inflator, I noticed that IT WAS THE SAME FUCKER that I was talking to in the morning, Mr FUCKED CAI. Well, his inflator was definitely not working this time and I had to orally inflate his BCD for him. Got him to lied back, check his air and realise that the DAMN STUPID MOTHER FUCKER did not turn on his air. I told him his air was not on and all he replied " I did on, I checked, I breath from it, got air one" Before I could see my next phrase, he started his descend to reunite with his group.
AGITATED!!!!!!!! YES I WAS, DAMN MOTHER FUCKER. IF YOU ARE READING THIS DAMN POST, MY STATEMENT TO YOU IS "DO YOUR FUCKING BWRAF BEFORE YOUR DIVE AND BEFORE YOUR NEXT DIVE TRIP, GO FOR A DAMN FUCKING SCUBA REVIEW! You are a damn stupid ungrateful bastard. I should have let you experience secondary drowning so that you know HOW FUCKING UNGRATEFUL AND DUMB AND STUPID YOU ARE. I DO not need to be reminded how many stupid divers who are cheapskate and go for cheap courses, and in return, go diving without the proper training and care and concern for their own fucking safety.
To all divers reading this thread and I know that there are many of you reading, simple drill like a BWRAF should not be taken lightly. There is a reason why your instructor take their timing explaining the importance of BWRAF to you. Is to ensure that you are safe as a diver and you are competent enough to take care of yourself.
And for the million and one divers who are cheapskate and dun want to do scuba reviews and or purchase your own diving equipment, stop diving immediately. Diving has her own inherent risk like any other sports, if proper training is not done, you are ABOUT TO PAY A FINAL VISIT TO YOUR MAKER, GOD!
But jokes aside, enough of me being angry. This is something serious and a lesson for all. We DO NOT BELONG to the sea and pretty much, we are just visitors. We should all learn to respect the importance of proper training, proper equipment and maintenance, taking time and effort to improve ourselves as a diver to ensure 101% safety.