Rescue day

Sunset view from the Point Bar.

Today I went into the pool with Warren and Mazi where Warren tested me on some self rescue skills and simple surface rescue skills. I felt pretty confident doing the skills since I recently reviewed a lot of them during Mike’s rescue diver class the week before.

Later, we went into the ocean where Warren had me do an unconscious diver at the surface rescue. This is one of the more complex rescue exercises. It involves approaching the “unconscious” victim, establishing buoyancy, checking for breathing, calling for help, applying barriers (pocket mask), giving rescue breaths while towing and removing both our equipment. To add to this, you have to do it in a fairly timely matter.

I felt that I did pretty well at the exercise. I managed to tow the victim (Mazi) to my goal and take off both our equipment (we kept our wetsuits on) in a timely matter. My only problem was that I was going in the wrong direction while swimming at one point. Out of all the exercises I’ve done so far, this by far is the most confident and relaxed. Now I need to work on all my other skills.

Later in the afternoon, I had some free time to study. I managed to finish all my book work for my nitrox (enriched air - higher oxygen content than nitrogen) diver course. I need to finish this class as soon as possible to start using nitrox because I need 10 dives before I can start my Nitrox Instructor course.

Happy hour at the point was more happy than I thought it would be. Happy hour - 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM - is “buy 2 cocktails for the price of 1”. I just wanted a couple beers but ended up with way more than that because other people were generous to buy me drinks.

For dinner, I actually made it home and cooked some chopped up pork, with spaghetti, and spaghetti sauce. It wasn’t that good but it served its purpose. I was so tired from the day, I just passed out after dinner.

- jason